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8 Tips For New Boat Owners

Jun. 13 2022 Miscellaneous By Main Channel Marina

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Welcome to the water! Your first season in your very own boat will be one to remember. Whether you have a boat that’s new (or just new to you) before you set sail, there are a few things you can prepare for that will help ensure you have a season of fun, not frustration.

1. Paperwork

Just like with your personal vehicle, boat ownership requires some paperwork before the fun can begin. Some things you’ll need to consider before you hit the water:

Insurance

While our state of Indiana does not require recreational boaters to carry boat insurance, some marinas do require it if you’ll be using their facilities for docking or storage. Also, if you financed your boat, your lender may require that you carry some type of insurance for asset protection. You should carefully consider the type of insurance that suits your needs or if you’ll carry insurance at all.

Registration 

Most watercraft need to be registered with the Indiana BMV; there are some exemptions, which you can find here. You’ll need to do this annually-just like with your vehicle. When you register your boat, the BMV will issue you a paper certificate and decals for your craft. The paper certificate should be protected from water damage and kept on board at all times and decal placement instructions should be followed carefully so they can be viewed easily.

2. Education

Taking a boater education course is one of the best ways to stay safe on the water. It’s shown that one of the top reasons for boating accidents is boater inexperience. One way to avoid becoming a statistic this summer is to get educated.

While it’s not required to have a boater’s license in Indiana if you are of legal driving age and have your driver’s license, a boater education course is strongly encouraged by the Indiana DNR. You can take a course online and learn more with free resources from the DNR.

3. Towing, Trailering, and Launching

Now that you own a boat, you’ll need to learn how to tow it, trailer it, and launch it properly. This can be intimidating at first, but with some practice, you’ll be a pro (or at least proficient) in no time.

There are a few things you can do to make these processes a bit easier.

  • Practice Makes Perfect: Take a trial run through the neighborhood or an empty parking lot before hitting the highway. Just like driver’s education, you’ll want to get used to towing the weight, and length of your boat and trailer.
  • Checklists Are Your Friend: Follow a trailering and launching checklist you’re comfortable with until it feels like second nature.
  • Use Your Resources: Take time to study and practice these processes with an experienced friend or seek out online resources, like video tutorials, to help you learn. 

4. Storage 

Storing your boat is just as important in summer as it is in the winter and should be considered before you purchase your boat:

  • How much will it cost?
  • Do you have access to storage near your home?
  • Do you have room at home to store items you’ll use on the water?
  • Would you like easy access to maintenance experts or are you a DIYer?

Main Channel is a full-service marina providing our customers with year-round storage options and access to our exemplary service department for all maintenance and repair needs. For info on our storage options, just get in touch with us here.

5. Safety

Safety on the water is critical to avoid potentially life-threatening injuries and situations or serious property damage. The top causes for recreational boating accidents are:

  • Operator Inattention
  • Operator Inexperience
  • Improper Lookout
  • Excessive Speed
  • Machinery Failure

Many of these incidents can be avoided by knowing and practicing basic boater safety. For details and information, you can check out our recent Top Safety Tips For Recreational Boaters guide.

6. Etiquette

Boat life isn’t all carefree fun. There are some “rules of the road” when it comes to the water you’ll want to be mindful of.

  • Educate yourself on proper procedures like launching and fueling.
  • You like your music, but not everyone else does. Keep your tunes in check-especially for those out fishing.
  • Watch your wake and adhere to no-wake zones.
  • Be educated and adhere to navigation rules and waterway markers.
  • Be polite and friendly. Wave at passersby! It’s a boat life thing! 

7. Maintenance 

Maintaining your boat isn’t all that different from keeping up on your personal vehicle. Just like with vehicles, you can easily tell the difference between automobiles that have been cared for meticulously and those that haven’t.

Our best tip? Work with a local professional to keep your boat running smoothly. Main Channel’s service department can help you keep your boat in great condition for years to come.

8. Have Fun!

While there is a lot involved in responsible boat ownership, having fun and making lasting memories is always at the core of why you bought your boat. This is your ticket to a getaway any day of the week-enjoy it!


Happy Boating!

-The Skipper