Everyone can wakeboard.
Wakeboarding is one of the fastestgrowing water sports in the past 20 years. This sport is getting more popular by the day because of different factors that can make it more advanced or simple depending on age and experience of the wakeboarder. Regardless of your experience or skill level, there are a few basics that should always be followed to have fun and get the most out of your wakeboarding experience.
Here are five practical tips for getting up and staying up on a wakeboard:
1. ARE YOU GOOFY OR REGULAR FOOTED?
This doesn’t always coincide with being left or right handed. Being goofy footed means you rely mostly on your left foot for balance while regular relies mostly on the right. In wakeboarding, the foot you rely on goes in front. If you use a wakeboard set up for someone with different footing than yourself, you will feel like you can’t keep your balance and will most likely fall. To find out which foot is your dominant one, think about the foot you use to kick a ball or the one that catches you when you lose your balance.
2. DON'T STAND UP RIGHT AWAY
While it might seem counterintuitive, the physical act of standing up is something you want to avoid at first on a wakeboard. Before the boat takes off, position your lower body as if you are sitting in a chair. At this point, the board is perpendicular to the rope. As you feel the machine move forward and start to decrease the amount of slack on your rope, get ready and let the boat start to pull you. When you feel ready, push into the board and slowly straighten your legs. This is a different sensation to simply standing up since it’s more like pushing the board against the water.
3. GENTLE MOVEMENTS ARE KEY
On a wakeboard, any sudden movement can cause you to lose your balance and fall. The key to staying on the board is to make slow, gentle movements at first while you get your bearings. Once you start going, keep your knees softened, slightly bent and gently guide the front of the board to point towards the back of the boat.
4. LEAN BACK
Leaning back on the wakeboard will prevent the front end from going underwater and will help you stay up. It’s also recommended that beginners place the back binding close to the back of the board to position it over the back fin. This puts the user’s weight on the back fin when they lean back and helps make the wakeboard a little easier to control.
5. COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOAT
Having clear communication with the operator of the boat or machine will make staying on the board much easier. Letting them know through hand signals like a thumbsup or thumbsdown will let the boater know everything is going fine or if you need assistance. By always being present and keeping these tips in mind when wakeboarding, you’ll be able to spend more time riding the waves this summer and less time bobbing around in the water wondering what went wrong.
Feeling confident enough to try? Check out our selection of Liquid Force wakeboards perfect for Lake Bomoseen!
Boat Safety Isn't Something to Joke About.
When it comes to safety, preventing boating emergencies has to be one of the most critical elements of your time on the water. Remembering sunscreen, fueling up and making sure your motor is maintained are all important, but if you find yourself in an emergency and don’t take the appropriate action, there may be a serious injury or even fatality.
Here are five common boating emergencies and some tips on how to prevent them:
1. COLLISIONS
The thought of your boat colliding with another vessel or a floating object on the open water is distressing. It’s crucial for every boat operator to take their role seriously, and to take the precautions necessary to avoid a collision. Here are some tips:
● Follow the accepted rules of navigation
● Always maintain a safe speed, especially in the dark or when traffic is heavy
● Don’t consume alcohol while boating
● Don’t operate your vessel when fatigued
● Pay special attention to navigational aids
2. RUNNING AROUND
Getting stuck on the bottom is another issue that happens in our waterways. Most of the time, this happens while traveling at a low rate of speed, but if you are moving quickly, the potential for disaster is significant. Follow these boat safety tips to prevent running aground:
● Know your environment and the waterways you travel in
● Keep in mind the location of shallow submerged objects will change as water levels change
● Bring appropriate charts and learn to read them to determine exact position and water depth
3. FIRE ABOARD
Fire prevention is important in any environment, especially while out on the water. Many boaters accidentally mix fuel, fire and heat which are the three keys to starting a fire. Proper fueling technique and following standard boat safety rules will help prevent this from happening, but if you end up with a fire anyway, here’s what to do:
● Stop the boat immediately
● Instruct anyone who isn't wearing a PFD to put one on
● Move the boat so the fire is positioned downwind
● Shut off the fuel supply if the fire is close to an engine
● Remember not to use water for electrical, grease, oil or gasoline fires
● Use the fire extinguisher to battle the flames, aiming at the base and moving it in a sweeping motion
● Call for help via marine radio and follow any instructions given
4. CAPSIZING AND FALLING OVERBOARD
Sitting in spaces that aren’t designed for sitting isn’t unusual while boating, but it drastically increases the likelihood of someone falling overboard, or capsizing the boat with smaller vessels. Keeping everyone in the areas of the boat designed for passengers is key, but here are some other tips that will help keep the boat upright and everyone inside.
● Make everyone wear a life jacket just in case they end up in the water
● Don’t overload the boat with people or unnecessary supplies
● Don’t allow anyone to sit anywhere not designed for seating
● As the operator, secure an ignition safety switch lanyard to your wrist or clothing
● Avoid boating in rough weather or adverse conditions
● Reduce your speed appropriately when making turns
5. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Most people are aware of carbon monoxide’s reputation as a silent killer, but not many associate the risk with boating. The truth is, carbon monoxide is produced anytime a fuel source is burned, including when operating your boat, in the form of engines, heaters, generators or cooking elements. Here are a few tips to keep CO safely away from you and your passengers:
● Don’t allow swimmers to enter any enclosed areas beneath the swim platform
● Keep fresh air circulating no matter what the weather is like
● Ventilate thoroughly if you detect exhaust fumes
● Be mindful of the location of engine and generator exhaust outlets
● Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors on the boat
Boat safety is a multifaceted activity that covers a broad range of topics, but by taking it seriously and never underestimating the dangers, you can enjoy a safe time on the water every summer.
With Spring here, it's almost time to take your boat out on the open water and enjoy the rising temperatures and the waterside breeze. If you have young children, you’re probably hoping to be able to take them out on the boat in 2016 so that they too can enjoy an exciting open water experience. To prepare for this process, you can now begin to teach your children about the importance of boat safety. In this post, we’ll present five tips for teaching children boat safety this spring.
1. BEGIN EACH TRIP WITH A SAFETY BRIEFING
When taking your children out on the water, it’s imperative to begin each voyage with information on boat safety. As part of this process, you can remind children where they can find life jackets, flashlights and other safety equipment. You can also remind them of the rules for safety when on the board.
2. TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT LIFE JACKET SAFETY
The life jackets are critical safety equipment on your boat, and your children should be taught how to use life jackets safely. Remember; children have growing bodies and so the life jacket that fit them last year might not be suitable for them this year. Ensure they try on the jacket while on the shore to see if it fits them properly.
3. MAKE SURE THEY CAN SWIM
Swimming is an important part of boat safety. Go out with your children on the open water and ensure they know how to swim over a short distance. Then teach them to float using the devices available on your boat. You can teach them the value of their life jacket by having them get used to the feeling of wearing it in the water. This will help ensure they’re ready to use it in case a problem takes place on the boat.
4. PACK SUNSCREEN
Before you set out for the day on your inaugural voyage with your children, remember to pack sunscreen for the trip. Make sure your children have used the optimal amount of sunscreen for the day and teach them the importance of using it on a regular basis as protection from the sun’s rays. While this step may not be directly related to boat and water safety, it’s still a critical step in overall boat safety for kids.
5. SHOW THEM HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE BOAT
While you might be carrying your children from the land onto the boat at this stage, it’s still important that children learn how to take the step themselves. Show them how you can use the boat for leverage and explain how you are using your body to safely make your way inside. By carefully explaining all elements of boat safety, you can teach your children to respect the water while safely enjoying each voyage. To learn more on how to teach children about boat safety, speak with our trusted specialists today!
5 Ways to Get Your Boat Ready for the Water!
The warm weather is now slowly arriving across the country as the winter becomes a memory. With the sunshine following the changing of the seasons, many boat owners are now considering the best techniques for removing their boat from storage and taking it out on the water. In this post, our boat service experts provide tips for taking a boat out of winter storage.
1. BEGIN WITH GENERAL INSPECTION
The first step in removing your boat from the storage space is to complete some general inspection to ensure it remains in optimal condition. Analyze the screws, bolts, and other fittings to ensure they’re properly secured within the boat. Inspect the dock and anchor lines for signs of material chaffing. You may also wish to examine the hull for cracks and blistering.
2. COMMIT TO PROFESSIONAL BOAT SERVICE WORK
While, as an experienced boater, you might be able to check the boat for signs of potential structural problems, it’s important to have your boat reviewed carefully by service professionals before taking it out on the water. The boat service team will complete a comprehensive check, which includes analyzing the fuel lines, cleaning the battery cables and checking your battery water levels. They will also test fuel tanks for signs of leakage.
3. STOCK UP ON SAFETY SUPPLIES
Now that your boat and its components have been inspected carefully by service professionals, you can begin to prepare for a new season on the water by stocking up on all required safety supplies. Count the number of life jackets you have available and ensure there are enough for the use of all passengers for the coming year. You should also ensure the boat’s fire extinguisher hasn’t expired over the winter months.
4. COMPLETE THE CLEANING PROCESS
During the winter months, the interior and exterior areas of your boat might have gathered dirt and grime. You’ll likely have to take a day just to clean the boat and make sure it’s in ideal condition for inviting passengers over the coming months. Cleaning work might include polishing hard surfaces and vinyl seating, vacuuming the interior and power-washing the windows and deck.
5. CAREFULLY TAKE YOUR BOAT ON THE WATER
You’re now ready to take your boat out on the open water for the first time in 2016. But remember to keep a close eye on all system elements during the first voyage of the year. There might have been a small issue you’ve missed during the cleanup and maintenance process, and so you’ll need to be extra vigilant throughout this first trip on the water. Our trusted boat service professionals are available at any time to answer your questions and help you complete maintenance of your vessel. To learn more, contact our team directly.
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NAMING YOUR BOAT CAN ALMOST FEEL LIKE NAMING YOUR CHILD
You’ve carefully chosen a boat that represents you or your family, made a large investment into a new lifestyle, and now it’s time to showcase you and your love for the water. There's several ways to go. You can choose funny, clever, business or surname and sometimes ; there's really no rules, do whatever that floats your boat (no pun intended...well, maybe).
Now there's one extremely important rule, once a boat is named DO NOT RENAME! Folklore throughout the ages declares that renaming any boat will anger the Gods of the Sea. According to legend, once a boat is named it is logged by Poseidon, Neptune or in Vermont, perhaps Champ. Any attempt to rename the boat will anger them and cause you much nautical misfortune. If you don't believe us, simply Google what happens when you rename a boat. You are sure to find hundreds of stories of people's unfortunate misfortune.
Another myth that isn't as commonly known is waiting to name your boat. We had one customer who was very particular about naming things and he had a discussion with his family and friends for the better part of three years on what to name the boat. The result: year three, an unmitigated fog rolled in on July 4th causing the boat to crash and inflict several thousand dollars in damage. Don't worry, no one got hurt. Once the boat was fixed, he immediately named it "T2" in reference to the Titanic, generation 2. He ended up selling his boat and purchasing a new one, but before he even hit the water that boat was named and everyone knew it.
Now you know what not to do, but let's get to the fun part. Over the years we’ve seen some hilarious names drive through the Lake Bomoseen channel, but these by far take the cake.
- The Cod-Father
- Fin & Tonic
- Off the Hook
- Virtual Reel-ality
- Aquadesiac
- A Fishy-nado
- Family Dev-ocean
- Reel Magic
- Cod Squad
- Unortho-docks
- In Decent Seas
- Pier Pressure
- What’s Up Dock?
- Amy’s Wine House
- On The Rocks
- Buoys of Summer
- Sea-Nile
- Yeah Buoy
- Artifishial
- Beach Buoys
Share some of your favorites with us!
One initiative is to launch our new Blog to keep you up to date with boating tips & tricks, special events and great promotions.  Our continued goal is to be a source for the boating lifestyle and bringing you new, fresh content is another step in that direction. We encourage all of you to post and let us know where your boating interests lie.
Since we are talking about boat shows, we might as well give you an introduction to our annual Open House and Boat Show. If you haven't attended one of our shows, we highly encourage that you do.  Each year we choose a wicked fun theme while offering the same great show and manufacturer discounts. In the past we have had fantastic shows. Last year, we celebrated our 55th anniversary (the Emerald Anniversary) with a Wizard of OZ theme equipped with our very own yellow brick road!  One major attraction was a 50 inch touch screen that allowed attendees to snap a photo with our custom Woodard Marine backgrounds and email it to themselves for free. It was an absolute hit.  We have also offered a Get Lucky themed boat show in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.  Contestants were able to play a myriad of themed contests including rolling dice to win $10,000 off a boat purchase. The entire day brings in fans and friends from all over Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and beyond.
2016 is looking like we are going to celebrate (spoiler alert) our very own Woodard Marine Sweet 16. The new boats have some amazing new technology and we plan to show them off in style. The annual show will be held during the March (16th-20th), so make a note.  If you have been before, welcome back! If not, come check us out for a fun filled day for the whole family.  Join The Club is our motto and our customers become our family. Again, please feel free to comment and share and let us know what you want to hear.
Happy New Year Boaters! Live #bomolife
Team Woodard Marine