Skills
Take a Boating Safety Course
Confidence and experience at the helm can make all the difference in your boating, whether on lakes, inland rivers or offshore in the Gulf, and in varying types of weather. Often, stuff happens because the more novice, or even a fairly seasoned boater, is operating under a false sense of security. BoatUS Foundation Director […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Spring Launch Checklist
The snow has melted off the boat cover. The weather is no longer icy. Once again, it is time for spring commissioning. This should be an exciting moment, not a daunting one, and Heartland Boating is here to help with the following tips. How easily spring commissioning goes is in part a […] Read More
Cummins Inboard Joystick
Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) brings boaters a new level of confidence in close quarters and around the docks from simple inboard-powered boats with the release of Cummins Inboard Joystick, a new inboard joystick docking system. Cummins joystick control expertise and a new class of DC thrusters with extended run time capability are combined specifically […] Read More
Boat Camping Primer
One of the best things about a boat is the ability to visit new places that may not be accessible via roads. This can go well beyond the typical sightseeing cruises with friends or family. With a little bit of planning, your boat, as long as it is comfortable for at least a four-hour […] Read More
Sail Like Columbus
Remember that poem: In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, a gravedigger, a history teacher and a bartender sailed the ocean blue. True, it once was Christopher Columbus in that childhood poetry, but now the sailors on his ships, replicas of the Nina and Pinta, are a diverse crew of mostly volunteers. Allison Asher […] Read More
Reading a River Current
Boaters frequently overestimate river currents, especially during times of high water. People sometimes mention mile-per-hour (mph) speeds with two digits, but actual measurements are far from that. Part of the problem is that agencies that monitor rivers, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) […] Read More
Life in the Fast Lane
Growing up in Indiana, Ron Harrison was a self-proclaimed water rat, and once he shared the passion with his own children, it created a sizable wake. He started with ski boats, taking the family knee-boarding and tubing on small lakes near home, all the while dreaming of stepping up to a larger boat. Once […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Boat Buying/Selling Tips, Part 3
You might find this hard to believe, but our experience over the years has shown that yacht buyers sometimes think vessels for sale are code for “free boat rides!” If you have your boat listed with a broker who’s offering an hour or an afternoon on the water on your boat without a signed […] Read More