Early spring is the time period of year when motorboat owners start off daydreaming concerning the summer months ahead. Of course it is not long until the reality involving the yearly task of getting their boats all set for the season actually hits home.

Although there are many types of boating equipment, there are four pieces of equipment that enhance safety and make boating more enjoyable. You should start out with a VHF marine radio, a GPS system, and a Depth Sounder / Fish Finder along with a good Stereo System.

Marine VHF Radios

Although boats that are less than 20 meters in length don’t have to include VHF radios, everyone must actuallly have this device. Those who plan to go more than a couple of miles off shore should seriously consider adding an HF or single side band mobile satellite phone or radiotelephone, along with an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon), and a back-up VHF radio or cell phone too.

The satellite phones are becoming more reasonably priced, and give easier and clearer conversations than the HF radio phone, but the HF phone will also pick up weather warnings. You can have these boating electronics without having an FCC ship station license, unless you plan on making international voyages.

On your VHF radio, you have to maintain a watch on channel 16 or VHF channel 9, the boater calling channel. Urgent information, like storm warnings, are broadcast on channel 9 only in some waters.

GPS Systems

If you have a Global Positioning Satellite receiver for your car or for hiking, then you know just how useful they can be. You can get GPS systems that are portable or mounted on your boat. Some people prefer to have one portable GPS to use on the road and on the water.

These boating electronics devices weigh less than half a pound and are tiny and easy to install. All you do is install batteries, turn it on, and go outside. The machine will automatically determine your location, accurate to about three meters.

A backlit LCD display shows your position on a map, and most units come with built-in maps covering major roads, rail lines, rivers, and lakes in the US and Canada. Many automatically include recording of waypoints so you can easily find your way back, and are compatible with computers, so you can upload extra maps if necessary.

Fish Finders / Depth Sounders

Fish finders use sonar, a sound wave sent through the water. The diameter of the sound wave increases as it travels through water, and when it encounters a solid object within the cone formed by the sound wave, it returns back to the transducer and draws the shape of the object and its depth.

Fish finders can be mounted or handheld. The mounted ones are generally more expensive and are available in dual frequency models, which allow more accurate fish to depth readings.

Combination Units

You can buy units that combine GPS and fish finders. These have the advantage of generally saving money over buying separate units, and they are usually console mounted equipment.

Buying your boat is very exciting, and you certainly want to use it at the first opportunity, but you must make sure it is equipped with the necessary safety equipment, and you’ll surely want marine electronics that will make using your boat more fun.

To start out, a VHF marine radio is highly recommended for safety reasons. Beyond that, a GPS system for easy navigation, and a fish finder make up the basics that will have you out on the water enjoying your boat as soon as possible

Marine Stereo System

While the water and waves make a good backdrop for music, boats can be tough places to get the sound right, especially underway.

Through the years it seems a growing number of boat owners are introducing an audio system to their shopping list of marine electronics. Much like almost every other area of our lives, we want to listen to our favorite tunes while we enjoy our boats. The key to any boat audio system will be the marine cd player.

The installation of a good stereo system starts with proper planning.  Where do you want to hear the music and how many speakers do you need?

The marine CD player will also serve as the source unit for all your audio so time needs to be taken in picking the correct one for your use. You need to check the system descriptions cautiously because there are a few suppliers who simply put a car audio receiver inside a white case and call it a marine product. Get a water-resistant casing or front at the very least.

We all know how tough the marine environment is on equipment.  Constant moisture and salt air can quickly take their toll, but marine stereos have come a long way. In better quality marine speakers you will find they are made with materials specifically resistant to the wet, marine environment. In many cases they might cost you a little bit more than standard car audio loudspeakers however they will undoubtedly hold up much better in the long run.

While your amplifier and receiver might be protected from the spray, in the majority of cases the speakers will have to be subjected to the weather. Be certain to select genuine marine speakers. In recent years, it appears that Kicker marine speakers tend to be among the most well-liked.

The amplifier is a device that will boost overall power and provide better quality high volume sound to your system.  It also gives you much more control to balance the sound throughout the system.  Amplifiers are available in a wide variety of sizes and prices depending on the power you need.  If you want high quality sound, then be sure to include good, high output speakers and the proper amplification to get results.

Thus when you have your boat loaded with a new marine stereo, there is absolutely nothing left but to take pleasure in the water for one more year.

WaterStates Trading Company offers quality marine electronics for all of your boating needs. We feature brand name fish finders, GPS systems, waterproof stereo equipment, VHF radios and other important communication devices.

There is no substitute for rugged marine rated electronics gear in a harsh, wet environment. We have a great selection of products from which to choose and your order is shipped the next business day for your convenience.

• WaterStates Trading Company specializes in LOW prices on QUALITY water sports, boating and fishing and camping supplies. We offer communication, safety, navigation and entertainment electronics for your boating or camping experience.
• You can choose between all leading brands, such as Pelican, Garmin and Minn Kota. Compare prices and buy directly from us. Choose among our wide selection of marine fish finders, VHF marine radios, GPS, boating accessories, tubes and towables, camping, hunting, fishing equipment and more.
• Ordering with us is fast and easy. Water Fun at discount prices and superior customer service is our trademark. Top Brands! Great Prices!  Browse our selection of the lowest-price brand-name marine supplies available anywhere. We offer all kinds of marine, boating and GPS equipment at deeply discounted prices. Our prices are below Sea Level.

Transport Canada has been phasing in licensing requirements over the past ten years and as of September 15, 2009, every Canadian (regardless of age) requires a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to operate a recreational motor powered craft in Canada.

The legislation applies to all motor powered boats regardless of horsepower or length as well as jetskiis.

Proof of competency is required to operate sailboats that are fitted with an auxilliary motor even under sail and to paddle a pleasure craft fitted with a motor even when the motor is turned off.

There are certain restrictions : Age Power Restrictions

• Under 12 years of age, and not directly supervised —- Can operate vessels with under 10 hp
•  Between 12 years and under 16 years of age, and not directly supervised ——–Can operate vessels with under 40 hp .
• Under 16 years of age —– Not allowed to operate a PWC
• 16 years of age and over —- No power restrictions

The operator Card is not actually a license. Unlike a driver’s licence, the operator card cannot be revoked and is good for life.

There is a one time fee to write the test and you require a 75% to pass.

The test can be re-written as many times as is required but the test can be taken only once in every 24-hour period.

While Transport Canada administers the regulations – all cards are issued by private sector organizations referred to as “Course Providers”.

Something to keep in mind is Transport Canada does not yet have a master database in place to track where and when you wrote your test. If you require a replacement card you will need to remember who you wrote the test with or re-write the test online.

The card must be carried with you while operating a boat that you own or any others.

The fines for not having your Pleasure Craft Operator Card on board with you vary province by province; In Ontario the fine is $250.

To Get started , visit boatinglicence.ca to write the boating test now.

The Automatic Identification System, know as AIS is a shipboard broadcast system that operates in the VHF maritime band. 

Vessels outfitted with the transmission equipment send critical navigation information regarding position, speed, heading, vessel size, and name, updated as often as every two seconds. 

The Iinternational  Maritime Organization (IMO) a specialized agency of the United Nations, and the United Coast Guard (USCG) regulate the requirements for vessels to transmit AIS information. 

While most all recreational boats are exempt, they can still benefit from from this information.

Just picture a shipboard radar display, with overlaid electronic chart data that includes a mark for every significant ship within radio range. 

Each ship’s position is identified with differential GPS accuracy and with its own velocity vector (indicating speed and heading). 

By “clicking” on a ship mark, you could learn the ship name, course and speed, classification, call sign, registration number, MMSI and other data. 

Maneuvering information, closest point of approach (CPA) time to closest point of approach (TCPA) and other navigational information may also be available.

This information, previously available only to modern Vessel Traffic Serviced (VTS) operations centers, is available to any boat with an AIS receiver.  By knowing the vessel name you can hail any ship over VHF radiotelephone by name, rather than by “ship off my port bow” or some other imprecise means. 

Now you can navigate busy port waters and shipping channels with confidence that the “big guys” aren’t going to run you over.

WaterStates Trading Company offers quality marine electronics for all of your boating needs. We feature brand name fish finders, GPS systems, waterproof stereo equipment, VHF radios and other important communication devices.

There is no substitute for rugged marine rated electronics gear in a harsh, wet environment. We have a great selection of products from which to choose and your order is shipped the next business day for your convenience.

• WaterStates Trading Company specializes in LOW prices on QUALITY water sports, boating and fishing and camping supplies. We offer communication, safety, navigation and entertainment electronics for your boating or camping experience.
• You can choose between all leading brands, such as Pelican, Garmin and Minn Kota. Compare prices and buy directly from us. Choose among our wide selection of marine fish finders, VHF marine radios, GPS, boating accessories, tubes and towables, camping, hunting, fishing equipment and more.
• Ordering with us is fast and easy. Water Fun at discount prices and superior customer service is our trademark. Top Brands! Great Prices!  Browse our selection of the lowest-price brand-name marine supplies available anywhere. We offer all kinds of marine, boating and GPS equipment at deeply discounted prices. Our prices are below Sea Level.