Life is Better on the Water — Issue #10
Life is Better on the Water
Issue #10 — by Better Boat
The same week the Coast Guard greenlit a new class of life jacket that makes everything you currently own look like a pool noodle, a fisherman off Oregon did everything right and still walked away with a story that will sit with you. This issue is quietly about the gap between good intentions and good outcomes, on the water and on the trailer hitch. Read carefully.
This Week in Boating
556 People Died on the Water in 2024. Here Is the Gear That Keeps You Off That List.
The Coast Guard counted 3,887 recreational boating incidents in 2024, with 556 deaths and 2,170 injuries. Most of them happened to people who thought they would be fine without the right gear. Eight relatively cheap items cover most emergency scenarios, and Better Boat Air Horn checks one of the required safety boxes without taking up much space. The gear you skip buying is always the gear you wish you had.
Read more at Boating World →
New Level 50 Life Jackets Are Coming, and the Coast Guard Has Already Signed Off
A new category of Coast Guard approved PFDs is headed to store shelves, and the Watersports Foundation is pushing boaters to pay attention. Level 50 jackets are designed to be lighter and more wearable than traditional foam PFDs, which matters because the one gathering dust under the bow seat is not saving anyone. Details on pricing and availability are not yet confirmed, but keep an eye out before next season.
Read more at Boating Magazine →
The Right Way to Clean Your Boat Deck and Cushions Without Wrecking Either One
Fiberglass and vinyl look tough but punish you fast if you use the wrong cleaner. The deck needs a dedicated boat soap and a stiff brush on non-skid, while vinyl cushions want a gentle cleaner followed by a UV protectant or they crack and fade by August. Better Boat Vinyl Cleaner and Deck Cleaner handle both jobs without stripping the surfaces bare.
Read more at Better Boat →
Local Fisherman Helps Free Entangled Humpback Off Oregon Coast, But the Whale Paid a Price
A humpback whale 20 miles off the Oregon Coast got freed from severe entanglement on July 26, thanks to a rescue team and a local fisherman who joined in. They got all the gear off. The bad news: the entanglement left the young whale's jaw permanently open, meaning it may not be able to feed normally. A successful rescue with a gut-punch ending.
Read more at US Harbors →
Nine Things to Check Before You Buy Your Next Boat Trailer
Not all boat trailers are built the same, and buying the wrong one is an expensive lesson. Boating Magazine breaks down nine features worth checking before you sign anything. Keep your Better Boat Wheel Chocks handy once it is parked in the driveway.
Read more at Boating Magazine →
N.J. Mom Charged in Fatal Son's Boating Crash Released Pending Trial
A New Jersey mother charged in a fatal boating crash that killed her own son has been released by a judge while her case moves forward. The incident happened at the Jersey Shore, a busy recreational boating area. Fatal boating accidents are a grim reminder that operator accountability on the water is real, and so are the legal consequences that follow.
Read more at Google →
Featured Boat
Sailfish's New 256 Dual Console Tries to Do Everything Without Apologizing for It
Most boats that claim to fish, cruise, and haul the family end up bad at all three. The 2027 Sailfish 256 DC is a 25-footer with an 8-foot, 10-inch beam and a 400-horsepower rating that at least has the bones to back up the claim. Whether it actually delivers is the question worth asking before you sign anything.
Read more at Boating World →
Gone Fishing
4-Year-Old Lands First Shark in Crystal River, Florida
A 4-year-old named Aaru caught his first bonnethead shark in Crystal River, Florida, and that is honestly a better fishing story than most adults can tell. Bonnetheads are the smallest of the hammerhead family and one of the more approachable shark species for young anglers in Florida inshore waters. Start them early.
Read more at Coastal Angler →
What Your Boat Really Needs
CaptainSense Emotional Radar
A cockpit-mounted array that detects the stress levels of everyone aboard and automatically reduces engine RPMs to a therapeutic idle until morale improves to an acceptable cruising threshold. Comes pre-loaded with seventeen ambient wave soundscapes, which is redundant but appreciated.
Overheard at the Marina
Why do serious fishermen wash the boat before every trip but never wash the bait cooler?
The boat has to look good. The bait cooler has to smell like something that actually works.
Better Boat Pick
Boat and RV Toilet Paper
$29.99
Shop Now
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