Being in and around water is a good way to stay cool on a hot summer day. That is one reason many campers and RVers seek out destinations near the ocean, lakes, or streams. Such locations are often already cooler than surrounding hot, dry areas, but they also usually offer the opportunity for recreational pursuits in the water where you can really cool off while having fun. Besides that, places with water are usually prettier.
We recently acquired a 24’ sailboat. I have always had an interest in sailing and had done a little in my younger days. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much of what I’ve learned about RVs and camping could be applied to our new recreational opportunity. Many of the storage, equipment, and conservation aspects of RVing translate directly to boating. However, there are also significant differences you will need to pay attention to if you are a boater.
Boats and water sports have their own unique safety requirements. Some are not only logical and meaningful needs, but are also legal requirements. There is specific safety equipment you must carry on a boat. Not only is for your safety and the safety of your passengers, but for the safety of other boaters. Failing to have it onboard could be disastrous if you encounter a situation where it is needed and can be very inconvenient and quite expensive if you happen to be inspected by law enforcement. Should you have an accident and not have the legally required equipment you could face significant liability issues.
Personal and equipment safety are the first things that come to my mind. Every person on a boat should wear a personal flotation device (life jacket). In almost all jurisdictions it is required by law, especially for children. But it is always a good idea for adults to wear their life jackets at all times when on the water. You just never know when something might happen and you end up unexpectedly in the drink! It doesn’t matter how good a swimmer you are, if you are unconscious or injured, you’re going to need all the help you can get. Life jackets should be of a proper size for each person and the straps should be adjusted so they fit comfortably but correctly so they will keep even an unconscious person’s face out of the water. Regulations usually require you to have a life jacket on board for every passenger. Ironically, regulations don't always require those passengers to wear the life jackets all the time but it is prudent to do so. If, for any reason, you choose not to wear your life jacket, be sure to keep it within reach. Boats over 16 feet (except kayaks and canoes) are also required to carry at least one throwable flotation device. An iconic example is a life preserver or life ring, but for convenience there are throwable flotation devices that serve as cockpit cushions until needed. For man overboard rescues you will also need an appropriate length of floating rope. You don’t have to be able to swim in order to enjoy boating, but it is certainly a VERY good idea to know how. Sooner or later you will probably fall or get knocked off your boat or the dock -- or on a hot day you might just feel like jumping in! And even if YOU don’t someone in your party might and you might need to go into the water to help rescue them.
There are several different categories of boats and boating activities. The main groups are sail boats and power boats. Power boats may include ski boats, fishing boats, cruisers, and personal watercraft. Also, a sailboat under auxiliary power is considered to be a power boat and subject to rules and regulations for power boats. Typical activities are cruising, water skiing, wake boarding, fishing, and racing. No matter what you chose, you will want to make sure you understand the advantages and disadvantages as well as the rules and regulations for what you want to do. The type of activities you choose will determine the kind of vessel you need to get, what kinds of personal protective equipment you’ll need, and the type and amount of training you will need. If you are interested in racing you will need far more training and in some cases licensing than you’ll need for recreational cruising. In most jurisdictions you will need at least a valid driver’s license to operate a power boat. Usually there is no license needed for sailboats or manually powered craft, like canoes, row boats, and kayaks. Personal water craft might include surf boards and paddle boards as well as jet skis and seadoos
Boating has its own set of signals you will need to be aware of. Boats don’t have turn signals or use hand signals like cars. Audio signals (horns or whistles) are used to communicate the intentions of boats approaching each other on the water and for warnings. A single short blast (about 1 second or less) indicates “I want to pass you on the port side”; two short blasts means “I want to pass you on the starboard side”. A hint for remembering the signals is that "port" has only one syllable; starboard has two. You indicate your recognition and acceptance of the other boats intentions by repeating the signal. If you don’t understand or you disagree (for example, you have someone in the water or you are aware of some danger on the intended course), reply with five short blasts. Longer blasts of around 6 seconds every two minutes are used when there is poor visibility such as fog or going around a blind corner. Power boats use just the long blast; sailboats use the long blast followed by two short ones. Large boats with air compressors may have air horns like those on semis. A portable air horn is a handy way to add signalling capability to any boat. By the way, unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, row boats, and sailboats) always have the right of way over power boats. That makes good sense when you think about it: power boats are lot more maneuverable and it is easier for them to slow, stop, or change direction than for unpowered boats. Calling boats without motors ‘unpowered’ is kind of a misnomer. Each has its own source of power, whether it be human or wind. By the way, remember a sailboat using an auxiliary motor is considered to be a power boat and must follow the rules for power boats.
Boats are required to have navigation lights when operated at night: a red light visible from the port (left) side; a green light visible from the starboard (right) side; and a white light visible from the stern (rear). You’ve probably observed the same kind of navigation lights on airplanes flying overhead at night. There are specific rules for the angles and distances at which the lights can be seen so navigation lights must be of an approved design. Fortunately, these days there are inexpensive battery powered LED navigation lights available in case your boat doesn’t have any and you want to use it at night. If you are anchored at night you may also be required to have an "anchor light". A sailboat operating under auxiliary power at night may also need a "mooring light".
Boat wiring is often very similar to RV wiring, sometimes having both 12 volt and 120 volt systems. Some boats may have 24-volt electrical systems. Marine-grade wire is different from automotive or residential wire. Marine wire usually has more (and smaller) strands for a given gauge and each copper strand is tinned to avoid corrosion. I’ve seen the affect of using other types of wire on boats. Someone had wired the cabin lights with ordinary zip wire (like flat lamp cord). I’m sure it worked just fine when they installed it and it was cheap and easy to work with, but a few years later when I got the boat it had to be replaced because all the exposed copper connections were badly corroded. They literally turned to dust when I touched them! Marine wire is, of course, more expensive, but in the long run it is well worth it, not only for longevity, but for performance and safety. Corroded connections can impair performance and could easily start a fire!
Just as with RVs and OHVs, tools and onboard supplies and spare parts are needed to keep everything, well “ship shape”. What you have onboard needs to be customized to the specific needs of you and your vessel. What you will need will depend mostly on the type of vessel (sail or power boat) and the equipment on board. For example, a sailboat will need things like sail repair tape and a hand awl for repairing torn sails. A power boat will probably need a more compete set of hand tools to be able to tend to the motor and drive system. Some basic electrical tools and supplies will be applicable in most applications (other than canoes and kayaks), but you may need more extensive coverage if your boat is equipped with a lot of electronic equipment, such as depth finders, fish finders, and radio equipment. However, the most elaborate and complete set of tools and spare parts won’t do you any good if you don’t know how to use them or how to diagnose problems and make appropriate repairs. It is well worth spending a little time to become familiar with what can go wrong and what you can do about it. You may find good advise on Web sites for your particular boat, venue, or style of sailing. You can also learn a lot from fellow boaters.
Long term boat living doesn’t get as much media attention as full time RVing, but it is a viable option and there are many people who do live on their boats. Even weekend sailors may stay overnight on their boats from time to time. Sleeping accommodations on large yachts can be as comfortable as a hotel room, but on smaller craft things are going to be a bit restrictive. The area under the bow of many cabin cruisers and other boats under 30’ serves as a ‘V-berth’ which is usually the main bed. Shoulder room here is usually very generous, but your feet will be shoved into the point of the bow. If you and your bunk mate aren't already friends, you will be by morning -- or bitter enemies! Other options include convertible dinettes and bunks under the cockpit. In many cases, such as the V-berth in particular, the headroom is much like that of a truck camper. You don’t want to sit up suddenly! Once you become accustomed to the features of your boat you will be able to thoroughly enjoy it. A modest sized cabin cruiser or sailboat with a cabin can provide a great deal of creature comfort for a weekend on the water. The cabin will provide protection from sun, wind, and rain, give you a place to prepare and eat meals, and a comfortable place to sleep. Sleeping on a boat may take a little getting used to. Most of us haven’t been rocked to sleep since we were infants, but unless the water is unusually calm, there will be some motion. The rocking can be very soothing, but for some people it causes sea sickness, whether you are trying to sleep or up and about. You might want to bring along a little Dramamine to treat sea sickness just in case. Sanitation on boats can be similar to that in land based RVs, sometimes having residential style fixtures. On smaller boats you are more likely to find only a portable toilet, but that can be quite adequate for weekend needs. Just don't count on using the facilities during rough weather. It can be very uncomfortable and very messy!
Personal Watercraft, like Jet Skis and SeaDoos, are as much fun on the water as dirt bikes and ATVs are on the trails. They are even ridden in a similar manner, straddling the seat and using handlebars for steering. Again, I can’t over emphasize the need for appropriate personal protective gear. Same goes for proper training. Even though they are similar to dirt bikes, ATVs, and snowmobiles, the will behave differently. Traction for acceleration, braking, and turning is very different on water than on dirt or sand or even snow. It is annoying when a fellow rider roosts you out on the trails but the wake from other vessels can be a serious hazard for personal water craft, especially the wake from larger vessels moving at high speeds (like a ski boat or a harbor tour boat). I was once towing a water skier when he was hit by a large wake from a harbor tour boat and it nearly yanked his arm off when the tip of his ski caught in the wake and flipped him over.
And don't forget human-powered craft, like kayaks, canoes, row boats, and paddle boards. Each of these gives you a way to get out on the water without the need for engines or burning fossil fuel. Plus they also provide good exercise. Sail boards are a kind of cross over between surf boards and sail boats. They offer an interesting and exciting challenge to sail standing up on the board.
Inflatable rafts and even ordinary car and truck inner tubes can be fun and are often used to float down rivers. Avoid "white water" routes until you have plenty of experience are certain of your skills.
Any kind of water based recreation is likely to offer opportunities for cooling down that you won’t get with land based vehicles. You can usually avail yourself of some kind of access to spray or even submersion to cool down as needed where on land cooling water sources are likely to be few and far between. However, it also comes with increased potential for sunburn from the rays reflected off the water so you may need to shield yourself from reflections as well as direct sunlight. You may also need to apply sunblock more frequently, even if you use “waterproof” products. Sunglasses with good UV rating are a must, not just for comfort and fashion but also to protect your eyes against UV radiation that can literally be blinding. We all know not to look directly at the Sun, but looking at the reflection on water can be almost as bad. Because the reflection is so bright you will probably avoid looking at it, but many people tend to ignore the reflected rays until they are already sun burned by them well beyond the comfort level.
Boats don’t leave tracks the way land-based motorized recreation does, but there are still environmental considerations you need to be aware of. You should never pollute the water. Avoid spilling fuel or oil, keep your trash in your boat, do not dump trash or sanitary waste into the water. In some locations that serve as reservoirs for community water supplies, you might find you are not even allowed to put any part of your body in the water. Boats can be a danger to aquatic life, You need to watch out for and take action to avoid hitting water fowl and other aquatic animals. After all, they were here before we were! There may be areas where boating is restricted or prohibited to protect wildlife; watch for warning signs and buoys. There will always be speed restrictions near boat ramps, docks and other moorage areas, designated swimming areas and near dams and bridges.
As we began our journey to become sailors I found many good resources on the Internet. You will likely find several youtube videos about the kinds of boats, places to go, and types of outings that interest you. One of the very best resources I have found for sailboaters is stingysailor.com — and its free! The author gives very practical advice based on real life situations. Another good, although a little more pricey, resource is practical sailor.com.
You don't have to have a boat to enjoy the cooling sensations of water sports. Swimming or even wading is a good way to cool off on a hot day AND get some good quality exercise. Sometimes just being near a lake or stream provides a cooler environment. Lacking a swimming pool or natural swimming hole, you might fill up a kiddie pool to cool off in. Or just turn on the sprinklers and run through them like a kid! When camping you might substitute "Super Soaker" squirt guns for sprinklers. If you just need a little cooling while relaxing in the shade, try giving yourself a spritz or two from a spray bottle.
Perhaps not really a sport, but misting systems can add a lot of comfort to a camp site on a hot day. You can add mist systems to your RV awning or camp canopy. You just need a water source. If you are staying in a campground with an available spicket, all you may need to do is hook them up to the faucet. Make sure you aren't hogging a public faucet that others may need. When dry camping you might be able to add a connection to your RV water system to power your misters. To avoid burning up the pump or using up all the fresh water in my motorhome I added a second water tank and pump just to run the misters. If you've ever enjoyed the cooling mist in long lines at some hot weather amusement parks you know how pleasant and refreshing a mist system can be. For a more affordable and portable option, use spray bottles to spritz yourself or your companions.
Let’s get wet!
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