S.O.S – Safety of the Ship

Ahoy! Captain, setting sail? Checked the direction of the wind? Have you restocked your supplies? How’s she doing? Are you sure she’ll be fine on these waters? Positive? You can never be too sure when braving any kind of waters, even in a pond. Many a time it has happened that unsuspecting individuals find themselves neck deep, and no one to hear their distress signal. Although it is for cases like these it is advised to learn how to swim, the loss of a trusted boat, hurts nothing less than the loss of a lover.

It is for prevention of that feeling of loss and also of a sizable investment, that it is all the more necessary to get proper services from authorized dealers with safe, reliable and sturdy gear/equipment. Although good dealers are difficult to come across, here is a quick guide which will make it a lot easier and allow you and your dearest to freely set sail with no worries.          

Quick guide for safely setting sail

·        Surfing the webpage

Checking the vendor’s webpage is a quick and easy way to check their products and service offerings. Don’t be carried away by classy or edited images. In this case of products a simple authentic picture of the product will tell you more about what you’re looking at and is more beneficial than images which are for representation purposes only.

·     
 Get some feedback

In case you are buying a boat or getting some servicing its always a good thing to ask around for some feedback. Checking reviews from a local directory or on the internet is a good option, but when dealing with boats and the like, personally talking to previous customers will give you a clearer picture of your supplier and what you can expect.

·      
 Comparing with peers

The best comes at a price, but that shouldn’t mean you go for the highest bid. Contrasting and comparing various products from a number of suppliers will not only give you a good deal but also provide you with some basic understanding to judge a good supplier. 

·         HIN  

This is a must know for any captain-to-be, H.I.N stands for Hull identification number and can be found on the transom (the stern of the vessel). Federal requirements dictate that every boat (apart from antiques and pirate ships) should have a HIN for safety purposes. The HIN is a twelve digit alphanumeric code consisting of the manufacturer’s details, the hull serial number and date of certification and acts as a good check for legitimacy.

·      
 It’s called due diligence

A corporate term, this means that before buying, exchanging or making any kind of deal the buyer should thoroughly inspect what he’s getting and only upon being fully satisfied should move forward with the deal. If you are not sure then consult someone who will give you a fair opinion, for as they say “better be sure than stuck in deep water”.

With good judgment and research there is a high possibility that you will come ashore at Stow Away Center, where you can trust us to please your boat the way she pleases you.

Posted by StowAwaymarine.net