Why did you buy a boat? Did you purchase this vessel to spend more time with your family members and friends? Were you interested in one particular activity, like fishing or calmly cruising on the water? Or did you get this vessel not knowing exactly how you wanted to use it in the future?
In any case, it pays to branch out and try a range of different activities on your boat. But what are the most fun activities to try?
The Perks of Experimenting With New Boat Activities
Even if you genuinely love your old activities and boating habits, it pays to experiment with new activities. In the list that follows, you’ll likely find at least a handful of activities you’ve never tried before – which means each one will be a completely new experience.
In the course of this exploration, you may fall in love with an entirely new activity that you never would have otherwise considered. Additionally, because each of these experiences will be novel and unfamiliar to you, it’s an excellent way to make new memories – especially if you share these activities with people you love.
Fun Activities to Try on Your Boat
What are the most fun activities to try on your boat?
1. Tubing. Towable tubes are affordable, accessible, and available in a wide range of different shapes and styles. Whether you’re interested in towing multiple people simultaneously at very high speeds or you’d rather tow a single person at lower speeds, there’s a towable tube that can work for you. Neither towing nor being towed requires much athleticism or skill, so it’s incredibly accessible as an activity.
2. Swimming. Technically, you can swim without a boat, but if you have a boat, you’ll gain access to much deeper and more open waters. If you decide to go swimming, make sure you do it safely, with access to ample flotation equipment and available spotters who can take action if something goes wrong.
3. Fishing. Fishing is one of the most popular boating activities for good reason. It’s calm, it’s relaxing, and it might set you up with a delicious dinner. Whether you’re totally new to the fishing world or you’re an experienced angler, there are many types of fish worth pursuing across the world’s lakes, seas, and oceans.
4. Racing. If your boat is fast, or if it requires manual operation (like a sailboat), you can consider getting involved in the racing scene. Racing is typically competitive, requiring skill and experience to be successful, but everyone has to start somewhere.
5. Wakeboarding. Wakeboarding is similar to tubing, but participants stand up on a board rather than being towed in a tube. Once you get used to the experience, you can start doing impressive tricks.
6. Water skiing. Water skiing is also similar to wakeboarding and tubing, but it involves the use of skis that coast on the top of the water.
7. Barefoot water skiing. Though it’s very similar to water skiing, barefoot water skiing is differentiated enough to warrant its own entry on this list. It requires much more balance and attention – and enthusiasts argue it’s much more exhilarating.
8. Camping. Your boat can help you get to interesting new destinations that are suitable for camping. If your boat has living quarters, you might even be able to sleep on your boat.
9. Stand-up paddleboarding. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) will take you off of the boat, allowing you to power your own small vessel around the body of water of your choice. It’s ideal for exploring beautiful natural scenery.
10. Modding. Some people like to work on their boat as a hobby, modding it with new customizations that make it more powerful, more efficient, or more aesthetically pleasing. If you’re not a handy person, or if you don’t have much experience working on boats, don’t worry; there are plenty of entry-level mods and customizations that are easy for beginners to start with. As you gain more experience, you may be able to practice vintage boat restoration.
11. Touring. Boats are also excellent for touring and exploring new areas. You can take in new sights at your leisure – and potentially reach interesting areas you’ve never been before.
12. Cooking/picnicking. Activities don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Sometimes, cooking or picnicking is exciting enough.
13. Diving/snorkeling. If you have the equipment for it, you can also try diving or snorkeling – which can expose you to the true depths and complexities of the water.
If you try one of these new activities every week, they can collectively last you an entire summer. And make no mistake – this list is far from comprehensive. If you’re willing to continue experimenting and branching out with new activity ideas, you will never run out of things to try on your boat.
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