Thanks for the question. I'm guessing you're outside the US? That model doesn't seem to be available here. But to answer your question, yes, it looks like the GPSMap 7012 does have capability to receive AIS info: www.garmin.com/en-AU/p/27999#specs Hope this answers your question.

Good questions, Brian. We ALWAYS recommend getting a survey by a NAMS- or SAMS-certified surveyor for any boat you're considering purchasing. In our opinion, surveys are worth every penny. And while a surveyor doesn't have a crystal ball, he or she can keep you from making a very expensive mistake. Doesn't mean something won't break or go wrong (it's a boat -- stuff happens), but you'll have a better idea of what you're dealing with up front and whether something is a dealbreaker. Issues don't always equal dealbreaker though. The seller may be willing to give concessions and/or have it fixed. But, for example, if a surveyor finds evidence of some jury rigged repairs, chances are good that there are a whole lot more of those you can't see. As far as your question about a compression test, you should probably make sure your survey includes that, especially when you're looking at older motors. That may not be standard. Before you hire a surveyor, understand exactly what is and what's not being surveyed. If there's something that concerns you, make sure it's included. And also strongly consider a sea trial with the surveyor. Again, this may or may not be part of the basic survey. Some excellent buying/selling resources are available to you free of charge on our website at boatus.com/expert-advice/boats-and-tow-vehicles/buying-and-selling-advice. Download the BoatUS Boat Buyers Guide and read through the myriad articles on the website. We also include additional resources you might find useful. Hope this info helps. Good luck and have fun with your search. And do try out BoatUS Boats For Sale listings, powered by BoatMart: www.boatus.com/products-and-services/membership/savings/boatus-boats-for-sale

Kind of crazy to think about, James. But we do our best to help further boater education through our online boating safety courses, our growing network of hands-on on-water training, educational videos, and award-winning articles. Lots of folks these days want to jump into hobbies/sports without doing a lot of foundation work. The best we can do is meet them where they are to help them get the training they need. Be safe out there on the water!

That's a great question, Satberhoxhaj. It's really hard for us to judge whether gas and oil treatments do any good. Some folks will swear by whatever they are using. Others think it's a waste of money that you could be spending on maintenance ... or personalized towels. Looking at the video where your comment appears, though, Sea Foam isn't going to do anything for your boat in terms of preventing phase separation of your fuel. I'm not sure if your question is related to ethanol or not. Bottom line: It might help, it might not. Ultimately it depends what issues you're having.

Thanks so much, Nick! We appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.

...and if it is a fixed dock in an area with tides, be sure to have enough slack that you don't end up ripping your cleats off as the tide rises and falls.

Thanks for watching, Karsten!

Excellent suggestion, William. As with learning anything new aboard boats, we always suggest spending time in open water getting to know how your boat handles. The same goes with learning how to use new technology. The worst time to pull it out for the first time is in low-visibility conditions! Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.

Great question, JDDD33! There are a couple ways. Markers on the anchor line/chain are one. But, if you don't have markers, you can approximate using your armspan. For the sake of easy math, say you are in 7 feet of water and the distance from the bow to the water is 3 feet. That's 10 feet total. If you are around, say, 6' tall, your armspan is going to be about the same. So to put out a scope of around 5:1 (50') for having lunch at anchor, say, you'd just measure about 9 armwidths (54') as you put out the scope. Or if you were saying overnight at anchor, you'd want 8:1 scope (80'), so if you're on the same boat in the same water depth, you'd measure out around 14 armlengths (84'). This video is kind of basic, but you might find it useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHWklqadZsp8r5Isi=Z0pefHmZrp7J8jbo Alternatively, you might find this article on marking anchor chain helpful: www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2016/january/marking-anchor-chain

Interesting observation, afellowamerican! Generally the pink stuff is good to -50 F. What might be happening is that straight antifreeze will freeze at low temps. When mixed with water, however, the freezing point of water is lowered. While you don't want to mix the antifreeze with water (manufacturer recommends using straight), it will mix with whatever water is left in your boat's freshwater system after you drain it. I'm not 100% sure of the chemistry behind it, but unless you live at the North Pole and you use the antifreeze according to instructions, you shouldn't have any issue with freezing.

Thanks for the question, syednaqvi1804. Unfortunately that's a hard question to answer without seeing your boat in person and getting more info. Generally, a boat with a 20" transom would take a long shaft (20") motor. As far as recommended hp -- it really depends on manufacturer recommendations and how much weight you're trying to push around. Doing some research, it seems that folks with your type/size of boat went with 30 or 40. Some folks found that the 30 was enough. Others felt they needed the 40. Bottom line: You want enough power without being overpowered, which is dangerous. If you can, I'd consult your boat manufacturer or talk to the company making the motor you're considering.

Thank you so much. Syed

Yeah, that's either a really simple or a really complicated issue, bilstein! (Going with the basic IT troubleshooting questions here: Is it plugged in? Did you try unplugging it then replugging it?) 😂

Same

Interesting. Haven't heard of that one before. In doing some research, I see some people use it for preventing (and sometimes cleaning) mold/mildew on their boats. I would use it with great care -- and test it somewhere inconspicuous first. If possible, I'd consult with the boat manufacturer to find out if there are any contraindications to using it on whatever surfaces you are considering, especially fabrics such as vinyls or canvas. And try to avoid getting it in the marine environment as it is likely toxic to marine life in greater concentrations.

Thanks for watching, Richard!

Absolutely critical for boats that have an enclosed engine space! She did mention that. However, this boat has an outboard, so it's not a concern.

Thanks for watching, Tim! Glad you found it helpful.

That's an awesome way to learn how your boat handles, Tyler! Every boat handles a little bit differently, so it's a safe way to get to know yours. And also a great way to safely learn the technique in different conditions. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the feedback, verbatim. Here's the link to the full video that may clarify things: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIOskmhrlJtlpcksi=SpcfDPy3h9tLZ9MH

Not sure there's a "best," silas. They all work fairly similarly. However, some may have features that are more or less important to you and your needs. DSC for example. Here's a video that might give you some insight into the options and what to look for: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4DNaHibZdeqi80si=r60ovKnr9_uIOxrc It might be helpful to visit our friends at your local West Marine (or other marine electronics) store where you can handle most of the major brands and models of handheld VHFs to see what works well for you. That includes size, features, button locations, price etc. And they have some pretty knowledgeable folks on staff who can guide you to finding the perfect fit for your needs. If you do purchase one with DSC, don't forget that BoatUS Members can register for an MMSI number online for free. ($25 for nonmembers) www.boatus.com/mmsi I know it's not the answer you were looking for, but I hope this helps.

Thanks for the question, Chris. The short answer to your question is yes. Replace it. Rules that went into effect in 2022 specify that extinguishers older than 12 years from the date stamped on it must be replaced even if it seems to be in serviceable condition. They're cheap insurance in case of a fire. Do make sure you have the correct number and types aboard for your size boat, which I'm guessing is <26 feet. You can find more information here, as well as a handy decision tree if you're still not sure what you need: www.boatus.org/fire-extinguishers

That's an excellent question, Henrick. Most spider cracks are in the surface of the gelcoat only and occur due to normal stress and movement. Yes, there's a chance the crazing may appear again at some point. On the other hand, if a crack is deeper, it must be investigated because that could be a sign of something structural. Our gelcoat repair videos are geared toward repairing surface crazing, small chips, dings, and holes from removing old equipment. Deeper cracks are often caused by structural failure or damage and MUST be evaluated and repaired by a professional.

Thanks for your honest feedback, geoff. Was there something you were hoping to learn that we didn't cover? If you can be more specific, we can try to add this to our list of future topics.

I'm not sure where you got "tow truck driver." But I think you're also insulting tow truck drivers. This video merely offers another option to consider when buying a boat. You do what's best for you, your financial situation, and your comfort level. Move on if you don't agree with it.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, swilliams. This is exactly the point we were trying to make. Some folks aren't comfortable with that strategy, and that's OK. But you learned firsthand how it can benefit your bottom line. Hope you are enjoying your boat. And hopefully you'll earn enough in investments to get that $200K boat someday if that's what you want.

@@boatus 100%. You have the people who just boat for fun but can't afford it and want to say things like boat stands for break out another thousand. And you have the people who do it for fun and can afford or you have the fishing fanatics like me that always has that line from Jaws in their head....."We're gonna need a bigger boat."

You make a great point -- it's all about being comfortable with the potential loss. And there is something of a gamble involved. Historically it's worked out in the buyer's favor, but you're right: It might not always go that way. Boat ownership is also a gamble in some respects (we all know what "BOAT" stands for!). The enjoyment has to outweigh the down sides. Sounds like that's the been the case for you. But I'd give it to 50 years at least before you make such a rash decision! ;-) Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Goeling. We agree with you (obviously), but we realize this strategy comes with some risk, and many folks aren't comfortable with that. That's OK. Our goal was merely to offer an alternative to consider that might mean more money in their pocket in the long run. But what do we know? 😂

Sorry for disappointing you, andrew. We are planning to revisit some of our splicing videos in the next year or so. Hopefully those will be more helpful for you.

Thanks for letting us know you were able to hear it, user. This was shot ages ago on old equipment and we didn't have the skill/software back then to duplicate the track during editing. I'm guessing the folks complaining maybe also had outdated (or maybe way newer) equipment and weren't hearing the track that was recorded. The audio plays just fine on our computers.

@boatus Stereo audio has sound play individually from 2 speakers. On on the left and on on the right. This is to add a sense of direction for emersion purposes. My headphones are only 1 speaker. And they're mono so audio is played equally from both speakers (if there are 2 speakers) or all through 1 speaker. So I can hear this just fine on my headphone. But my phone has 2 speakers and I can hear a difference. Unfortunately the left spesker on my phone is softer than the right and I didn't set my phone's audio playback to mono. but it's not a big deal. Don't delete the video please. The information is good 🥲

Glad you found it helpful, Tim! Thanks for watching. If you haven't done so already, you might want to watch out other gelcoat repair vids that have slightly different techniques depending on the location and depth of the repair. There are also some additional handy hints and common questions answered. kzbin.info/aero/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq

YIKES, bloomin! You must have been in a panic. Glad all ended well, but you're in good company. If you've been boating any length of time, there's either a good chance you've forgotten the drain plug at least once -- or you're lying! Thanks for watching!

Right?! Hopefully they'll catch on after a few courtesy waves. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!