Back-to-school season is the perfect time to focus on making learning fun for your kids! Although boating is a great way to escape reality, it can also be used as a tool to explore and learn about the world around us.

You're headed to the boat show to make the most important purchase of your life. You've called in sick on a Tuesday so you can prowl the aisles without fighting weekend crowds. The kids are at school and your wife is at work. It's time to get serious. You know what kind of boat you want and you have a budget in mind. The only thing you're missing is the knowledge to differentiate between a pretender and a contender, the little clues that tell you if a builder has done the job right or taken the easy way out. So here it is -- on the following pages you'll find everything you need to know to make that salesman realize he's not dealing with some hull-thumping wannabe.

Shopping for boats under $26,000? Discover affordable 2026 budget-friendly boats that are ready for days on the water.

At 21, she was the youngest woman to sail around the world alone, and her inspirational book about this odyssey, Maiden Voyage — co-authored with BoatU.S. consulting editor Bernadette Bernon — went on to become an international best-seller, and selected in 1990 as a “Best Book For Young Adults” by the American Library Association.

What to do when you are presented with a situation when things go haywire while boating. Some of the fixes discussed here are quite simple.

Discover fun and easy ways to get on a boat this summer—perfect for beginners or anyone looking to enjoy the water and explore boating adventures.

Follow our Buying a Used Boat Checklist to learn more about the process of buying a boat from a private seller. Purchasing a pre-owned boat second hand from a private party can help you save money on the price, but it is a "buyer beware" situation.

Interested in boating in Massachusetts? Learn more about getting a license and the top Massachusetts boating destinations.