Jerry Cahalan

Are you looking for some fun and exciting boat activities for 2016? Are you ready for more than just cruising between the marina and the waterfront restaurants?

Then you need to mix it up.

You need to add new boating activities that few will try, but everyone will enjoy. From sports and games to new methods of water-bound exploration, these creative activities will help you have an even better boating experience and will lead to more fun in 2016.

Give Water Sports a Try

Whether you are completely inexperienced with water sports like skiing or wake boarding, or simply want to discover an exciting new activity; trying something new on the boat will be a thrill for everyone involved. There are hundreds of different variations for sports behind a boat, from gently dragging children on a tube to the challenge of barefoot skiing, which requires skill, practice, balance, and strength.

Stock the Boat with Games

It might seem foolish to take the boat out only to play cards and roll dice, but this activity can be a fun recess from normal boating and cruising. There’s something unique about a hand of poker from the deck of a Scout or a round of trivia while slowly cruising the water. Stock a few games in your boat and 2016 will be more fun for all your shipmates.

Magnet Hunt

This is one of the most interesting and unique games for boaters. Purchase a large magnet and 100 to 200 feet of line. Tie it all together and you have a treasure-catching tool that will be the thrill of every child aboard. You never know what you might find laying at the bottom, and this will certainly add a new level of interest to your boating experience.

Try a New Fishing Technique

This year, turn fishing on its head. If you always fish with live bait, try artificial lures. If you always fish shallow water near islands, try your luck in deeper waters. You could try chumming the water, which will attract nearby predators, or trolling with lures, which will help you cover a larger area in a shorter distance. The choice is yours, but be sure to try something new in 2016.

Go Snorkeling

Snorkeling may be the most exciting and engaging way to enjoy the water. This activity is not only for kids, but it’s also a great way for adults to explore underwater wrecks, reefs, and structure. You and your group will be thrilled by what you find while snorkeling, helping make 2016 the year of exploration and adventure.

Beach Camping

If you want a way to connect with your family while spending a night or a weekend with just you and your loved ones, camp for a night on the beach. Many of the models from Scout Boats come with spacious, comfortable cabins that are great for rest and relaxation. However, you can also take a tent and camping gear for a more rustic, get-away experience. Find a beach, start a fire, roast marshmallows, and have one of the most memorable nights in the outdoors.

Never be Bored on a Scout

If you want a boat that never disappoints, you need a Scout. These boats are excellent for cruising, fishing, skiing, and everything in between. From comfort to performance, you’ll get everything you need when you are boating with a Scout. Contact us today and let us help you have the year you’ll never forget.

There are many boats available today, but few offer the convenience, comfort, and luxury of Scout’s LXF sportfish series.

These boats are the true identity of luxury fishing, so let’s take a look at why the LXF series from Scout is one of the most highly regarded names in the industry.

Scout’s LXF Luxury Boats

At Scout, we take detail and quality to a higher standard, and nothing displays this attitude better than the LXF series. These luxury fishing boats are made for people who demand more from life and expect the finest materials, engineering, and features that the boat industry can offer.

These boats are the ultimate addition to your lifestyle, allowing you to maintain the convenience and comfort you expect, no matter where you travel. Let’s take a look at the full lineup, starting with our flagship boat, the 420 LXF.

The 420 LXF

Released in 2015, this is the latest and largest addition to the LXF series. This model has become a landmark in the marine industry, with a huge selection of standard and optional features and some of the most premium luxury amenities you could ask for. The 420 LXF is the truest statement of quality, elegance, and refinement that you will find on a fishing boat.

The 350 LXF

Able to deliver speeds up to 70 mph, the 350 LXF gives you the chance to enjoy fishing and the boating lifestyle on a comfortable, relaxing model. At 35 feet, this boat has plenty of room for a large group while giving you luxury features like a built-in stereo system and electric trim tabs.

The 320 LXF

Whether it’s gliding over the water or waiting for its next adventure, the 320 LXF looks fast and sleek. You and your guests can enjoy the plush cushions and ample room, along with convenience features like Optimus steering, a transom door, and an electric marine head with a 10-gallon holding tank.

The 300 LXF

As the only 30-foot boat in its class with a console berth and optional air conditioning, the 300 LXF is one of the most luxurious yet nimble fishing boats you can find. Using our advanced and meticulous designs, this boat gives you the ultimate boating experience whether you’re casting a line or taking a leisurely cruise.

The 275 LXF

You’ll have a hard time finding another boat of this size with the same level of design sophistication and luxury features. The 275 LXF has everything you would expect from a fishing boat, including live-wells and rod holders, but it also makes boating more convenient with optional features like a grill and wet bar.

The 255 LXF

The 255 LXF might be the smallest luxury fishing boat in the series, but don’t be fooled; this incredible boat is loaded with innovation and convenience, including an under-console seat cooler, deluxe fiberglass leaning post, and hydraulic steering with tilt.

Treat Yourself to an LXF Luxury Fishing Boat

Contact Scout Boats today to learn more about our advanced LXF luxury lineup. You can work with our excellent team, or one of our fantastic dealers to find the perfect LXF to fit your specific needs.

Let’s face it, people are busy. Between your career, your social life, being a parent, and simply relaxing, it can be tough to find time for activities like boating.

However, you bought a boat for the open water, not to sit in a garage or stay anchored at a marina. If you have a boat, you need to make time to enjoy it.

But when you can barely find time for a half-hour lunch break, how can you possibly find time for a day on the water?

It’s all about priorities and planning. Make boating a priority; a priority on the same level as work, and you will finally be able to enjoy the activity you love.

Use these simple tips and you’ll be able to enjoy more boating, fishing, and cruising on the water.

Use Boating as Stress Reliever

Let’s not forget the real health benefits of boating. First of all, there is stress relief. Stress can be a serious problem for many people, inducing headaches and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Taking the time to do an activity you love can relieve your stress. While a single day of boating obviously won’t cure heart disease or blood pressure, there is little doubt about the cumulative effect of enjoyable hobbies.

Also, boating helps you get out in the sun, which can replenish your vitamin D. You need to be careful protecting your skin, but just 15 to 20 minutes in the sun can help you absorb your recommended amount for the day.

Keep this health-related knowledge in the back of your mind when planning your boating schedule.

Schedule Time for Boating in Your Calendar

Mark it in your calendar and stick to it! By saying to yourself “I’ll go boating next week,” you give yourself the chance to put it off or forget it entirely.

However, if you say “I’ll go boating on Tuesday from noon until 5:00,” you’re much more likely to keep your pledge. Scheduling the time will give you something to work towards, and having it on your schedule will help you work harder so you have time for the most important task of all: enjoying life.

Make a Boating Date

It’s easy to pass over boating time that you scheduled for yourself, but if you promised a friend or family member that you would take them out on the water, it makes sticking to the appointment even more important. Make it a date with your special someone, or use it as quality time with your kids. Whether you want to fish, ski, cruise around, or create a romantic evening on the water, involving another person will help you make time for boating.

Have a Boating Get-Together

Talk to all of your friends and family that have boats and plan a get together at a beach or shore-side restaurant. Planning to meet other boaters has the same effect as taking people boating: there are now people expecting to see you, which will hold you accountable to the commitment.

Find a Fishing Boat for Your Lifestyle

Ready to go boating? Scout Boats has the perfect vessel for your specific needs. Contact us today and let us help you get a top-quality luxury fishing boat that you’ll love to take on the water.

Scout Boats has a rich history of quality, performance, luxury, and reliability. 2015 was another successful year, with new models, expanding facilities, and more people added to the Scout family.

It was an exciting year that was full of new and unique challenges, but thanks to our ingenuity, creativity, and high-quality team, we met these challenges head on and kept moving forward.

Big and small, there were more milestones for Scout than we can mention in one article, but we’d like to look back at some of the major events that made 2015 a year we’ll never forget!

420 LXF Debuts in Miami

The 420 LXF took three years of design, research, and engineering, but it was finally debuted in February at the 2015 Miami International Boat Show. With a unique blend of high-performance power and luxury, the 420 LXF stole the attention and became an instant hit. The boat has numerous state of the art innovations and amenities, and although it could have debuted earlier, we wanted to wait until the model was perfect before showing it to the public.

Roaring Twenties Award

Scout Boats was one of 20 companies in South Carolina to earn a Roaring Twenties Award, which recognizes the best-performing businesses in the state. This award is presented by SC Biz News, and goes to both small and large companies. To qualify for the award, companies must have a physical presence in South Carolina and be either a for-profit company or a specific type of nonprofit organization.

Presidential Candidate Visits Scout Boats

During July, we had the honor of welcoming Ohio governor and presidential candidate John Kasich to our facility. Choosing Scout’s main headquarters because of our job creation, growth, and high-quality reputation, this was one of the first campaign stops for Gov. Kasich after announcing his candidacy. The governor said he was inspired by “small business owners who pour their passion into their dreams.” Regardless of politics, we are proud to host any leader who makes the success of small business a forefront of their campaign.

Growing, Expanding, and Always Improving

Scout Boats is a business built on quality, and that quality led to steady growth in 2015, including the construction of a 24,000-square foot addition to our plant. This addition has numerous advantages, such as the 1,100 sq. ft. paint booth. Allowing us to meet higher demand and increase efficiency, the new space has made us better at making high-quality boats and has helped us reach employment levels higher than pre-recession numbers.

Welcoming More Dealers to the Scout Family

We wouldn’t be one of the best boat companies in the country without the support of high-quality dealers across the country. In early 2015, we were proud to add three dealers to the Scout family. With rising demand for our boats, we eventually added 13 more. While most of these dealers are across the county, including New York, Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida, and Oregon, we also added dealerships in Canada, Panama, and China.

Make Scout a Part of Your 2016

Want a quality boat for 2016? Visit Scout Boats and take a look at our full lineup. You can find an excellent boat that fits your specific needs, so build your Scout today.

Are you looking for the perfect gift for the boater in your life? Have you bought them everything you can think of, and need a few ideas for this season?

Then your friends at Scout Boats want to help. Since we are boaters ourselves, we know what boaters love!

Here are a few ideas to get the gift shopping started.

Boating or Fishing Magazines

There are plenty of boating and fishing magazines that provide entertaining and informative reading for boaters of all types. From publications focusing on luxury yachts to magazines that are all about bass fishing, you can find yearlong reading that caters to your angler’s favorite topic.

Monthly Tackle Subscription

If the boater in your life loves to fish, then you can order a subscription to fishing lure delivery companies that will send a monthly box of lures and other fishing accessories. Many of these subscriptions include fresh and saltwater options.

New Fishing Rod and Reel

What boater couldn’t use a new rod and reel? Give the boater in your life a new toy for the spring by finding them a new fishing pole. You can look at their current collection to see what type they like, or ask them if anything is missing from their rod set.

Underwater Video Camera

Boaters love sharing their experiences, and filming footage of fishing and boating adventures is often a big part of their enjoyment. There are many high-quality cameras that can film underwater, giving your boater a new way to record the excitement.

Scout Boats Apparel

If your boater has a Scout, they will love our boating apparel. You can find everything from hats to hoodies; all designed to show your pride for Scout Boats. We have items for men, women, and children, so there is something for every boater to enjoy.

Tide Clock

Designed to keep track of the Moon’s rotation around the Earth, tide clocks give boaters an accurate reading on high and low tides, as well as information related to rising and falling tides. This makes a perfect gift for a boater’s office or shop.

Boating-Themed Christmas Ornaments

Want to add a little boating style to your Christmas tree? Then a boating-themed ornament will be a perfect gift. There are thousands, if not millions of options available, and you can find ornaments in the shape of shells, anchors, dolphins, starfish, sailboats, and much more.

Waterproof Cases

It might be a dry day, but ocean sprays and splashes from fish can quickly soak a boater. Help them keep valuables dry by giving them the practical gift of waterproof cases for their phones, wallets, money, keys, or other important items.

Put the Boat Name on Anything

These days, you can go online and customize just about anything. Hats, shirts, beer glasses, coffee mugs, towels; you name it, and there is a company that will print on it. Give your favorite boater a customized gift with the name of their boat and you’ll be their favorite passenger long after the holidays.

High-Quality Fishing Boats for Anglers All Over the Country

Looking for the perfect fishing boat? Look no further than Scout, one of the leading brands for comfort, performance, and efficiency. When you want the best vessel for any adventure, Scout Boats is here to help.

Think winter is the time to put away your rods and store your boat?

Think again.

At Scout, we make fishing part of every boat we create, and we want to help you enjoy your vessel all year long. With that in mind, here are seven saltwater fish that you can target throughout the winter months.

Sheepshead

While other fish may be off-limits during the winter months, sheepshead offers a great substitute for bringing home a meal. These fish love to feed on crabs and shrimp, but their subtle nibble and chewing method (thanks to their eerily human-like teeth) make it difficult to detect a bite. Despite the challenges, they can be found in good numbers during the winter, so you should have plenty of chances to work on your hook-set.

Redfish

As one of the most popular saltwater game fish and the official saltwater species of North Carolina, the redfish is a top species for winter anglers all over the southeastern United States. These fish remain active in the winter, especially in the shallow flats, which warm up quickly on sunny days.

Bonefish

The elusive bonefish is one of the most skittish and wary prizes you can find in the flats, but they offer excellent sport, especially through late fall and winter. Use these fish to test your fly-fishing skills, as they often target light tackle. They can also be caught with hooked shrimp and crab, but you always need an accurate cast and a stealthy approach, often with a cane pole instead of a trolling motor.

Striped Bass

If you ever find yourself in Virginia during the winter, take your Scout out for some striped bass fishing. These titans of the bass kingdom deliver exciting fights and hard-pulling challenges, and winter is a great time to target them in the southern regions. As they start working their way down from New England, they will often concentrate around bait pods. Look for diving birds and use jigs, eels, or flies to catch a striper.

Snapper

If you have a smaller boat that isn’t made for offshore fishing, you can find snapper in the winter by targeting shallow spots and inshore areas. Snappers will work their way from deeper waters into these locations to feed and stay warm, and you can often find plenty of snappers hanging out near reefs, wrecks, and other structures.

Cobia

During the winter, cobias will start to rev their feeding engines, giving you a great opportunity to haul in one of these elegant trophies. You can use various lures and baits to catch these fish in the winter. Heavy jigs and trolling lures are often effective, but you can also go for live baits to attract these lively predators.

Barracuda

While these fast, toothy trophies seem to be feeding year-round, the months of December through March are excellent for targeting the barracuda. In clear water, you can usually see these ferocious feeders from a great distance, and they are often found stalking the reefs and flats of the Florida Keys.

Find Your Saltwater Fishing Boat Today

Ready for the ultimate fishing boat? Visit Scout Boats today and take a look at our complete selection of dual-console and center-console fishing boats. You can even use our Build Your Scout feature to choose all the right features for your specific needs.

Everyone has different needs, tastes, and preferences. This goes for food, cars, houses, hobbies, and clothing. It also goes for boats.

You may need a small boat for fishing in intertidal areas. You may need a large boat for offshore adventures. Maybe you want to host family gatherings and need a boat that can accommodate your large group, or maybe you want to just go fishing with a good friend and a few rods.

Some people like dark-colored upholstery, while others prefer a lighter tone. Some want a sharp silver finish, while others prefer the clean look of black. No matter what your specific preferences, Scout can help you build the exact boat you want.

With our Build Your Scout feature, you can go through the entire boat-building process, selecting all the right features, materials, colors, and accessories to meet your specific needs.

Let’s take a closer look at how this feature will help you get the exact boat you have always wanted.

Select Your Scout

First things first. The Build Your Scout feature lets you pick the exact model you want, from the 175 Sportfish all the way up to the 420 LFX. At Scout, our research department is always working on new models, and we currently have 20 different boats to choose from. You can pick center console, dual console, bay boats, and more, all designed to give you comfort and luxury on the water.

Pick the Right Engines

You will now have the option to select the engines that work best for your needs. Different models will have different variations of engines, so availability will change by what you selected. For example, the 275 Dorado has six available engine packages, including options from Yamaha and Mercury, while the 195 SF has four different packages.

Choose the Color that Suits You Best

Now that you know what boat and engines you want, it’s time to choose the best color. This is obviously more about personal taste than needs, but you should still take your time and select a color that will make you happy. After all, our boats are some of the more reliable vessels on the water, so you’re probably going to have it for a long time. The most common color choices include black, aristo blue, rascal blue, and silver anniversary.

Choose Your Options

Now the fun really begins. After you have chosen the model, engine, and color, you can start choosing your options and features. Every boat will have different available options, but this section lets you choose everything from bow cushions to battery switches. You can pick the right boat cover, powder coating, trailers, and even sport packages. This is where you really make the Scout your own!

Create the Perfect Fishing Boat

Need help selecting the right Scout? Contact us today and let us help you decide which options are best for your needs. Our boats are made with the finest engineering and materials, so when you want the best on the water, Scout Boats is here to help you design the boat of your dreams.

Boating is one of the best experiences in life, but finding a place to store your boat can be a hassle.

If you keep it at home, you need to haul it to the water and launch it every time you go out. You also have to load it up and find a place to store it until the next trip.

One option that many boat owners choose is a marina, a place where your boat sits at the dock and patiently waits for you to return. Marinas offer more than storage; you can also get repairs, maintenance, and even boating equipment, all in one location.

Using a marina makes boating very convenient, but there are some things you should remember.

Keep Docks Free of Clutter

Maintaining a clear, walkable dock is an important habit for any location, but if you are using a marina, there will be people of all ages walking along the docks. Always keep the walkways clear of ropes, equipment, and other debris that could present a safety hazard to other boaters.

Don’t Swim in the Marina Water

For two good reasons, the water around a marina is NEVER the place to be swimming. First of all, the marina is a high-traffic area, and boats coming to and from the docks may not see swimmers. Also, docks, boats, and other machinery use electricity, and there is a chance that a loose wire or damaged cords could cause the water to become electrified.

Make Sure Guests are With You at All Times

Your guests are always welcome to join you, but they must be with you at all times and must understand and respect the rules of your marina. Depending on the marina, guests may not even be allowed access unless they are with you when they arrive.

Keep an Eye on Children and Pets

Most marinas will be happy to see your kids, but you need to be aware of their activity and make sure they stay with you, especially smaller children like toddlers. Don’t let them walk the docks unattended, and make sure they stay off of other people’s boats. For pets, keep them on a leash at all times so they don’t bother other boaters. (Remember, not everyone loves dogs as much as you do!)

There Are Rule for Maintenance and Repairs

To protect the docks and the water, as well as the relaxed, quiet atmosphere of the marina, most locations will have specific rules on repairs and maintenance. Many will prohibit activities like sanding rotary disks or spray-painting your boat. There will also be rules requiring service contractors to be licensed, bonded, and insured, and any repair technician you hire will have to check in at the marina office.

“For Sale” Signs Not Permitted

Almost all marinas will have a clause in their rules and regulations that specifically prohibits posting “for sale” signs or other forms or advertising on the boats or on the docks. This is to keep the marina from being part of a financial transaction, which can have legal and tax implications for the business. You can always talk with your fellow boaters about selling your boat, but marinas keep the right to remove any signs that you post.

A Great Fishing Boat for Any Location

Contact Scout Boats today to learn more about our superior designs and top-quality materials. When you want a boat that is comfortable, reliable, and luxurious, you need a Scout!

Note: Every Marina has different regulations. This article contains general tips for keeping your boat at a marina and maintaining a good relationship with the marina staff and your fellow boaters. You should always understand the specific rules for the marina you choose.

For many anglers, fishing without a fishfinder is like driving without a steering wheel.

Okay…maybe that example is a little extreme, but fishfinders are still important tools for anglers all over the country. From commercial fishermen who depend them to make a living to professional anglers who compete and win with their help, a fishfinder can make a big difference for a lot of people on the water.

Every Scout comes with advanced technology and fishing features, including a fishfinder. So how can you get the most from this tool?

Keep Things Simple

Depending on the fishfinder you have on your boat, there could be dozens, even hundreds of different setting combinations, tools, applications, and uses. These tools are very effective for a wide variety of purposes, but when you’re just getting started, keep it simple. Stick to basic settings that you understand and use them consistently. Once you have mastered the basic fishfinder tools, you can move on to more-advanced settings and applications.

Learn to Tune the Sensitivity

Sure, we just got done telling you to lay off all the fancy switches and dials, but one setting is very important to understand: sensitivity. The sensitivity basically determines how much information you receive, but if it’s too high, you won’t be able to interpret the fishfinder properly.

On most fishfinders, you’ll need to start by turning off automatic mode. You can then manually adjust the sensitivity. Crank it all the way up to 100%, then dial it down slowly until you get distinct arches from fish and detailed information on the bottom.

Learn to Recognize Fish and Schools

Using your fishfinder you find fish! What a concept! Start by learning to recognize signs of fish, including schools, large fish, and predators near pods of baitfish. By learning the basic signs, you have given yourself the fundamental tools for success with your finder.

Use the Finder to Locate Structure and Drop-Offs

Once you understand how to spot and differentiate fish in the water, should know how to identify structure at the bottom. Obviously this will be effective in shallower areas where fishing near the bottom is actually an option. Use this new skill to spot reefs, wrecks, and other structure where baitfish and predators are hiding.

Use Ever-Increasing Circles to Find Structure

Using fishfinders to locate structure is a highly effective way to locate fish, but incorporating maps that show depth as well as wrecks and reefs can also be effective. However, what if you come to a location that, according to the map, should have a wreck, but you can’t seem to spot it with the fishfinder?

Make slow, ever-increasing circles around the spot until your structure is located. By spiraling out from the center, you cover all the water and give yourself the best chance of spotting the structure.

Master Fishing with a Scout Boat

You can be the master of the sea by fishing with a Scout Boat. Our boats are equipped with quality fishing features, including fishfinders, aerated live wells, and convenient rod holders. Contact Scout Boats today to learn more about our luxury fishing boats.