Tips From Your Dealer: Things To Know As We Near Winter

With the kids back in school and fall activities among us, its safe to say that most of us simply do not have the time we did during the summer for our boat. Now that we’ve shifted our focus away from the lake and on to other things like high school and Titans football, boats have been put up, but not quite ready to be winterized for the season.

Around mid to late September, the average boater already has his boat stored away, hoping to get one or two more good days of fun on the water. It’s a common occurrence at this time of the year for boats to sit for several weeks before they’re taken to shops for their annual winterization. One of the things customers do around this time of year that often leads to costly repairs to an engine, is allowing their boat to sit for several weeks between uses. What a lot of boaters don’t understand is that when your boat sits for that period of time before winterization, major parts and components are exposed to atmospheric elements such as moisture and contaminants. As well with fuel, having gas sit in a boat for several weeks before winterization can degrade the fuel in the boat. These are two main problems that occur within a boats operating system that have a dramatic affect on the performance and well-being of the boat.

An engine can be compared to a human body, if a person decides to sit for a moderately long period of time, that individual gains weight, slows down his blood flow causing blockage in important arteries, and the important parts of his body like joints and muscles do not work as well as they once did. As the season comes to an end, The Boat Locker suggests to winterize your pontoon or runabout early, getting a head start on winterization and great deals for maintenance.

Right now, our standard outboard winterization is starting at $159.95. We also offer other preventive maintenance deals that are sure to make you feel safe putting your boat up for the season. If you have any questions or concerns about your boat and the affect the dropping temperatures have on it, give our knowledgeable service center a call!

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If you’re a boater, you won’t want to miss this…

As of September 1st, we have been hosting a liquidation sale ON ALL remaining 2014 and 2015 models! This is a great event to get a head start on next summer and save a few bucks on BRAND NEW boats. Now don’t take us the wrong way, our business is doing great, we just need to clear our inventory for 2016 and want to give families in Nashville the opportunity to find a great boat! All reasonable offers will be considered at this event. At The Boat Locker, we offer Xpress bass boats, Supra ski boats, Monterey runabouts, Hurricane deck boats, and also Crest, Sweetwater and Manitou pontoons.

With a whole month left of warm weather, now is a great time to take advantage of these saving before its too late. Buying a boat at this event will not only save your thousands but will also prepare you for next summer by helping you familiarize yourself with a new boat. If you’ve been considering purchasing a boat but need to watch your pocket book, this event is great for you. This event WILL END October 31st, so don’t wait and come down to The Boat Locker today!

For more information, give us a call at (615)834-2461

Getting to know us: 3 things you didn’t know about The Boat Locker

 If you own a boat, then you probably have an established customer-dealer relationship with a shop around your area. Since boating in general is such a lifestyle of its own, having a relationship with a dealer or shop is just part of it. One thing we have noticed from our returning customers at The Boat locker is that when people come through those doors, almost all of their stress is released and automatically get into a great mood. At The Boat Locker, we call our customers by their first name, almost always with a smile. Not only do we love our customers but also consider them as our friends or even part of The Boat Locker family. Although that’s the case, most of our friends don’t know who we are outside our shop doors.

 1.) We really do LOVE our customers

At The Boat Locker, meeting different customers and building friendly relationships is part of the reason why we love our jobs. As we said earlier in the post, we consider all of our customer’s part of The Boat Locker family because without them, we wouldn’t be here! Now of course we’d love to sell one our customers a new boat or a new wakeboard but that just part of being in business. Don’t misread us though, we love our relationships with our all of our customers. Being able to relate and bond with someone on a hobby we both enjoy is an experience that couldn’t be compared to anything.

 

2.) We have a passion for what we do

How many times have you walked into a retail store or restaurant and received help from an unpleasant employee? Is it not an awkward feeling? At The Boat Locker, all of our employees love their jobs and have a passion for the boating industry, which is the main reason they’re here. Its not that we just needed a job or were sucked into this business, it’s because we want to be here! After a long day, we handle our stress by taking a boat out and enjoying what we do. All of our employees at The Boat Locker are happy because they’re doing what they love.

3.) We work for YOU

What sets The Boat Locker aside from any other dealer is that our customers are our main focus. Any business would agree that keeping your customers satisfied is one of the most important thing to keep operating but at our shop, we go as far as to have appreciation days and grill-outs just to thank our loyal customers. As we said earlier, we love our customers and the relationships we make so going the extra effort for them is no big deal for us! Meeting great people and enjoying their company is part of the boating lifestyle. When it’s all said and done, our customers are what keep us going.

For more information, give us a call at 615-834-2461 or visit us online at http://www.theboatlocker.com.

Wake Surfing Nashville: How To Create The Best Wave For Surfing On The Lake

In the last couple years, TheBoatLocker has seen an increasing amount of popularity in the sport of wake surfing. For those of you who don’t know, wake surfing is almost the same as surfing in an ocean but behind a boat. With the technology we have today, some boats are able to produce waves large enough to ride freely without the need of a rope. When it comes to wake surfing, Weighting your boat with ballast is the most important thing because it directly affects the wave. Without a good wave, you may find yourself struggling to stay up.

With wake surfing becoming more popular, most boats come standard with their own Ballast set up and are designed to produce a good surf wave. For those of you who don’t know, ballast is a concept of filling up tanks or bags designed to hold water that help produce larger waves. The amount of weight in the tanks or bags helps sink the boat lower to the surface, creating more drag in the water. Weighting your boat right is very important because it is going to directly affect the wave you are surfing. Without the correct set up, you have the potential to damage your boat and not get the wave to its full potential. Before we get into properly weighting your boat, you should always remember to check the weight capacity of your boat. If a boat comes standard with ballast on it, the weight capacity should be rated according to its amount of ballast the boat holds and amount of people it is able to hold. Next time your out getting ready to surf, always be aware of those things because within minutes your boat can be at the bottom of the lake.

Additionally, with most newer boat models becoming standard with ballast, most manufacturers will include the best way to set up their specific model within the owners manual. With the amount of ballast some boat lines are carrying, it is very important to go by what they say. For the majority of boats standard with their own ballast system, you can usually weight the boat with its ballast in the port and starboard side full while keeping your bow ballast tank a little more then halfway. Although every boat is going to produce a different shaped wave, this is something that usually works no matter the brand. Like I said earlier, most manufacturers will tell you what works best but if that information is unavailable, this will work also.

For those of you without a ballast or surf system in the boat, one thing to remember is that Surfing is not going to work on an outboard motor. Not just because you risk loosing a body part from the prop but if you have an outboard motor, it is usually going to have a hull that wont produce a wave no matter how much weight you have in it. For those of you with an older wakeboard style boat or even a ski model boat “Fat Sacs” are going to do the job. Fat sacs are ballast but are usually made of rubber and for the most part, you can find fat sacs that are designed just for your boat. Sometimes fat sacs are easier because you can move them around and see what works best on your specific

This is an ideal wave for surfing. It has a good height and a good length. The ballast set up is 1000 lbs. in each rear corner and 700 lbs. in the front. The boat model is a 2015 Supra SC 450.

boat. With fat sacs, you can usually weigh it out almost as if it was a surf system. Depending on the side you surf on, you usually want most of your weight in the rear corner of the side you ride on, about half of that weight in the front, and just a little bit on the opposite side.

Now that you understand where to place your ballast and the amount you want, we can now discuss how the weight in each spot actually affects the wave. For most boats, it is important that you have a good amount of weight in the rear, while keeping about half that weight in the bow. The weight in the rear is going to be the most important because it is going to affect the actual angle or height of the wave. The weight in your bow will give the wave its length and will be the decider of how clean the wave is and how much white wash the wave holds. Next time you’re on the water and your weighting your boat, you’ll find there is a lot of trial and error in this process. Since every boat is different, you’ll see that one thing will work well for one boat but may not work well for the next. Don’t let this discourage you though, as long as you remember to keep most weight in the rear about half in the bow, you should be able to surf your wave.

To sum it up, surfing is a very fun activity to perform on the lake and thanks to the technology we have today, we are able to do this. Next time you’re on the water, always remember to be safe and check your weight capacity but if you stick to the tips we shared with you, you should be surfing in no time.

Quality Counts: Finding The Best Quality In A Pontoon Boat

There are many style of pontoons available in the market today. With so much variety to choose from, it can be hard trying to find the difference between a quality boat and sales gimmicks. When looking for a new pontoon boat, quality should be the main focus on a buyer’s mind. Most potential buyers in the market overlook many simple attributes that make a great difference when comparing brands and models. Anything from the vinyl, to the literal construction of a pontoon will make the difference out on the water and in value years down the road. At TheBoatLocker we understand this and with that said, here a few suggestions to help.

First and foremost, when shopping for a new pontoon most people are going to compare various lines and brands. It isn’t too common for someone to purchase a new pontoon boat without doing his or her homework. Price and overall look are two of the biggest decision factors for purchasing a new pontoon but the biggest decision factor should be the quality of the boat. This is going to be what holds your boat together after a few summers out on the water and what helps you sell it when looking for something new.

Construction of crossmember

There are many things that go into play when considering the quality of a specific pontoon boat. To make it simple, lets break quality down into two parts, construction and materials. Construction is a major deal in pontoon boats; some brands even set themselves apart from others by holding themselves high on how they build their pontoons. Construction starts at the frame of the boat. The best frame is going to be one with a solid cross member framing system. You will notice that the higher quality pontoons will have more cross members and they will be through bolted, meaning they will be screwed through the frame and toons. The cross members are going to be what holds your boat together and will make a world of difference in how the boat rides. Some lower end models will have a few cross members but will rely on lifting strakes to substitute for additional cross members.

Next, pontoons boats in general focus a lot of attention on seating. The seating layout, material, and seating capacity play a huge role in the pontoon. It isn’t hard to spot quality vinyl. By simply rubbing your hand across a seat, you are able to tell if it is good vinyl or not. Just by rubbing the seat doesn’t do the justice though. Some may feel the same but the difference is going to be in its thickness, how it is protected, and the hinges used to stabilize the seats. Most standard pontoon seats will be 33 oz. thick. Not only that but quality seats will be coated with a UV protecting layer.

Corroded vinyl

This means that not only will you be comfortable but your seats will last longer than others and not damage due to the sun. The next questions is, What is the seat backed up by? Is it a wood or fiberglass base and also, how are the seats held together. Are they connected with solid Piano Hinges or is it a snap in seating? Next time you step on a boat, make sure to ask yourself these things.

Focusing our attention back on to construction, one factor in pontoons that will not only affect the handling and speed capabilities of the boat but the weight capacity and buoyancy are the actual toons on the boat. One thing to look for is the thickness of the toons. Good, quality toons will be a minimum of .90 gauge thick. Generally, the thicker the toon is, the quieter of a ride you’ll have. Having a thicker toon will last longer and will not break down over time due to rough water. When looking at a pontoon boat that is over atleast 20 feet, the thickness of the toon is vital to the life of your boat. Make sure to remember when looking at pontoons that most toons are designed differently then the next, affecting the ride and quality of the boat. Another thing to look at on the toons are the water deflectors. How large are they? Also, how are they attached to the toons? The toons are one of the most important things on a pontoon boat so make sure to keep these things in mind.

All and all, there are a lot of factors that come into the decision-making process of purchasing a pontoon, focusing on the construction and quality will help you find a good quality pontoon boat and make the buying process easier. Things like the quality of the materials used, the framing of a pontoon, and the thickness of the toons will help you find a well-made quality pontoon.

Boating Smart In Nashville: Three Things Every Boater Should Know

When it comes to recreational boating, safety is key to a great day on the water. Not only should you be safe, you should be smart, making the best decisions for you and your friends or family. Being a dealer, TheBoatLocker gets to whitness common accidents constantly and with the popularity of boating growing, being safe is becoming more important then ever. Although we can not give you every way to be safe in this post, here are a few small tips that will help make a difference next time your on the water.

To start off, boating is one of the most fun, family bonding times you can have. With so much fun and excitement a boat can hold, many tend to forget that something so fun can go wrong so fast. One of the most common accidents on the water is from hull damage by running ground or hitting debris submerged under the water. Not only can this cost you thousands in repair but it also has the potential to injure passengers on the boat and ones being pulled. One thing we stress at TheBoatLocker is to Know Your Waters. Things like being able to navigate through your waterways, being aware of shallow areas, and having spots large enough to hold recreational activities can make a huge impact on the safety of you and your passengers. On a busy weekend with boats going every direction, its hard to navigate through the water and even more challenging to see submerged debris. If your new to the boating world or if you’ve boated on the same lake your whole life and want to look for a new spot, always take the time to study your lake of choice before stepping onto a boat.

To add to that, the next important tip is to Know Your Boat. When you get the chance, take the time to look at your boat and review the owners manual. All boat owner manuals will give you weight, speed, and engine suggestions based on testing directly from the factory. Is it a bass boat, a runabout, a pontoon, or a ski boat? If you take that into consideration, you’ll learn that most boats are designed for a specific purpose. For example, take a regular 20 foot bass boat. With most bass boats having a smaller, less deep hull, its nearly impossible for the boat to handle rough water conditions without loosing control due to the hull sitting higher on top of the water. Always make sure you know how your boat handles. Not only should you take speed and turning into consideration but you should also pay attention to the size of it. Being able to know how your boat handles and performs may be the thing that keeps you from running into a dock or from running into another boat. If you have some free time, its never a bad idea to take a boaters safety course. It will educate you on everything involving that is involved with boating and has the potential to lower your insurance rates dramatically. TheBoatLocker is hosting a course right at our dealership just because we know the difference it makes.

Lastly, if you’ve ever been out on the water on a busy weekend, you know how hectic it can be. You look one way and see someone driving at an outrageous speed and then the other way you see someone water-skiing. No matter what your doing, always Know Your Activities. Are you going on the lake to enjoy a sunset cruise with your beloved or are you going out with your friends to waterski and wakeboard? No matter the activity, there is always a time and place suited for it. There are many different aspects to take into consideration for any given water related activity. Take tubing for example, this is something that almost always involves small children and requires a large enough spot to be able to take turns in while keeping a safe amount of space from other boaters. With those two factors, its probably not the best idea to be tubing on a crowded lake but at the same time, some don’t have the choice due to their schedule. Although this may be the case, small things like getting to the lake earlier or taking the time to find a less crowded cove are things that most don’t think about but can make a huge difference.

All and all, being on a boat is a great place to beat the heat and spend quality time with loved ones. It doesn’t come to a surprise that some can act careless, forgetting their responsibilities as a boater. By knowing your boat, the waters you go on, and whats required for the activity you wish to do can prevent  injury and careless mistakes. With these small tips, you’ll start to become safer on the water.