See the complete list of boating "how-to" - click here
Boating - 'How To' Boating Tips
Boating With Dawsons
Doug Dawson and Brenda Dawson
Put the "ing" in Your Boating!
Don't re-invent the wheel!
Learn from the couple who has been
doing and enjoying boating for decades.
Boat
Docking - Dock a Boat Like A Pro
Learn How to Dock a Boat with Doug Dawson
e-Lessons now available
Welcome to Boating With Dawsons website. This site will provide you with the information you need to buy the right boat, handle it easier and enjoy boating more.
Generations of boating runs in the Dawson Family. Doug Dawson is 5th generation in the boating industry and knows pleasure boats as a marina operator, boat dealer, boat tester for national boating magazines and as a recreational boater. Brenda Dawson has been in the boating business since she was a teenager. Brenda designed the computer systems for their businesses Computer Boat Search, Computer Boat Values and the Boat Value Book, a well as partnering Doug on boat tests, boat deliveries, poker runs and relaxing on their own boat.
You can read more about us, testimonials and view some great old family history photos.
Now in what some people call semi-retirement, Doug and Brenda have combined their life times of boating experience and knowledge in a series of Books, e-Books and e-Lessons to help boaters enjoy their boats more. They want to help you put the "ing" in your boating experience.
Thank you for taking the time to help out new boaters at your seminar at the Port Credit Boat Show. My wife and I are working our way through "Buy a Boat With Confidence". We are very impressed with your attention to detail, and have learned many helpful tips already in the first chapter.
This was the first boat show we attended, so we were a little overwhelmed with it all. Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge through your books. The more we read, the more we are convinced that making such a major purchase without the information in your books could have been devastating.
We are very thankful for your offer to help us in our journey to learn to enjoy boating, and will be sure to take you up on your offer when the time comes.
Don and Deb Longmire, ON
How To - Buy a Boat With Confidence
Buy a Boat With Confidence was written by Doug Dawson to guide boat buyers through the seven-step boat buying process to buy the right boat and help them to not make the expensive mistakes that thousands have made.
Four bonus reports accompany Buy a Boat With Confidence or you can purchase a digital download of any of them separately. Boating Activities and Boat Types describes 12 boating activities and 70 boat types. Doug cross references them for you to save you time and money; so you buy the right boat type for your planned activities. Decode the Secrets Embedded in the HIN will save you from buying a boat much older or smaller than advertised. Inspect The Boat Yourself and When to Hire a Surveyor has exhaustive check lists to show you what to look for and how to rate your short list of boats, so you don’t buy the wrong boat and don’t pay for several surveys. Take a Boat Demo Like a Pro explains why you should take the wheel before you buy. Doug has tested and demoed thousands of boats. He knows that some are good, and some aren’t. Don’t buy a “dog” or a “wet” boat.
How to - Be a First Mate
First Mate 101 is written for all First Mates, power and sail, experienced or not. It will empower the First Mate to become involved in trip planning, understand and be able to participate in docking and tying lines and much more. Brenda believes there is always a better way to do things. Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel, she wants to help First Mates shorten their learning curves, and become more confident, simplify their work; so that they have more time to enjoy boating.
First Mate 101 is filled with tips and tricks. She describes in great detail, a long list of First Mate jobs with shortcuts in two major chapters—Interior Management and Exterior Management. The book is so much more than how to be a First Mate. Readers have suggested that after reading the book from cover to cover, they plan to keep “First Mate 101” aboard for easy reference when a situation arises. Knowledge = Confidence = Enjoyment !
How To - Boat Handling Instructions
Docking A Power Boat
Power boats handle differently when you approach or leave a dock. So, don’t let anyone tell you that “they all handle the same”. Doug has docked thousands of boats from dinghies to motor yachts. He knows and explains how each system responds to the wheel and shift(s) and throttle(s) in e-Lessons. Each e-Lesson is approximately 15 pages that you can download, print and then take to the boat to read, practice and re-read as often as you want. No hourly fee for this boat handling instructor.
Outboards and sterndrives both utilize a lower unit that rotates from left to right with the steering wheel. This in turn, changes the direction of the propeller, its thrust and affect. How to Docking your Single Sterndrive and Docking your Single Outboard Boat are e-Lessons for the most common drive systems, yet the most difficult to dock.
How to Docking Your Twin Sterndrive and Docking Your Twin Outboard Boat explain how the twin version docks in a simple e-Lesson. They handle quite differently than a single.
Inboard systems use a straight shaft. The propeller thrusts only forward or backwards. The boat must be steered with a rudder that deflects the prop’s thrust. The Docking Your Single Inboard Boat e-Lesson applies particularly to water ski boats and older wooden boats.
The e-Lesson on how to Docking your Twin Inboard Boat is written for the cruiser, yacht owner who can use some pointers, because his first mate is not bionic and not able to leap great distances to the dock. Stop fearing the dock. Stop yelling and swearing at your first mate. Docking is easy with Doug’s docking e-Lessons.
Docking a Sailboat
Sailboats are equipped with huge rudders, deep keels, little propellers and a unique shape that makes docking totally different than docking any power boat. This e-Lesson covers Docking a Sailboat. Doug teaches sailors the easy way to "sneak up" on their dock, step off and take a bow.
Tying A Boat
Most boating books illustrate methods of tying a power boat way more difficult that it has to be. Growing up and living at the family marina, Doug had to move and tie thousands of boats and learned the easier way to tie up boats. The how to Tie Your Boat e-Lesson shows the simple way to tie that works in almost all circumstances.
Ramping A Boat
After many boating seasons of observing and hearing of the comedy of errors at the launch ramps, an e-Lesson on How to Ramp Your Boat was necessary. Learn how to keep your feet dry and your temper cool. Don’t be launch ramp entertainment. This e-Lesson includes a complete step-by-step list.
Anchoring A Boat
Anchoring a boat needs some basic knowledge about scope, rode, anchor types, bottom types, wind and current. Many times we have witnessed anchoring procedures that indicate a real lack of knowledge. Anchor Your Boat e-Lesson teaches about the different anchors, where to anchor and how to choose an anchorage. Once there, it walks you through the whole process step-by-step in detail how to set the anchor, raise the anchor, look after the anchor and much more.
Anchor right and you'll sleep all night. Don't and you won't!
Enjoying Your Dinghy
A Dinghy is so much more than "just a dinghy". Use Your Dinghy e-Lesson describes all the different types of dinghies on the market and how to choose the right one for you. Then, in detail shows you all the things you can use it for and open up a whole new world on the water to you and your family.
Conquering Wakes
Conquering Wakes e-Lesson will teach you how to minimize the effect of the wake produced by any vessel either approaching or overtaking.
Doug's "Defensive Boat Wake Conquering Techniques" could mean the difference between an enjoyable cruise and one of yelling, shaking fists, injuries, broken dishes, etc.
Communicating Aboard
Communicate Aboard covers many ways you can communicate your messages to your first mate, crew, other boats, friends and in emergency situations.
Not only are these other methods more effective, but also you'll be the envy of other boaters. Boating becomes easier and you appear way more professional.
Docking while Cruising
Docking at each marina as you cruise the waterways is different than at your home marina. This e-Lesson helps you develop the skills you need to adjust your docking procedure to handle all situations.
Enhancing Your Boating Experience
Most boating is "ordinary". Why settle for that when you can turn your boating experience into "extra-ordinary boating".
Get lots of tips in Enhance Your Boating to help you put some "wow" into your summer and enjoy extra-ordinary boating.
This is a free e-Lesson. Just download it from the shopping cart.
Old Boat Brochures
For the person who needs a picture or specs, we have the worlds’ largest library of old boat brochures. Are you buying, selling, restoring and want the original brochure?
Now, the Dawsons have books, ebooks, and e-Lessons in printed or electronic format as well as 2 rooms full of Old Boat Brochures.
Newsletters/Articles/Blogs
You can subscribe to Dawsons free newsletter that is emailed regularly. The newsletters have one or two topics. They are archived as blogs so that searching previous topics is much easier. You can search by word, phrase or category. You have the option of unsubscribing at any time.
Recommended Products
After much research, Doug and Brenda have found some neat products that they are offering to you as our Recommended Products. Each is unique and useful around boats. Most are simply order and use, a few require installation that any boater can do. Great products, great ideas and great pricing. Each recommended product is fully described and photographed.
Recommended Marine Stores
For any marine product under the sun, Masons The Store delivers to anywhere in Canada. For delivery to the USA and beyond, we suggest you check out The Boating Store.
Various marine media publications have given Dawsons Boating Books some Media Coverage . Third party opinions about people and products are always interesting and worth reading.
As an informational site for boaters, we have a well categorized list of links where you’ll find that tid bit of information you need.
Please feel free to contact Doug or Brenda Dawson anytime by phone or email. The contact us information is complete, easy to locate and they’d love to hear from you. Click or call them anytime with feedback, suggestions, questions or some information you would like to share with other boaters.
Enjoy the site and the Dawsons hope that you enjoy your boat more with the help of their expertise.
Thanks to Piggy Bank Websites for developing this site. It allows the Dawsons to share their knowledge with boaters around the world and is so automated that it takes care of business whether they are in the office or out boating.