How to Choose the Right Boat Size for Your Family
For most families, a boat in the 22–28 foot range strikes the best balance of comfortable capacity, ease of handling, and cost — pontoons and dual-console boats in this range typically seat 8–12 people, while anything smaller feels cramped for a full family outing and anything larger adds cost and docking complexity without much added […]
The True Cost of Boat Ownership (Beyond the Purchase Price)
A good rule of thumb is to budget 10–15% of the boat’s purchase price per year for ongoing ownership costs — insurance, dockage or slip fees, winterization, routine maintenance, and fuel. A $50,000 boat, for example, typically costs somewhere in the range of $5,000–$7,500 a year to own and operate responsibly, not counting financing. Every […]
Cruising the Chesapeake Bay: Anchorages, Routes & Timing
The Chesapeake Bay offers roughly 200 miles of protected cruising ground from Havre de Grace, Maryland down to Norfolk, Virginia, with hundreds of tidal rivers and creeks branching off it — making it one of the most beginner-friendly big-water cruising areas on the East Coast. May through October is the core season, with September and […]
How to Prepare Your Boat for Sale: A Broker’s Guide
Boats sell fastest, and closest to asking price, when they’re mechanically sound, cosmetically clean, and priced against actual comparable sales rather than the owner’s replacement-cost expectations. Before listing, budget time for a deep cleaning and staging pass, gather your maintenance records, address anything a surveyor would flag, and price using recently sold comps — not […]
Boat Engine Maintenance Schedule by Engine Type
Most recreational marine engines need service on a hybrid schedule — whichever comes first between an hours threshold and once-a-year, regardless of hours run. Outboards like Yamaha typically call for service every 100 hours or annually; diesel inboards (Yanmar, Volvo Penta) generally run 200-250 hours or annually for oil and filters, with longer-interval items like […]
What to Expect During a Boat Haul-Out: Step-by-Step
A haul-out is when a travel lift (or similar equipment) removes your boat from the water so the yard can pressure-wash the hull, inspect the running gear, and access anything below the waterline that can’t be worked on while floating. The lift, wash, and initial inspection typically take under an hour. Any bottom paint, prop, […]
Why Does My Boat Vibrate at Cruising RPM?
Vibration that shows up or gets noticeably worse at a specific RPM is almost always the propeller or the running gear behind it: a bent or nicked blade, fishing line or debris wrapped around the shaft, a damaged strut, or a shaft that’s out of alignment with the engine. Vibration that’s present across the entire […]
Jeanneau, Saffier, or Bennington: Choosing the Right Boat Brand
Jeanneau, Saffier, or Bennington: Choosing the Right Boat Brand for Your Chesapeake Bay Lifestyle Norton Yachts carries three distinct boat brands, and that’s by design rather than accident. Jeanneau, Saffier, and Bennington serve genuinely different buyers — different budgets, different skill levels, and different visions of what a good day on the Chesapeake Bay looks […]
What to Look For When Buying a Used Sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay
What to Look For When Buying a Used Sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay A used sailboat can be an excellent value — but only if you know what you’re actually buying. Norton Yachts has operated a full-service boatyard alongside our dealership since 1948, which means our team has hauled out, rigged, and repaired thousands of […]
New vs. Used Boat: How to Decide What’s Right for Your Budget and Goals
New vs. Used Boat: How to Decide What’s Right for Your Budget and Goals Every boat buyer eventually asks the same practical question: buy new, or buy used? There’s no single right answer — it depends on your budget, how much time you want to spend on maintenance, and how soon you want to be […]