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I Bought a Boat. Now what? Thirteen Things to Try Aboard Your Powerboat

Date: February 4, 2026

Once you’ve bought a boat, the next step becomes figuring out what the heck to do with it. Here’s our list of 13 on-board activities that will help you make more of your time afloat.

Power, Park, Paddle

Kayaks and paddleboards are tough to beat for nosing into the lush headwaters of the Chesapeake’s tributaries. Travel by powerboat, anchor up, and launch from the water, and suddenly very little is beyond your reach.

Water-Ski, Wake Board, or Wake Surf

It’s difficult to imagine having more fun while being dragged behind a vehicle. Wake sports such as waterskiing, wake boarding, wake surfing, and tubing offer a high-adrenaline experience that’s surprisingly accessible, and today’s towboats can shape the wake to suit the rider.

Trotline for Crabs

Of all the methods for catching crabs, none rivals trotlining for sheer excitement. A baited line, hundreds of feet long, is stretched between two buoys along the riverbed. As each bait is pulled up, crabs are scooped off with a net—then inevitably flung outside the bushel basket, where they make a beeline for the closest exposed ankle. For added entertainment, we recommend going barefoot.

Pack a Picnic

What good is a nice view on an empty stomach? Like most activities, boating improves tremendously with the addition of food. And, as an added benefit over land-based picnicking, the risk of basket-burglarizing bears is much lower.

Cook (Way) Out

With any luck, a day on the water will call for more than bologna sandwiches and cold potato salad. Charcoal or gas are certainly options for whipping up a hot meal—with an abundance of caution of course—but 48-volt grilling systems are quickly becoming the standard.

Dock and Dine

Next time you have nothing in the fridge, instead of jumping in the car, run down to the boat and take a ride to one of the hundreds of restaurants on the Bay. Arriving by boat makes any dockside dining experience all the more enjoyable. Plus, if the meal leaves something to be desired, at least you have the run home to look forward to.

Visit an Island

Perhaps it’s a deep-seated flag planting impulse, but there’s something innately thrilling about visiting an island—that Robinson Crusoe charm. And while the inhabitants of Smith Island or Tangier Island are unlikely to honor any territorial claims you make, the Chesapeake is dotted with smaller islands and sandbars where you can beach a boat, plant a figurative flag, and rule unchallenged for an afternoon.

Dive

For all the wondrous things you’ll discover on the water, the most bizarre, bewildering, and beautiful are found beneath the surface. In Chesapeake Bay alone, you’ll find as many as 8,000 shipwrecks and 350 species of finfish. All you need to see them is a pair of goggles and a really deep breath.

Take Your Pets

If dogs really are man’s best friend, it seems kind of messed up to lock them up in your house while you go gallivanting around the great outdoors. The good news is, most dogs take to life on the water with very little convincing. Cats are a different story.

Raft Up

A raft-up is what happens when a group of boats anchor together and someone breaks out the cooler. You tie up, hop in the water, visit the neighbors, and generally carry on in a way that would get you talked about on land. Raft ups also offer a rare chance to climb aboard a bunch of different boats and figure out what you like—just don’t forget to pack fenders.

Marina Hop

If you’re the type to appreciate the freedom that a boat affords, then marina hopping may be for you. Pull up, plug in, explore the town, and move on whenever the mood strikes—it’s like a timeshare that you can relocate when you’re ready for a new neighborhood.

Catch a Fish

It doesn’t take much to catch a fish from a boat, but a rod will certainly make it easier. Beyond that, there’s tackle, technique, and a penchant for hyperbole. The learning curve is part of the appeal.

Watch the Fourth of July Fireworks

It’s not every day that you get to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Make this Independence Day special by watching the fireworks from the water—no crowds, no traffic, and the reflection doubles the show.

Get Started at the Bay Bridge Boat Show

Whether you’re looking for your first powerboat or your next one, the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point (April 17-19) is the place to explore what’s possible. You’ll find boats suited to every item on this list, plus the gear, accessories, and services that’ll help you keep the adventures coming season after season.