3 Tips For Attending Boat Shows

The best time to buy a boat is during the off-season, which happens to coincide with boat show season! If you are thinking of buying a boat at the Lake of the Ozarks, it is definitely wise to visit a few shows before making your purchase. Boat shows provide great opportunities for boaters to get special deals and incentive on new boats, as well as opportunities to meet boat dealers and manufacturers. However, if you aren't quite ready to purchase a new boat, you can just take it all in and have fun! For those who are ready to take the plunge, Iguana Boat Sales offers a few tips to make the best of your boat show experience.

1. Do Your Homework

Boat shows are a great way to start your boat buying journey. When you visit a boat show, you have the opportunity to try many different boats.  In addition, many times you can also get great deals. However, to know you are getting the best bang for your buck, you should do your homework ahead of time. Have a rough estimate of how much your dream boat will cost with the features you are looking for, that way you know how much you are actually saving. 

2. Attend More Than One

Winter boat show season is typically January through March. If you are serious about investing in a boat, use the boat show season to your advantage and attend as many as possible. Boat shows are held across the nation, and some of the best ones are right here at the Lake of the Ozarks! By attending as many boat shows as you can throughout the season, you will be building your knowledge of boat manufacturers, dealers and prices, which will help you narrow the field of possible new boats.

3. Use Them To Your Advantage

Boat shows are catered for those looking to purchase a new boat, so use them to your advantage. Be opened minded and shop all the makes and models. The best part of boat shows are having so many boats in one place to comparison shop. It is also wise to take along a camera and notebook to record your observations about each boat that catches your eye. Write down what you like or didn't like about each model and your impressions of the boat. Don't forget to grab brochures for the boats you like best. In addition, write the boat show price and the list price so you can compare prices between boat shows and dealers. 

January Boat Shows

Photo Credit: Kansas City Boat & Sportshow website

Kansas City Boat & Sportshow

DATES & HOURS

January 19–22, 2017

Thursday: 2 PM – 9 PM
Friday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

LOCATION
H. Roe Bartle Hall
Kansas City, MO

St. Louis Boat & Sportshow

DATES & HOURS

January 26–29, 2017

Thursday: 2 PM – 9 PM
Friday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM

LOCATION
America’s Center & The Dome
St. Louis, MO

Overland Park Boat Show

DATES & HOURS

January 26 -29, 2017

Thursday: 3 PM – 9 PM
Friday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

LOCATION
Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, KS

Iguana Boat Sales

When you visit your next boat show, make sure you stop by the best boat dealer at the Lake of the Ozarks. Iguana Boat Sales tries to participate in as many boat shows as possible to bring you the best options of new boats on the market. If you are in the market for a new boat at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit our showroom in Osage Beach! To schedule a private tour of our showroom, contact 573-355-5027. 

573-355-5027
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4363 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach, MO

Is A Pontoon The Right Boat For Me?

Does your family love getting out on the water? Do you want a boat that can do it all and have room for your friends and family? A pontoon boat may be the perfect option for you! The versatility of a pontoon boat, along with plenty of leg and passenger room, they can make a good weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks with your friends and family even better! The Lake of the Ozarks' best watercraft dealership sells all the best brands in pontoons, such as Aqua Patio, SanPan and SweetWater. However, if you still need convincing that a pontoon is right for your family, here are three reasons why a pontoon is the perfect family boat.

Lots Of Space

Pontoons make great family boats because there's lots of space to spread out and relax or have fun and run around. Traditional boats don't have the space that pontoons have. There is room to move around, large couches and sometimes they come with a table, which is perfect for kids to use to play with their toys or enjoy a lunch. Old kids love pontoons too because there's enough room for them to invite their friends and still have plenty of room for everyone. 

Perfect For Activities

Although pontoons have a reputation for being slow-moving and perfect for enjoying a lazy day out on the Lake (however, who doesn't love those?), that isn't necessarily true anymore. Pontoons have been redesigned with speed in mind. If your family loves to have fun playing with towables, you may need to consider a pontoon! Pontoons are great in the fact that they are so versatile, so whether you love to take it easy and fish or speed on down the Lake, pontoons got it covered. 

Easy To Maintain

Pontoons are made of aluminum, which helps prevent tearing and ripping. Boating on the Lake of the Ozarks brings relatively few risks to your boat, but shallow waters, especially when launching and removing a boat, put your boat at risk. A dent is much easier to repair than a tear or hole, and your boat isn't immediately out of commission for the repair. In addition to being sturdier, cleaning a pontoon is much easier too! Ski boats and luxury yachts at the Lake of the Ozarks come with a gel coating that needs to be wiped down to keep that sleek and pristine look. Pontoon boats, made of aluminum, can be loaded onto the trailer and driven away - a pontoon boat looks good air dried!

Pontoons are the perfect watercraft for families and friends at the Lake. Iguana Boat Sales carries the best pontoon boats at the Lake of the Ozarks because we understand the importance of having a great time on the water. Come to our boat showroom and look for the boat that fits you and your family, and leave with a watercraft that will make the summertime at the Lake of the Ozarks even more fun!

573-355-5027

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4363 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach, MO

Festive Facts About Christmas

Christmas is just a few days away and the best boat dealer at the Lake of the Ozarks couldn't be more excited! To get into the holiday spirit, Iguana Boat Sales looked into festive facts about Christmas.

Festive Facts About Christmas!

- If you add up all the gifts that were given in the Twelves Days of Christmas it would equal 364 gifts. 

- There are 15,000 tree farms in the United States with over 350 million trees growing. Approximately 25 - 30 million real Christmas trees are sold across the United States every year. 

- The most common Christmas Tree species are balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine.

- Each year in the United States over three billion Christmas cards are sent. 

- Christmas trees are usually grown for 15 years before they are cut and sold. 

- Each Christmas seasons, there are approximately 20,00 "rent-a-Santas" across the U.S. Every "rent-a-Santa" undergoes seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. In addition, they also receive advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding smelly foods for lunch. 

- Spiders or spider webs are a common Christmas tree decoration in Poland. According to legend, a spider wove a blanket for baby Jesus. They also consider spiders to be symbols of goodness and prosperity during the Christmas season.

- In 1836, Alabama was the first state to officially recognize Christmas. Christmas wasn't declared an official holiday in the United States until 1870. Oklahoma was the last to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1907. 

- The Eisenhower administration held the record number of Christmas trees in the white house with 26, however, that number has been broken several times since then. The Clinton administration had 36 trees in 1997 during the "Santa Workshop" theme. The next time the original record was broken was during the Bush administration in 2008 during the "Red, White and Blue Christmas" with 27 trees. 

- The first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the United States in 1962.

- According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), there are 2,106 million children under age 18 in the world. If there are on average 2.5 children per household, Santa would have to make 842 million stops on Christmas Eve, traveling 221 million miles. To reach all 842 million stops, Santa would need to travel between houses in 2/10,000 second, which means he would need to accelerate 12.19 million miles (20.5 billion meters) per second on each stop.

Merry Christmas From Iguana Boat Sales!

The team at Iguana Boat Sales wishes you and your family a merry Christmas. If you are needing a few last minute Christmas gifts, swing by Iguana Boat Sales! Lake of the Ozarks best boat dealership has everything you need to make sure summer 2017 is the best summer yet! We will be closed from December 24 - January 2 so our employees can enjoy time with their family. We will see you in the new year to get you prepared for the summer! 

573-355-5027

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4363 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach, MO

3 Tips For Protecting Your Docks This Winter

Winter at the Lake of the Ozarks can take a toll on docks with frozen-over covers and heavy snow. However, dock owners can take a few steps to ensure their investment is protected for another season. To make sure your new boat at the Lake of the Ozarks has a proper place to live next summer, here are a few tips you can use to protect your dock this winter.

1. Be Aware Of Wires

Photo Credit: FunLake.com

Winter storms could cause electrical damage in your dock. In addition, the strong winds and ice could damage the wires. It's important to be cautious when dealing with wires and to treat them as if they are live, even if the power is not on. If your dock experienced electrical damage, it is best to shut the power off and contact an electrician. A professional electrician come out and inspect your dock for you.

2. Secure Your Dock

Winter weather can be hard on your dock. If your dock is not secured enough, large chunks of ice could damage it, make it crash into the shore or break it free. Inspect your hardware and make sure everything is secure. It is also important to note that icy conditions could weaken dock cables, so you may need to repair or replace them once spring rolls around.  

3. Snow & Ice

If you decide to remove snow or ice from your dock, it is important that you are extra cautious when doing so, as it could be dangerous. Not only could you slip and fall into the frozen waters, but the added weight from the snow and ice could cause the dock to collapse. Falling into freezing water can cause hypothermia to set in quickly, which could rob the body of the ability to perform basic tasks that could leave you helpless in the water. Always use caution when around water during the wintertime. 

Your Lake of the Ozark Boat Dealers!

Although the winter months may be hard on your dock, hopefully, with the help of these tips, your dock can stay protected so it will be ready for whatever the summer months will bring. If you are needing a new boat to place in your dock this summer, the best boat dealer at the Lake of the Ozarks can help! Our boat gurus can help you find the perfect boat to suit your lifestyle. Visit us in Osage Beach or online at www.IguanaBoatSales.com.

573-355-5027

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Iguana Boat Sales

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4363 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach, MO

Obtaining Your Boater Education Card In Missouri

Whether you own your own boat or you're renting from the best watercraft rental company at the Lake of the Ozarks, all boat operators are required to successfully pass the Missouri Boater Education class/test. Safety is the most important aspect of a fun day out on the water. The Lake of the Ozarks best new boat dealer has all the information you need to know to obtain your boater certification card. However, even if you are not required to obtain a boater certification card, it is never a bad idea to brush up on boating safety, especially if you have just purchased a new boat from Iguana Boat Sales.

Who is required to have a boat certification card?

According to the law, any person born after January 1, 1984 must successfully complete a NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) approved boating education course before operating any motorized vessel on Missouri lakes (including rentals). The law went into effect for Missouri residents on January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2006 for non-Missouri residents. 

How do I get my boater certification?

First, you must take a NASBLA approved course. This includes courses administered by the Missouri State Highway Patrol - Water Patrol Division, US Coast Guard, US Power Squadrons and Boat-Ed (an online boater education website). The Water Patrol Division offers classes around the state of Missouri at various times and locations. To find class times and locations, visit https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/WP02Web/app/safetyEdClasses. 

Who can take the boater education course?

Anyone wanting to operate a boat should take a boater education course. There is no age limit on who can take the course, however, that person should be able to follow the course material and understand its meaning. Missouri law states that boat operators must be 14 years or older unless accompanied by an adult. Anyone born after January 1, 1984 also must carry their boater certification card and a photo ID. 

Does operating a personal watercraft require a boater education card?

Yes, a boater certification card is need to operate any type of motorized vessel on Missouri lakes. 

Is a boater education card needed to rent a boat/PWC?

Yes, the law applies to anyone operating the vessel whether it is owned or rented. 

Are old cards still valid?

Yes, old cardstock cards are still valid, however, it is recommended to laminate the card or place it in a waterproof container to keep it from getting wet. Please not, all records related to education courses prior to 1999 were purged. If you have lost your card and it was completed prior to 1999, it is required to take another course and purchase a new card. 

Although it is not the boating season, now is the perfect time to brush up on your boating safety and complete the boating education courses, if you have not done so already. We love our customers and their safety is our top priority. The best boat dealership at the Lake of the Ozarks recommends that everyone take education classes prior to purchasing and operating a boat. We want to make sure that when you purchase a boat from Iguana Boat Sales that you can enjoy it for years to comes, which means practicing safe boating and learning the rules of the water. 

573-355-5027

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Iguana Boat Sales

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4363 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach, MO