Open Boat Camping
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Open boat camping (for our purposes here) is simply using your boat for transportation to get to a campsite on shore.
Open boat camping is strongly dependent on water levels, tides, and knowledge of the terrain. A valuable tool here is a topographic map of the area. The US Geological Survey has 7.5 minute topographic maps of most of the U.S. The maps show elevations and other terrain features, as well as showing lakes, rivers, and coastlines in detail.
Since levels rise and fall, you might be better off taking an afternoon to scout an area out for yourself before going there to camp. The less time elapsed between your scouting trip and your camping, the better.
An alternative source of local conditions may be a marina, fish camp, or guide service in the area. If you are in a coastal area, they can provide tide information as well.
Try to avoid "hoping to find a spot" to camp before dark. You may not.
I divide open boat camping further into:
Motorboat camping and
Canoe/kayak camping (click here to go there)
If you need general camping information, click here.
