Before you get too far into outfitting and projects this Spring, take a few minutes to think about how you really use your boat. Not how you want to use it, but what you actually do.

The numbers say most of your boating last year was done within 10 miles of your home port. The usual destination was a local marina or anchorage – and there was often no destination at all. You probably did fewer than half a dozen overnights, and the bulk of those were spent at a dock or on a mooring. Your longest trip was probably less than a week and you didn't go out in anything blowing above 20 knots.

Such are the results of Mad Mariner's Survey, which set out to explore how we truly use our boats, including what we do, where we go, the gear we use and what is most likely to cause problems. Exactly 755 people participated in the 10-day web-based survey this month – and the answers they gave may surprise you.

Despite the huge bankroll most of us spend on our beloved boats, the reality is that we generally don't go very far and we usually don't stay out too long.

How long do we go out? More than half of those surveyed said the longest trip they took last year was four days or less. One in four said their longest trip was a single day. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. It's a safe assumption that most of us would like to do more boating. In fact, almost two thirds said they plan to do just that in 2009.

But it does pay to take an honest look at your habits at outfitting time – before you spend a lot of money and time. While there's nothing wrong with planning and rigging for that day when you can drift off into the sunset, an honest assessment of your boating right now can help you maintain a budget and focus resources on systems that will benefit you most.

WHAT WE DO

So, what do most of us actually do?

According to the survey, more than half of those who participated said they spent 30 days or more on the water – and that was probably less time than usual. Sky-high fuel costs, which drove the price of gas to more than $5 a gallon during last year's boating season, had a direct impact on boaters, according to industry experts. Many took fewer trips, and went shorter distances.

"It put a real crimp in our style," said Scott Croft, a spokesman for BoatUS. "Instead of a week-long cruise people were gone for three. Instead of going 10-miles up river to that favorite fishing hole, they went two. It was a very big issue."

This year, 59 percent say they will be boating more and 31 percent say it will be about the same. Among the 9 percent who say they'll be boating less this year, almost half said that it was a lack of time – not money – that that will cause the cutback.

When on the water last year, more than half of those surveyed said that the longest trip they took last year was four days or less. One out of four said their longest trip was a single day.

Indeed, most trips did not involve an overnight stay. More than half of those surveyed said that the number of trips that involved a sleepover was 5 or less. And about a quarter said they only took one or two such trips.

When we did take overnight trips, 60 percent said they were most likely to stay at a marina or on a mooring, compared to 35 percent who were most likely to stay at anchor.

Survey participants say they enjoy all kinds of activities while out on the water. Swimming, sightseeing, exploring, navigating and driving the boat were all listed by more than half of the respondents. Roughly 46 percent enjoy fishing. But the number one activity – listed as a favorite by more than 80 percent – was simply relaxing.

There was also the other side of the equation: cleaning, maintenance and upkeep. Seven out of 10 respondents said this can take as much as 25 percent of their boating time. More than half said they do 85 percent or more of the work on the boat themselves.

WHERE WE GO

So, when we are out on the water, where do we go?

Fully 57 percent of those who responded say they are coastal cruisers, compared to 23 percent who travel lakes and 17 percent who navigate rivers. A scant 4 percent choose the open ocean.

The body of water matters because about a third of us stayed within 10 miles of our home port on the average boating day last year, according to the survey. Power boaters were slightly more likely to venture farther, perhaps encouraged by the range and speed afforded by their engines – or by chasing fish.

No matter what boat you have, day sailing is popular. Almost 37 percent said they have no destination at all when they untie the boat. About 28 percent said they head to an anchorage, 15 percent go to other marinas and 12.5 percent said they head to local fishing spots.

Weather also plays a big role in how we use our boats. Of those surveyed, almost half said they would not travel in winds above 20 knots. And that's a sound practice, says John Potts, a Coast Guard Auxiliary Department Chief.

"In our boating safety class we discourage people from going out in a small craft warning," which is wind gusting from 21 to 33 knots, Potts says. "The few who do go out have some pretty decent boats that can take 20 knot seas and their experience level is up there."

Indeed, the survey showed that almost 36 percent of respondents named heavy weather as the situation most likely to cause them problems – even more so than docking.

In fact, among the four options, docking came in last. Almost 27 percent named shallow water, 24 percent said traveling in unknown waters and 13 percent said docking.

How far do we go? About one third of survey respondents said they stayed within 10 miles of their home port on their average boating trip last year.Tom Nunes, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, said recommends that boaters take a safety class to learn how to handle inclement weather, docking and other challenges.

"Most people out today haven't taken one," he said. "It gives people a very good overview of what they need to know to stay safe."

WHAT WE USE

The unscientific survey was conducted from April 7 to 17 via the Internet. It was posted on Mad Mariner, as well as the magazine's Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages, and on other websites. More than 80 percent of those who participated identified themselves as boat owners.

With the number of systems aboard modern boats proliferating, offering everything from large generators and inverters to networked navigation displays and underwater lights, the survey asked some questions about the gear we use most – and what causes the most problems.

Not surprisingly, the power plant scored high on both counts. More than 90 percent of those who responded said they use their engine every time they go out. And one third named it as the system that caused the most problems.

"Your boat is a machine like any other," Nunes said. "Just like you take your car in periodically to be checked, you have to do the same thing with a boat. If you don't take care of things, it'll go bad."

Among the other systems named essential by at least half of those polled: the galley, the bimini and other canvas, the water system, the head, the batteries, the VHF radio and navigation electronics. A generator was chosen by just 25 percent of those who responded, and a dinghy by just 20 percent.

Some of those same systems – particularly batteries, electronics and the head – were also named as the most problematic.

"In an ideal world, people do preventative maintenance," Potts says. "But we don't live in an ideal world."