It seems counterintuitive that winter is the best time of the year to buy a new boat or personal watercraft. But those who wait until late spring or summer to make their purchase often are disappointed to learn that the new vessel they want is sold out.

According to Bryan Seti, national marketing manager for Yamaha Motor Corp., this is because when it comes to buying a new boat or personal watercraft, shopping early gets the best deals.

"This past year, we sold out of our best-selling WaveRunners [personal watercrafts] before the July 4 weekend and our most affordable WaveRunner, the VX110, was nearly sold out in June," Seti said. "It's harder for consumers to find a deal when supply is that low."

Seti says that buying a boat or personal watercraft at a winter boat show will guarantee that you find the boat you want because dealers are motivated to sell.

"Our dealers are receiving their 2006 orders now and those units take up a lot of space at the dealership," said Seti. "Dealers tend to get motivated when they see a crowded sales floor."

The nautical experts at www.BestofBoating.com offer the following tips to help you get prepared for a winter boat show:

* Plan your attack. Research boats and personal watercrafts before the show and map out the exhibits you want to visit. By preparing in advance, there's less chance of being distracted.

* Take a day off. Plan your visit for a weekday, when shows are less crowded. This makes it easier to inspect boats and talk with manufacturers' representatives and dealers.

* Stay focused. If you're seriously shopping at the show, you may not want to bring the kids. Your full attention is needed when closing a deal.

* Think on your feet. Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to remove so you can climb aboard the exhibits. Your feet will thank you at the end of the day.

If you are just starting to cook, or are moving in on your own, chances are, you don't have much in terms of cooking equipment. Here is what we recommend for you to get, as you are starting out. As times goes by, you will, of course, get more kitchen gadgets. But here are five that we recommend starting out with:

- Chopping board. This is something very basic, as you can't chop anything without having a chopping board. It is very versatile, as you can chop pretty much anything on it - onions, potatoes, tomatoes, meat, herbs, etc.

Some people prefer to get separate chopping boards to meat, dairy items, vegetables, etc. Others get differently sized chopping boards, and use them depending on the volume of things they need to chop. Start out with one, and see what else you need.

- A knife. Again, this is very basic, but you will not be able to chop or cook anything without a knife. A good, sharp knife goes a long way to help you prepare food. You can go to some stores, and hold the knives in your hand, so that you know which one you are comfortable with.

- A big pot. You need a pot for pretty much anything - from boiling pastas to making soups to stewing to pretty much anything else. Some pots come with colander inserts, which makes it easier to cook pasta. Or, you may get a colander separately, and use that.

- A saute pan. We love saute pans, and use them all the time. Again, they are very versatile, and we recommend getting ones without wooden handles, so that you can put the saute in the oven as well.

Use the saute pan for preparing stir fries, sauteing meat and fish, cooking vegetables and much, much more.

- Roasting Pan. These are perfect for preparing things in the oven. From roast to roasted chicken to roasted vegetables, a roasted pan can help you cook your favorite dishes in the oven.

Don't be scared - cooking is fun. Start getting a few things that we recommended, and add to your collection of kitchen equipment as time goes.