First Time Boat Owner Needs Help...

gtxrider · 04-20-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John A. Birdsall

there are two things I noticed that were not mentioned.

1.) you back the boat into the water, not drive into. If you drive into it could ruin more than just your day!

2.) Have seen this more than once, don't forget to take your tie down strap off the boat and trailor. Makes it easier to get the boat off the trailer when in the water.

3. oh yeah and take the vechicle out of reverse when you are releasing the boat. Don't need the vechicle to go for a swim.

AND....
4. make sure the drain plug is in before launching..Boats float better with the water outside the hull.

hilltopper · 04-20-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxrider

AND....
4. make sure the drain plug is in before launching..Boats float better with the water outside the hull.

What he said. Plus you lose a good half hour of boating time with the boat on the trailer waiting for the hull to drain!

robmac · 04-21-2011, 09:35 AM

Several years back a boater that had ramp service at an uname marina close to the weirs lauched his boat after already finding someone had ransacked it only to find they had also remove the plug. I always check it when launching and keep a couple of spares in case I need it or a boater at a ramp lost one. Just speeds things up.

samosetguy · 04-21-2011, 12:18 PM

Rattlesnake guy mentioned wind but I would expand the point especially for a boat your size.

If you're on Lake Winni in the larger pockets of water (and maybe smaller lakes too), wind speed can really impact your day. I would check weather.com for the forecasted wind speeds before heading out.

Everything is more diffuclt (and more stressful) when the wind is blowing hard. Waves are bigger, docking is harder, getting help if your engine goes down can be more stressful because of drifting, etc.

Conversly, everything is a lot easier when there is no wind. Rides are smooth, docking is a easy and predictable, etc.

As I write this I'm remembering the day I tried to turn my boat around in the 19 mile bay docks on a crowded windy day. I'll never try that again.

Also, every boater, no matter how great they claim to be, has had at least one embarrassing mistake while boating.

04-21-2011, 12:18 PM	#4
samosetguy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 63 Thanks: 42 Thanked 36 Times in 15 Posts	Wind Rattlesnake guy mentioned wind but I would expand the point especially for a boat your size. If you're on Lake Winni in the larger pockets of water (and maybe smaller lakes too), wind speed can really impact your day. I would check weather.com for the forecasted wind speeds before heading out. Everything is more diffuclt (and more stressful) when the wind is blowing hard. Waves are bigger, docking is harder, getting help if your engine goes down can be more stressful because of drifting, etc. Conversly, everything is a lot easier when there is no wind. Rides are smooth, docking is a easy and predictable, etc. As I write this I'm remembering the day I tried to turn my boat around in the 19 mile bay docks on a crowded windy day. I'll never try that again. Also, every boater, no matter how great they claim to be, has had at least one embarrassing mistake while boating.

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04-21-2011, 09:35 AM	#3
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 950 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	Several years back a boater that had ramp service at an uname marina close to the weirs lauched his boat after already finding someone had ransacked it only to find they had also remove the plug. I always check it when launching and keep a couple of spares in case I need it or a boater at a ramp lost one. Just speeds things up.