Boating
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,414
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From: Washington DC area
Business Travel...
bahahah I love it. Clever. Great new toy for pops.
Speaking of new Toys - how is the bike JPan? Haven't seen you around as much! I can only hope you're out there trying to get some seat time in before the dead of winter.
bahahah I love it. Clever. Great new toy for pops.
Speaking of new Toys - how is the bike JPan? Haven't seen you around as much! I can only hope you're out there trying to get some seat time in before the dead of winter.
awesome dude i want to get a boat so badly. Life jackets are super important, other than that you will get used to driving the boat pretty quickly. I have always been around boats at my grandfathers yacht club, he let me drive out on the open water but since his boats 50ft he never let me dock it 
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 419
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From: Seattle, WA
haha I kinda wish I bought a CBR600RR or a 954RR ;P
But I am loving the 636 ninja and I've been riding every chance I get. Friends say I'm nuts but I can't help it. How has your ROTM been? Riding often? It is a SIN not to ride our beautiful bikes.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 312
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From:
I have lived on the Chesapeake Bay my entire life. Been driving boats by myself since I was about 10-11. Owned Boston Whaler, Jetski's, Wellcrafts, and now own a 35' Cigarette with a pair of supercharged 502's. From having spent years in all of these boats I can offer the following:
- Most accidents are caused by Jet-Skiers and people who are DRUNK.
- Never get in a scenario (rough water or wind) where you shouldn't be. There are always several incidents a year of fishermen out in big water in a 15' boat that take a wave over the back and are never found. (We sold a 20' Wellcraft to a woman who lost it this way - luckily the people were saved).
- If you don't know the water (sand bars, depths, hidden dangers) use good judgement.
- Be Smart when you are towing someone on skis, wakeboard, tube - if you are uncomfortable just STOP.
- It is a much more comfortable feeling boating when other people are out in case something goes wrong you can get towed home.
- DO NOT be one of those people who get to the ramp to launch and then spend 25 minutes getting their **** ready.
- Each state has different laws on when a safety course will be required. In VA they are phasing it in over the next few years based on age. I just took it because it will be required by my age group by next year. For ME - it was worthless, however if you have not grown up on the water it will probably be a good introduction.
- When towing - you can NEVER have enough truck.
- Maintenance is paramount when boating. It will ALWAYS be the difference between a great boating weekend or getting towed home. It will also ALWAYS be the difference between boating being financially palatable and unnecessarily expensive.
- Be sure to have the common sense stuff (Anchors, dedicated lenghty anchor line, flares, horn, lights, preservers).
- Remember that it is impossible to see at night except under the PERFECT scenarios. I never get on plane at night.
- Always make sure you have working bilge pumps and don't forget the plug!
Plenty more, but these are things that strike me right off the bat.
Have FUN!!!
- Most accidents are caused by Jet-Skiers and people who are DRUNK.
- Never get in a scenario (rough water or wind) where you shouldn't be. There are always several incidents a year of fishermen out in big water in a 15' boat that take a wave over the back and are never found. (We sold a 20' Wellcraft to a woman who lost it this way - luckily the people were saved).
- If you don't know the water (sand bars, depths, hidden dangers) use good judgement.
- Be Smart when you are towing someone on skis, wakeboard, tube - if you are uncomfortable just STOP.
- It is a much more comfortable feeling boating when other people are out in case something goes wrong you can get towed home.
- DO NOT be one of those people who get to the ramp to launch and then spend 25 minutes getting their **** ready.
- Each state has different laws on when a safety course will be required. In VA they are phasing it in over the next few years based on age. I just took it because it will be required by my age group by next year. For ME - it was worthless, however if you have not grown up on the water it will probably be a good introduction.
- When towing - you can NEVER have enough truck.
- Maintenance is paramount when boating. It will ALWAYS be the difference between a great boating weekend or getting towed home. It will also ALWAYS be the difference between boating being financially palatable and unnecessarily expensive.
- Be sure to have the common sense stuff (Anchors, dedicated lenghty anchor line, flares, horn, lights, preservers).
- Remember that it is impossible to see at night except under the PERFECT scenarios. I never get on plane at night.
- Always make sure you have working bilge pumps and don't forget the plug!
Plenty more, but these are things that strike me right off the bat.
Have FUN!!!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 3
From: West Monroe,Louisiana
Same goes for putting everything back on the trailer and getting back up the ramp. Develop a gameplan for making everything happen smooth. Hell - go the day before and just watch people run through the process- see what works and what your options are. Also - if you have no experience backing the trailer, learn that now in the off season if weather permits.
I don't know much about a jet drive outboard - but if there's not much lower unit in the water to act as a rudder, then turning the wheel without power on isn't going to do much at all.
In all my years of putting tournament ski & wakeboard boats back on the trailer, it's still satisfying as all get out to put one on the trailer perfect without playing pinball on the runners.
Administrator, MVN / ROTM NOV 2012
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 11,003
Likes: 3
From: Republic of Boon Island
True that on ramp etiquette ......... nothing worse that some noobs hogging the ramp.
after you let off your trailer straps .........don't forget to check the plug is in
check all your gear stern and bow lines are in place and fenders over and ready.
Dropping the boat in should be a 5 minute tops process.
hey Michaud, let me know when you go looking for a boat ..... got (4) need to trim the fleet.
after you let off your trailer straps .........don't forget to check the plug is in
check all your gear stern and bow lines are in place and fenders over and ready.
Dropping the boat in should be a 5 minute tops process.
hey Michaud, let me know when you go looking for a boat ..... got (4)
need to trim the fleet.Last edited by Sprock; Dec 14, 2010 at 04:19 PM.
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True that on ramp etiquette ......... nothing worse that some noobs hogging the ramp.
after you let off your trailer straps .........don't forget to check the plug is in
after you let off your trailer straps .........don't forget to check the plug is in
!! what a bloody laugh , ...swallow a couple of cans and watch the 200 dick heads get them selves all over prung and tied in knots ..LOLOL BTW ...only once with my 16 foot half cab did I ever sink her at the ramps because of no plugs .....!! ..lolol was rather funny actually ....
That little 16 footer of ours had a what we called a "Blue band 6 cyl Merc " 100HP!!
Mate , yu don't recon that little bugger didn't aquaplaned outta control !!!
it was mental !!!
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
I have lived on the Chesapeake Bay my entire life. Been driving boats by myself since I was about 10-11. Owned Boston Whaler, Jetski's, Wellcrafts, and now own a 35' Cigarette with a pair of supercharged 502's. From having spent years in all of these boats I can offer the following:
- Most accidents are caused by Jet-Skiers and people who are DRUNK.
- Never get in a scenario (rough water or wind) where you shouldn't be. There are always several incidents a year of fishermen out in big water in a 15' boat that take a wave over the back and are never found. (We sold a 20' Wellcraft to a woman who lost it this way - luckily the people were saved).
- If you don't know the water (sand bars, depths, hidden dangers) use good judgement.
- Be Smart when you are towing someone on skis, wakeboard, tube - if you are uncomfortable just STOP.
- It is a much more comfortable feeling boating when other people are out in case something goes wrong you can get towed home.
- DO NOT be one of those people who get to the ramp to launch and then spend 25 minutes getting their **** ready.
- Each state has different laws on when a safety course will be required. In VA they are phasing it in over the next few years based on age. I just took it because it will be required by my age group by next year. For ME - it was worthless, however if you have not grown up on the water it will probably be a good introduction.
- When towing - you can NEVER have enough truck.
- Maintenance is paramount when boating. It will ALWAYS be the difference between a great boating weekend or getting towed home. It will also ALWAYS be the difference between boating being financially palatable and unnecessarily expensive.
- Be sure to have the common sense stuff (Anchors, dedicated lenghty anchor line, flares, horn, lights, preservers).
- Remember that it is impossible to see at night except under the PERFECT scenarios. I never get on plane at night.
- Always make sure you have working bilge pumps and don't forget the plug!
Plenty more, but these are things that strike me right off the bat.
Have FUN!!!
- Most accidents are caused by Jet-Skiers and people who are DRUNK.
- Never get in a scenario (rough water or wind) where you shouldn't be. There are always several incidents a year of fishermen out in big water in a 15' boat that take a wave over the back and are never found. (We sold a 20' Wellcraft to a woman who lost it this way - luckily the people were saved).
- If you don't know the water (sand bars, depths, hidden dangers) use good judgement.
- Be Smart when you are towing someone on skis, wakeboard, tube - if you are uncomfortable just STOP.
- It is a much more comfortable feeling boating when other people are out in case something goes wrong you can get towed home.
- DO NOT be one of those people who get to the ramp to launch and then spend 25 minutes getting their **** ready.
- Each state has different laws on when a safety course will be required. In VA they are phasing it in over the next few years based on age. I just took it because it will be required by my age group by next year. For ME - it was worthless, however if you have not grown up on the water it will probably be a good introduction.
- When towing - you can NEVER have enough truck.
- Maintenance is paramount when boating. It will ALWAYS be the difference between a great boating weekend or getting towed home. It will also ALWAYS be the difference between boating being financially palatable and unnecessarily expensive.
- Be sure to have the common sense stuff (Anchors, dedicated lenghty anchor line, flares, horn, lights, preservers).
- Remember that it is impossible to see at night except under the PERFECT scenarios. I never get on plane at night.
- Always make sure you have working bilge pumps and don't forget the plug!
Plenty more, but these are things that strike me right off the bat.
Have FUN!!!
really appreciate the wealth of advice. hahaha the ramp noobs ;P I can picture my family frantically trying to get the boat in the water on our first try.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 312
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Most boating people are great and will voluntarily lend a hand whether they realize you are a noob or an old pro. Never feel bad asking for help - Everyone's done it...
