Thread: Rookie mistakes

Page 1 of 19 12311 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 378
  1. #1
    Member Hollada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Lake St Clair, Michigan
    Posts
    2,217

    Rookie mistakes

    Let's here 'em. What are some of your biggest rookie boater mistakes and lessons learned. Forgetting the plug is too easy. Let's hear some of those things that will reduce the learning curve for us rookies.

  2. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    South La
    Posts
    104
    #2
    Don't forget to pick up trolling motor

  3. Electrical/Wiring/Trolling Motors Moderator CatFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    SW Indiana
    Posts
    26,089
    #3
    Keys left at home.

    Lug wrench won't fit the trailer

    leaving something on so the battery is dead at the ramp

    Locking the keys in the truck on the ramp
    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
    nothing else matters.​

  4. Member Hollada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Lake St Clair, Michigan
    Posts
    2,217
    #4
    Any stupid mistakes while learning to drive? I've heard backing off the throttle too fast if the boat starts to walk can cause issues - for example

  5. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Crow, TX-formerly Austin
    Posts
    403
    #5
    take off the tiedowns and/or transom saver

  6. Member crank68's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Kenly, NC
    Posts
    17,403
    #6
    Most important.....forgot toilet paper.
    Boat come unhooked from truck.
    Back entire truck in water.
    Forget to fill up boat and can't get far from ramp.
    Left rods at home.
    Compartments locked and keys at home.
    Loose TM prop and no spare.
    Throw blade off big mota prop...no spare.
    Dump boat onto ramp.
    Loose track of time and be late for weigh in and miss a check.
    Throw ruler in water first thing while tryin to hit a bowfin.
    Cull the wrong fish.
    Give weigh master the wrong fish for big fish and miss big fish money.
    Only have 4 fish when you culled too many.
    Cut a turn short and mess up white letters and rims.
    Put in by yourself, tie rope to boat and get in a hurry and pull out and it pulls the boat up ramp.
    Put in by yourself, tie rope to trollin mota, get in a hurry and pull out and it snatches trollin mota off.
    BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
    www.ncboatguy.com

  7. Member Hollada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Lake St Clair, Michigan
    Posts
    2,217
    #7
    These are all good to learn from! Anything relative to learning how to drive the boat?

  8. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    fayetteville, n.c.
    Posts
    12,205
    #8
    steer right to on coming boats, if possible.

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Sanford, NC
    Posts
    653
    #9
    Beach the boat on the bank (not nearly far enough). While getting the truck, the boat current drifts the boat out into the middle of the lake in very frigid waters. (Ask me how I know)

  10. Member wicked's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Middletown, NY
    Posts
    223
    #10
    Quote Originally Posted by 01bulletxrd View Post
    Beach the boat on the bank (not nearly far enough). While getting the truck, the boat current drifts the boat out into the middle of the lake in very frigid waters. (Ask me how I know)
    LOL the exact reason I got power poles :)
    2019 Nitro Z20
    2019 Pro XS 250 4 Stroke
    112 Minn Kota Ultrex
    Lowrance HDS 12 live
    Lowrance HDS 9 Live
    12" Atlas Hydraulic JP
    Dual 8' Power Pole Blades

    Tow Vehicle
    2017 Toyota Tundra

  11. Member crank68's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Kenly, NC
    Posts
    17,403
    #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Hollada View Post
    These are all good to learn from! Anything relative to learning how to drive the boat?
    I would post your set up in the proper forum that matches your boat and list you set up and ask questions there. You'll prolly get a lot of help there.....
    BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
    www.ncboatguy.com

  12. Member The Mountain Man's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Appomattox, VA
    Posts
    1,592
    #12
    Leave the plug out

    "I'm just looking for a bite"

  13. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Vandiver, AL
    Posts
    75
    #13
    Forget and leave motor in gear after shutting down. Spend 30 minutes dorking with the batteries when it won't start to leave later. Only figure it out when you bump the shifter and it moves.

  14. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Waldorf, MD
    Posts
    2,051
    #14
    Drain your cranking battery, cuz you forgot to connect the kill switch.
    William "Bill" Kyte
    Waldorf, MD
    2018 Shenadoah Kerr lake BFL Co-angler Champion

    2020 Ranger 520L Evinrude G2 250HO

  15. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    77
    #15
    You guys have made me feel better about my self today. Knowing I'm not the only dummy on the lake. How about leaving a 2# bag of dry fish chum in your boat all winter. It was a mouse buffet.

  16. Member Midnight Rider's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Valley Grande, Alabama
    Posts
    595
    #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Hollada View Post
    Any stupid mistakes while learning to drive? I've heard backing off the throttle too fast if the boat starts to walk can cause issues - for example

    Yea...trim down FIRST, then slowly get off the throttle. Then, try again...
    BassCat '17 Sabre DC FTD Advantage Elite
    175 Yamaha SHO
    MK Fortrex 80



  17. Member RdRngR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Tillery
    Posts
    1,420
    #17
    Run out of gas in the truck on the way to the lake, 50 gallons in the boat with no way to transfer to truck...I do now
    Last edited by RdRngR; 10-03-2015 at 06:36 AM.

  18. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    171
    #18
    Can't say how may times I've dragged the scag across the concrete just moving the boat around on the drive way to clean it up or get ready to go to the lake. I just can't remember to pick it up unless I'm heading down the road which is a good thing I guess.

  19. Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    665
    #19
    First day - forgot to lock the jack when unhitching trailer. Broke 3 toes when it dropped.

    2022 21PHX

    Previous boats:
    2017 Phoenix 721 ProXP
    2000 Triton TR186

  20. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Shumway IL
    Posts
    72
    #20
    1st day out in my boat with my wife and 1 yr old girl. The baby finds a screw from from somewhere in the boat. She puts it in her mouth and begins to choke on it. I put my finger in her mouth and throat, I feel it and swipe at it. She bites down on my finger before i can get it. She is no longer choking but now crying because of my actions. We can't find the screw anywhere, so a trip to the ER happens. We have a x-ray film showing the screw in her stomach. She passed it next day with no ill effects. Scary day for sure.

Page 1 of 19 12311 ... LastLast