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.
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.
Don't forget to pick up trolling motor
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.
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
take off the tiedowns and/or transom saver
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
These are all good to learn from! Anything relative to learning how to drive the boat?
steer right to on coming boats, if possible.
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)
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
BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
www.ncboatguy.com
Leave the plug out
"I'm just looking for a bite"
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.
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
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.
BassCat '17 Sabre DC FTD Advantage Elite
175 Yamaha SHO
MK Fortrex 80
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.
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.
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
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.