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  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    27

    Mistakes were made.

    About to purchase my first boat...excited and nervous.

    What are some on the water mistakes you've made?

  2. Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Dubuque ia
    Posts
    2,276
    #2
    Plug...and forgetting the keys at home. Lol

  3. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Spring Hope,NC
    Posts
    7,253
    #3
    Well not me personally,but the transome straps,bow strap and motor totes come to mind.

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    27
    #4
    Really looking for how people might have messed up on the water and damaged their boat.

  5. Member spookyg's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    El Paso, TX
    Posts
    23
    #5
    good morning. always VISUALLY verify the drain plug is in the correct hole. my boat has the live well drain right next to the transom drain. if i go by feel, i can't tell the difference. almost sunk it once!
    Quote Originally Posted by Beyondthebounds View Post
    Really looking for how people might have messed up on the water and damaged their boat.
    1986 Mercury 200 "parts motor" waiting to be swapped out.
    1987 184 DCB Fish and Ski.
    1987 Mercury 175. JPL 6" Manual jack plate. JSRE Heads
    23 Hi 5 ski prop. Croxton B&B 23 Tempest. Croxton B&B 23 Yamaha M. 26 Mazco RE3. 24 Mazco RE4.

  6. Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bridgewater, NS
    Posts
    9,054
    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Beyondthebounds View Post
    About to purchase my first boat...excited and nervous.

    What are some on the water mistakes you've made?
    I've done just about everything, but with no lasting damage.
    The best thing you CAN do is get a buddy with lots of experience, and take him with you.

  7. Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bridgewater, NS
    Posts
    9,054
    #7
    What boat are you buying?

  8. Member jlg309's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Yulee, FL
    Posts
    929
    #8
    Write out a checklist of things you need to do at ramp, such as remove straps, drain plug, make sure kill switch is up, etc. Practice backing your trailer in a big, open parking lot. For the first trip or two out, DO NOT GO ON A WEEKEND!!!! Add first time boater stress to weekend at the ramp stress, and your chances of damaging your boat increase tenfold.

    Do you have a good map card? I see your in Maryland so you may be dealing with tidal waters. Depth can change 2.5 feet every six hours. Running a ground and damaging your boat is a real possibility on any new waters. Go slow at first until you get more comfortable.

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    27
    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Nova Kaw 650 View Post
    What boat are you buying?
    2014 skeeter fx20

  10. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    27
    #10
    Quote Originally Posted by jlg309 View Post
    Write out a checklist of things you need to do at ramp, such as remove straps, drain plug, make sure kill switch is up, etc. Practice backing your trailer in a big, open parking lot. For the first trip or two out, DO NOT GO ON A WEEKEND!!!! Add first time boater stress to weekend at the ramp stress, and your chances of damaging your boat increase tenfold.

    Do you have a good map card? I see your in Maryland so you may be dealing with tidal waters. Depth can change 2.5 feet every six hours. Running a ground and damaging your boat is a real possibility on any new waters. Go slow at first until you get more comfortable.
    you sir are a very wise man, thank you for your time

  11. Moderator Fishysam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Jamestown North Dakota
    Posts
    9,318
    #11
    Boats do not steer like cars, or forklifts, at slow speeds the pivot about in the middle of the cockpit, so you actually may need to steer towards something your avoiding, like turning left pushes the motor and back of the boat to the right,

    in reverse steering left will pull the back of the boat left. Do some slow speed handling in the middle of the lake so you don't dock rash the new glitter sled. Also take the throttle easy, the boat may not like to steer at a given amount of trim. So just take it easy, life jacket and kill switch tethered correctly.

  12. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Cape Coral, FL
    Posts
    15,319
    #12
    Don't drive it beyond your experience. Take your time, learn your boat and what she'll do. ALWAYS wear your life jacket.
    THIS SPACE FOR RENT

  13. Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Mcloud, OK
    Posts
    5,189
    #13
    2nd trip out with first Ranger was on a 25 mph wind. Accidentally let the rear of the boat get under a bouncing dock.
    Loaded too fast and jumped the front roller. Boat went to the side and hit the tailgate.

    Don't do those things.

  14. Member basscat21's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Falmouth, Ma
    Posts
    43,672
    #14
    Launched the boat and for got to tie the rope...... in April............Lets say it was a chilly swim

  15. Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Ga
    Posts
    225
    #15
    Chopping the throttle at 80
    Speed cost money. How fast ya wanna go? I have done so much for so long with so little. I can now do the impossible with nothing!

  16. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Lake Wynonah, Pa
    Posts
    482
    #16
    As long as you use common sense and good judgement you will be fine. Don't rush at the ramp. Take it easy until you get seat time. Always pay attention even if you are in deep water, you never know when you'll find a floating log (I know this from experience). I've also taken off with the trolling motor still deployed a few times. Try not to get distracted by people talking, that's what gets me and I get forgetful

  17. Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Lower, Alabamer
    Posts
    449
    #17
    Forget to stow the trolling motor and try to get on plane.....don't do that.

  18. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Houma LA
    Posts
    981
    #18
    In almost everything concerning motor skills and especially launching and retrieving a boat or driving the boat remember this, "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."

    In other words, doing it slowly and smoothly will get it done better and a lot of times faster than rushing.

  19. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Clarksville TN
    Posts
    1,248
    #19
    ALWAYS have kill switch hooked to you when running big motor and WEAR pdf

  20. HYDRA SPORT LS205 225HO JER-1 BIG BASS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Proctorville Ohio
    Posts
    3,515
    #20
    Say your doing 45 or 50 ish or better , trim down just a bit going into turns.

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