Restless22
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2012
- Messages
- 136
We wanted to clean up our beloved Aruba today, and had help from my sister in law, her teen daughter and friend, and my teen boy and almost teen girl.
Well, once we got there, and the water was so calm, I just had to go out. Now this is my first boat, and yesterday was my first training with the seller.
So, with a mix of courage and fear, I checked the oil and headed out of my slip. I did fine in the no wake areas and followed the buoy channel markers to get to the river. I did fine, and slowed to not wake the fishermen and waved to other sporting boats.
It sure was tough to get the speed everyone wanted, but I had 3 teens, 3 adults and 1 near teen on the boat. Even when trying to get on plane, by moving everyone into the cabin, I struggled to match the speed of just 3 on board from yesterday. I learned a lesson on weight management and engine capability today. So, I did have spurts of fun and speed, but once the temp went to 170-180 on the old 350 Merc, I backed it down and cruised.
I need some training on getting up to plane, but I think the weight had a lot to do with it.
We had a nice trip, but I decided to head back, remembering all of my marks, and made it back fine, although the grass is getting thick here, and the channel is narrowing. I got some nice waves from the big houseboat folks lounging in their slips, and a nice man asked how our trip was when we passed, and I told him it was my first. He told me congrats with a big smile on his face. I did ok getting back into my slip with the hydrolift, with my First Mate in Training, my 14 year old son. After my OCD method of trying to get it perfectly lined up and getting my battery charger connected and my waste pump out connector on, we aired the lift up, and I used my shore garden hose to wash off the hull.
So now, I'm enjoying a Miller Lite with a sense of accomplishment.
Sorry for the long post, but I had to share it with my friends here!
Well, once we got there, and the water was so calm, I just had to go out. Now this is my first boat, and yesterday was my first training with the seller.
So, with a mix of courage and fear, I checked the oil and headed out of my slip. I did fine in the no wake areas and followed the buoy channel markers to get to the river. I did fine, and slowed to not wake the fishermen and waved to other sporting boats.
It sure was tough to get the speed everyone wanted, but I had 3 teens, 3 adults and 1 near teen on the boat. Even when trying to get on plane, by moving everyone into the cabin, I struggled to match the speed of just 3 on board from yesterday. I learned a lesson on weight management and engine capability today. So, I did have spurts of fun and speed, but once the temp went to 170-180 on the old 350 Merc, I backed it down and cruised.
I need some training on getting up to plane, but I think the weight had a lot to do with it.
We had a nice trip, but I decided to head back, remembering all of my marks, and made it back fine, although the grass is getting thick here, and the channel is narrowing. I got some nice waves from the big houseboat folks lounging in their slips, and a nice man asked how our trip was when we passed, and I told him it was my first. He told me congrats with a big smile on his face. I did ok getting back into my slip with the hydrolift, with my First Mate in Training, my 14 year old son. After my OCD method of trying to get it perfectly lined up and getting my battery charger connected and my waste pump out connector on, we aired the lift up, and I used my shore garden hose to wash off the hull.
So now, I'm enjoying a Miller Lite with a sense of accomplishment.
Sorry for the long post, but I had to share it with my friends here!
