Re: New to forum and my new boat
Well, I got a crash course in rough water handling yesterday on a lake...hate to imagine the angry sea.<br /><br />Went out again today and had a great time while in the coves...kids swimming, etc. Came out of the cove and smack into at least 3' waves. Lifeguard later said winds where 35-45 mph. On the way to the dock we had waves OVER the bow. That really surprised me with this boat.<br /><br />Got to the dock and it was a nightmare. The winds were blowing at an angle into the shore. Boats were riding up and over the dock, then slamming back down. People were scrambling along the docks trying to holds boats in place to get them loads. <br /><br />There were three LA County lifeguards at the ramp. They were running back and forth throwing lines to boats and helping hold them off the dock. One guy in a very flat jetboat road sideways over his trailer as the lifeguards pushed and turned him. Looks like he escaped with little damage. SERIOUS KUDOS TO THESE lifeguards. <br /><br />While waiting to get come in an load up, I watched a guy in a new Yamaha SX 230 HO try to manuver and hold it near the dock. He simply could not keep the boat facing shoreward, the wind kept blowing the stern around. He finally got close enough and the tied off the stern, facing out toward the lake. The lifeguards, with the wind, turned the bow 180 degrees and tied her off.<br /><br />Then came my turn... It took me two times to get the boat close enough to drop off the Admiral and still keep it off the dock. She jumped off to go get the truck and the lifeguard threw me a line. Once tied off, I spent the next 10 mins holding the boat off the dock. The boat rode so high that the bumpers were useless.<br /><br />Got to give a kudos to the Admiral also...for her first time backing the trailer, she did a great job. The ramp was like an evacuation area AND there were kids running all over the place. She took her time and didn't do the "S" down the ramp. <br /><br />The worst part was loading. The waves were so high that it was impossible to accurately judge the depth of the trailer. One lifeguard let out the bow strap and got it attached while myself and two others kept the boat from riding up over the guides on the sides of the trailer, and the bow stop. It was not one of those days where you could load the trailer and stay dry. Sure nice that this trailer is made for this boat...she sat down on the trailer evenly. <br /><br />That was not something I wanted to do with a boat that's only 1 week old...but we survived with only a few light scratches and some frayed nerves.<br /><br />Come to find out, they were in the process of closing the lake when we came in due to the conditions
<br /><br /><br /> Here is some more pics of my new boat It is a 21'6" open bow, weighing 3400# with the 5.0L GXI.<br /><br />I have about 5 yrs experience with inland lakes boating but nothing off shore.<br /><br />Question: Can I safely take it out in the ocean? Now, before you fall over laughing, I don't mean "out" as in miles from shore. I mean I would like to cruise around Santa Barbara and the other local harbors, and off the beaches for a few hours. Thanks
, I've been lowering the tongue to get enough clearance in the back. 
