Short term salt water?

[Sabbath]

Re: Short term salt water?

College spring break, unfamiliar waters and a new boat? What could happen!? Not sure any of this is a good idea, dude. Why risk it?

Wow, way to have a killjoy attitude. You could apply that to any new experience in life and just sit around not doing anything new.

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

Someone said something about overloading, whats the worst that could happen?

 

[62 ROYAL SCOTT]

Re: Short term salt water?

Coast Guard - Live to learn-learn to live , ENJOY LIFE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Short term salt water?

the worst is that you take a wake wrong, swamp and sink, someone drowns--and hypothermia is a serious issue even when the weather is warm. Along those lines stay away from inlets; they are tricky, wierd currents, sand bars, standing waves.

When it's over loaded the boat won't handle well and you will have too many people in the way to deal with any emergencies.

Most likely it will attract the Coast Guard who will write you a ticket, probably several once they start inspecting.

Carry the same number of life preservers as your boat is rated for passengers, and use that to draw the line. You are going to have a lot of people who want to ride. find a place where they can hang out while you take turns taking the right size group out. Make the guys pay for gas; take the cute girls for a ride.

which beach are you going to? BTW the water at the inlets is all salt; I don't know where you got your 30/70% number--not that it matters for this trip.

 

[Philster]

Re: Short term salt water?

Someone said something about overloading, whats the worst that could happen?

At this point, all responsible iboaters are required to cast their vote against you taking your boat on spring break.

PERIOD.

However, several conditions could be met that would reverse this in time for break, including boating safety courses, time with an experienced captain, and a local boater that can show you the in and outs of the area you intend to boat in.

Seriously...

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Short term salt water?

At this point, all responsible iboaters are required to cast their vote against you taking your boat on spring break. PERIOD.

Totally agree and hereby withdraw my previous encouragement in the affirmative. Be safe!

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

Sunset Beach, Nc and im going to do everything i can to gain as much experience and knowledge about my boat and the area. Cant you just take the same safety course online as you take to get your certificate?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Short term salt water?

I think the reaction comes from the question (what's the worst that can happen if you overload) because the answer is basic safety that one learns in a safety class--and thus the assumption that you haven't taken one, or have the experience and perspective to safely take people out in your boat.

I haven't been to Sunset (it's a barrier island, for others) for many years, but I recall a wide inlet at the north end, and a narrow one at the south and access there to a deserted island/sand bar (Gull Island?) Inside, very limited boating, either intercoastal waterway or shallow areas with lots of oyster rocks. For your kind of boating i think you need someone along who knows that area specifically as well as that type of environment. When I took a boat there, it was a 13' whaler, and I know barrier island marsh systems.

Don't know the ramp or slip options; I just slid in off the side of the road somewhere.

Let me suggest you take the boat down another time and spend a lot of time getting to know the area and the boat, but not on a party trip. Enjoy your partying on land on Spring Break and then your water adventures without the distractions.

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

and when i said "whats the worst that could happen" i didn't mean the obvious results i meant to the boats driving conditions and draft

 

[Philster]

Re: Short term salt water?

I've done every dumb thing known to man (feels that way), so I am not beating down on you, but the answer to your questions all come from experience.

There is nothing wrong with questions, or asking about new places and trying to learn. However, at some point, someone needs to say that your level of questioning indicates a degree of inexperience that cannot be conquered with mere answers. And this is when it is time to realize that you need additional education/training, time at the helm and the assistance of someone from the area that knows the waters (even knows which channel markers are near spots that haven't been dredged lately and are misleading).

If we answer every question, it doesn't imply you're ready. That's the problem. And your questions are, quite frankly, sophomoric at best. You need to revisit your overall boating knowledge and lose your coastal and tidal waters virginity, and if anyone endorses doing that on spring break, then I need my head examined for even wasting key strokes.

I am alive because I am lucky. I am not beating down on you. Many years of boating lie ahead if you're sensible now.

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

I respect your opinion and I know I'm very inexperienced but I'm willing to learn. I'm not the one to jump into a situation uneducated with other peoples lifes on my hands. I use to be terrified of boats when I was young, now I'm 19 and I own one but as far as training, should I just call my local marine shop and see if anyone's willing to lend a helping hand? As far as the safety class to get your certificate is that all the legal work that has to be done before taking her out? Registration sticker?

 

[Philster]

Re: Short term salt water?

First, the minimum to get legal: http://www.boat-ed.com/nc/

Then to boost your knowledge and meet people in the know, hit up the Coast Guard Auxilary or U.S. Power Squadron:

http://ncpaws.org/boatingsafety/coursesearch.asp

Happy Boating!

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Short term salt water?

First, the minimum to get legal: http://www.boat-ed.com/nc/

Then to boost your knowledge and meet people in the know, hit up the Coast Guard Auxilary or U.S. Power Squadron:

http://ncpaws.org/boatingsafety/coursesearch.asp

Happy Boating! View attachment 131250

When philster says "hit up", he's takking about taking the courses these two organizatiins offer, everywhere in the country. They are inexpensive and usually only one evening a week for about 8 weeks. Gets you a deduction on your boat insurance too.

You mentioned being afraid of boats when younger. I'll bet that carries over to now in that it will keep you respectful for the power of the water. You also display a considerable interest in learning. Tge fact you originally posted here for advice attests to that. So, kudos for that.

Good luck...

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

Yeah I love having a more experienced person helping me out where I need it. I have a great respect for water, this is why I'm so avid about learnin the ways of an experienced boater. I signed up for the course. It's 6 hours and is it free?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Short term salt water?

around here on the fishing forum you can get, or be, a HO, and it's a great way to share experience.

It works both ways: an experienced boater with a boat would like someone to go out with him to Help Out; an inexperienced boater with a boat would like to take an experienced boater along to teach him; an experienced boater who sold his boat (often an Old Dude) or an inexperienced fisherman with no boat (or just a small boat) would like to go fishing on someone else's boat--to Help Out. I did it once, to get the experience of fishing a boat larger than mine with gear I don't have.

So this summer you should find some folks there to HO. I am assuming that spring break is not the time to find that kind of HO. But I could be wrong--if you aren't going for the Cheap TV Party Scene, but are taking along a couple of buddies one of whom knows that type of water, you may be in luck. Sunset Beach isn't Myrtle in that regard.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Short term salt water?

Date girls with fathers who have boats. Worked for me.

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

I'll try that and nooooo no noooo completely different from myrtle. It's small, chill, CLEAN, and most of the ppl there are locals and yeah willy I'll keep that in mind next time I'm single hahaha

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Short term salt water?

Date girls with fathers who have boats. Worked for me.

Good idea!

No wait--I'm a father with 2 girls and a couple of boats---what am I saying? Bad bad idea!

In this boating town, lots of the teen girls have boats (family boats) and therefore have lots of boys on board. Worked for my sisters, too. All kidding aside, I think it's great for the teens to be out on the water. And I don't have to worry about mine; one's boyfriend has boats and the other's builds them!

 

[SportPhish31]

Re: Short term salt water?

Does anyone know if that course is free?

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Short term salt water?

I took the coast guard auxillary course (1 night a week for 8 weeks) in 1996. It was $35 then. So, probably not free, but cheap.