Using a Boat

[NubMuffin]

I have a Mako walkaround boat with a small cabin in it. I'm a total noob on using boats with all the electronic stuff in it, so if you guys can give me some tips and stuff it'll be helpful. Like if you could tell me little things about the boat such as the battery and raising/lowering the engine to get the smoothest ride.

http://www.bustersmarine.com/images/M215OHC0108_OH_09_500.jpg

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Using a Boat

Welcome to iBoats!

Now, you need to learn before you practice. book reading will not get you where you want to be. You should consider taking a course and finding someone that knows what they're doing to take you out on your boat and teach you from there.

http://www.discoverboating.com/buyi...atselector&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=sem

http://www.boat-ed.com/?gclid=CPyrkObf7LACFcqe7QodVm1oWA

Boating can be one of the funnest things you ever do. However, inexperienced boaters can put you and many others at risk. Don't put me or any others at risk; take a class and then learn from someone driving your boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Using a Boat

I hope you have already taken the boater safety course.

Next step is to get an experienced boater on your boat with you to show you the ropes. With such a general request, there is nothing we can do from here for you, but if you have specific questions, post away! (hint: put the subject of the question in the subject line, not just "need advice" or something non-specific.)

Also give some information about where you will be boating and what you will be doing. That makes a big difference.

Is it a new boat? Pay attention to the break-in. Maybe you can get someone from the dealer to go with you for a follow-up sea trial to your first one. Anyway, it would be worth what it costs even to hire a "guide" (experienced boater) to go with you if you don't have friends who qualify.

I had a friend who bought his first boat and never took it out unless he had one of his boat-experienced friends on board. For a whole year. Maybe overly cautious but better than the other way. Also, this guy couldn't even pump his own gas.

 

[Geko45]

Re: Using a Boat

I had a friend who bought his first boat and never took it out unless he had one of his boat-experienced friends on board. For a whole year. Maybe overly cautious but better than the other way. Also, this guy couldn't even pump his own gas.

Wow! That would be the far extreme from what I did which was buying a boat and driving it back to my marina right then and there by myself without any prior boating experience at all. But then again, I can pump my own gas (for the car, boat and airplane).

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Using a Boat

Boats are dangerous and take extra skill and knowledge to operate. If you don't understand this you don't need a boat. Take a boater safety course at the very least. You can be extreme if that's what you have to do to be comfortable but better safe than sorry is the rule on the water to protect you, your passengers, and your investment.

 

[shout]

Re: Using a Boat

We were between those 2 extremes, bought a boat in October, I spent the next 6 months reading everything I could find, took a boaters course (online) and took delivery in April, with the boat in the water at the marina. We did pretty well docking at the marina as well as at the fuel dock. We are very cautious, don't take any chances, so we have never had an issues. I don't have any friends that have boats, so we were on our own. The point is that reading and being cautious, can substitute for an experienced friend. We've had the boat for 5 years and we love it!

-- shout

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Using a Boat

shout, your method is also sound--studying BEFORE boating is important and being cautious is crucial (with the studying, you learn what to be cautious about). However, the OP already has his boat, it's June, and clearly he doesn't know what to ask about. I'd assume he's done little if any studying and as for cautious, well at least he's here, asking, and admitting he is new at it--and nothing wrong with that. But to catch him up, he needs personal hands-on instructions: a boater in his boat with him.

The dangerous boaters are the one who assume they know what to do, or that there is nothing they need to know.