What happens after boat purchase

[211libwtfo]

Had my first 9.9 Merc at 13 building duck blinds running bank poles bought it picking melons and selling flat heads doubt I’ll ever give it up!!!! Down with the floaters. Lol upper Mississippi River 4 ever!!!!

 

[Captain Caveman]

Did anyone come up with a list of what happens after you purchase your boat?

I would add that the boater safety class should come before the purchase. You will want to get the boat on the water right away so you should know safety beforehand.

Once it is all insured, I would practice backing up in a big parking lot. Go to Walmart/Target/Lowes/etc early in the morning and go to the back of the lot. Practice backing your boat into parking spaces over and over again. Do it from different angles. This will help you immensely at the boat launch.

 

[H20Rat]

Has any ever watched folks from a bass tournament retrieve there boats. Let’s 25 boats at once. The absolute fastest retrieval’s you’ll EVER see. Oh yea all power loaders!!! What is the down side for a power load. People here say “no power load” buuuut nobody says why, very fast very easy mho!!!!

Because it destroys ramps... Once you drop the axle off the end of a ramp and the trailer is resting on the frame, you will know why it is bad. That is A LOT of fun to get your trailer back once you do that...

 

[southkogs]

Power loading tends to be a sort of regional thing. Up in Michigan, I would never have power loaded but here in TN there's no reason not to. While I still get my feet wet and winch the boat on the trailer, the ramps on our lakes are all long enough that there's no real harm in gunning it. Even what's at the end of the ramp is pretty much rock (when you find the end of the ramp).

Know where you're boatin'.

 

[211libwtfo]

I must add I have ripped off the axle on a boat trailer. Walking contradiction over here!!!!!

 

[SkiGuy1980]

There have been a lot of great tips shared. I'll add another word of caution regarding the title - I just went through the purchase of my sixth boat... first time buying out of state. I will NEVER do that again unless the guy has the title in his hand and we seal the deal at the BMV. Six months after purchase I finally had a title and could register the boat for use.

 

[Doh]

Maps or Charts/GPS of the area you plan to boat in.

Lake surface looks the same with 6"s or 6 Fathoms of depth.

 

[Cortes100]

Another thing on the check list, make sure the out drive or outboard is trimmed up before pulling from the water. The sound from the skeg grinding against the pavement is like finger nails on a chalk board.

Our friends just bought a boat last year. He's a mechanical guy, lot's of power toys but never a boat. Newbies are very easy to spot and he didn't want to be that guy messing everything up. He asked us to come along on the maiden voyage and I happily agreed. We spent the whole day out on the lake. We showed him how to load / unload. How trim works, engine performance, how to handle and drive the boat, what to watch for with other boaters, right of ways, etc. Very good learning experience for them. A boating course and reading a book is all fine, but actual lessons go a long way.
If you have a friend who knows boating, see if they'll help you out.

 

[Erichlg]

Your state wildlife and fisheries Dept will have a list of all the required equipment to have on board. Can be handy to keep a one gallon can of gas to get you back to the trailer (it’s better than flagging down the party barge to haul your family back in).
Google boat ramp etiquette. Watch videos. I learned a lot of tips that way. I’m also not “that guy” blocking the ramp to move equipment for the truck to the boat.
Have fun and be safe!

 

[sly_karma]

One more thing you should do as soon as you acquire any powered boat - get a factory shop manual for any engine the boat has. Not one of those useless 4 hp-300 hp 1979-present pretend manuals, but a proper service manual from the engine manufacturer. You really should do your own maintenance on the boat, not to save money but to gain knowledge. Monthly and annual maintenance work takes you into various nooks and crannies of the boat that you'd know nothing about if you let the marine shop do it. And on the water, what you don't know can sometimes kill you.

Get a manual and do some basic work on the boat like lubrication, oil changes, and impeller changes. You'll learn a lot (and save a few bucks...)

 

[thestigmach1]

As a few said before boat plug boat plug boat plug. I've forgotten it before and thank god a guy was standing on shore near by that could shove the truck and trailer in the water cause she was going down fast. Definitely practice when it's not busy. It not as hard as some make it out to be but if you've never done it before it can be tricky. If you know someone who has good experience ask them to show you a time or two and give you pointers. I've been boating since before I could walk and learned everything at a young age from launching, tying off and loading and still go practice anytime I get a new boat. Etiquette at the dock is very important. If you are having a hard time during busy hours either ask for help or pull out of the way so others can do their thing. I've helped people launch and mainly load before who are new and many boaters are happy to help and get you going. Another helpful place is YouTube. Find a video with a boat si.ilar to yours and watch how they launch and retrieve it. Especially if you are going to be doi g it by yourself that's a lot different and can be hard depending on your dock. Most importantly have fun and stay safe. Anytime I have anyone aboard my boat they have life jackets on if the engine is running. I've dropped anchor and sat before because someone didn't want to go wear pfd. It's not law where I'm at but it's my boat and my rules. And have fun that's why you spent thousands on a boat and are going to spend thousands on it as you go. Enjoy everything it can offer the peace the excitement the family bonding. My best memories are on the boat.

 

[FredDog01]

No drinking while on the boat. The bottle bass are always biting on shore afterwards.

 

[Maclin]

No sitting on the bimini

 

[jimmbo]

If more people were to perform the realistic Simulation(standing in a cold shower tearing up several Hundred Dollar Bills) of what boat ownership is like they wouldn't buy one.

 

[211libwtfo]

https://youtu.be/yIZKUBEktlM


a Lil something from shorelander trailers

https://youtu.be/VJv8zWpRbdY

dont be this guy!!!

 

[211libwtfo]

No drinking while on the boat. The bottle bass are always biting on shore afterwards.

HUH WHAAAAAAAT!!!!!! Fun reckers they’re everywhere!!!!

 

[JoLin]

Easy on the beer. Boats don't have brakes, airbags or seatbelts. People die in boat collisions from hitting hard stuff or falling overboard.

Have everyone aboard wear a PFD the first time or two, until you get used to the process and movement of the boat. Little ones should always wear them. I have NEVER single-handed the boat without wearing a PFD. I have an auto-inflating one that's fairly comfortable. Man overboard drills are good. Throw something float-able into the water, then go back and pick it up without "killing" it. It's harder than it sounds.

Nobody. I repeat- NOBODY stands on the swim platform while the motor is in gear. The spinning propeller right beneath it can ruin your whole day.

Hide a spare ignition key on the boat

Don't approach anything (a dock, a boat, skinny water) any faster than you're willing to hit it... because you will. Learn that "neutral gear is your friend."

Remember that you and you alone are responsible for any damage or injury caused by your boat's wake.

Learn to tie some basic knots- a bowline is probably the most useful all-around knot there is. A safe boating class given by USPS or CG Auxiliary is a great start. I recommend taking it in a classroom setting rather than online. Why? The instructors in the local class have local knowledge. You'll learn stuff outside the curriculum that's pertinent to where you boat.

My .02

 

[Maclin]

Usally something more like this happens...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkD4WFoufhU