J.B. Marshall

The switch marked blower is not meant to keep you cool... well then again maybe it is, you will stay cooler if you don't go boom.

northerndoc

Always make sure the plug is in.... Sounds funny and dumb, but have seen more than one "chinese fire drill" at the launch while people try to get the boat back out before it sinks.....

kaama82

iTrader: (1)

When rafting off another boat, Always raft in the same direction. Stern to Stern.....

SDFever

If you've never taken the time to show the wife how to back a trailer in a no-stress environment, please don't send her up to get your truck and trailer at 5pm on a summer Sunday afternoon while the ramp is rockin' only to then start yelling at her because she's doing it all wrong.

If they've never backed a trailer before with limited visibility on their own, they will do even worse when there's an anxious audience where all members have car horns.

Congrats on the boat!! Have fun -

lightning jet

Here are my fav three rules for crew
Allways bring more of your favorite beverage then you cane drink in a day.

Bring clothes for all weather

Bring cash because I don't except american exspress



(Capt) allways wear your tether kill switch.

glassdave

iTrader: (1)

Docking - its not a timed event and no one is holding a stopwatch. Take it at your own pace and screw the opinions of eveyone wathcing.

Wear your lanyard AT ALL TIMES when underway. Wear it on your wrist and in time your brain will be wired to know when its not on the same way you know when you are not wearing a seat belt in a car.

Get a good set of fenders with covers (or bumpers if thats what ya wanna call 'em) for rafting.

when rafting its best to tie the stern first and keep them lined up across the row. Tie it snug then do the bow

do frequent systems checks when the boat is on the trailer. Nav lights, stern and 360 lighting should be bright and functioning. Keep the lenses clean and clear.

glassdave

iTrader: (1)

This is my biggest pet peeve



learn how to properly tie a few simple knots. these work well on there own and its not necessary to endlessly loop a spaghetti mess on top of them

cleat hitch - my very biggest peeve lol . . . . know it . . . learn it . . . liv it

http://www.netknots.com/html/cleat_hitch.html

clove hitch, the proper way to tie to a post for short term docking. This can be done with just the loops thrown over the post with practice.

http://www.netknots.com/html/clove_hitch.html

bowline - very handy and easy to untie

http://www.netknots.com/html/bowline.html

anchor bend - just a good one to know cuz anchors are expensive

http://www.netknots.com/html/anchor_bend.html

Knot 4 Me

When taking a leak off the back of your boat, first thoroughly scan for the Water Patrol in all directions. Once a female officer just smirked and continued on her way (my buddy commented that she didn't see anything worth pulling over for ). Another time I was boarded and had to go through the whole safety check thing and was then scolded for not being more discreet.

Too Stroked

More correctly phrased - "Never approach a fixed object any faster than you'd want to ram it."

And a few more:

When presented with multiple launch ramp lanes to choose from, never choose the one with a Bayliner in it.

The time it will take the idiot in front of you to launch his boat is inversely proportional to the size of the boat. (Jet Skis take forever)

The time it will take the idiot with the Bayliner in front of you to retrieve his boat at a launch ramp is inversely proportional to the number of miles away the fast approaching tornado is. (The closer it is, the longer he will take.)

Your chances of doing something truly stupid at a launch ramp are directly proportional to the number of people watching you and / or how much you want to impress your new lady friend.

kreed

iTrader: (2)

And make sure you have enough ropes to tie off properly rafting/docking up, with a spring line! Actually, have MORE than enough rope. Have your bumpers and ropes on and ready BEFORE you pull into the dock. Oh, and also have them on and ready before you back the boat into the launch! Its annoying when people back into the launch and then start puttin on lines and bumpers! Good luck and happy boating!