Just hit the key!!!!!

I am in a covered slip and have dry exhaust so very loud, A group of slip owners that surround me bought me a big cow bell that hangs on a pole, when I decide to fire up I ring the bell 3 times as a warning. I still scare the sh**
Out of them when it fires up

Uhh, that doesn't sound like a sleeper. Lol!
fair warning Once, they'll get it when you turn the key.

I usually get the stupid question, "That has two engines in it?"

A couple years ago I was on a face dock for the weekend. Saturday morning a big a$$ hinckley yacht docked behind me stern to stern. I went to go for a ride so I warned him it was loud and just got a dirty look from him. As soon as first engine fired he fell off his swim platform into the water! His wife and everyone else thought it was a riot. Except for him

10+ years ago, I fired up an HP500EFI on my Sonic which had a molded swim platform, which always really boomed and directed the sound quite a ways behind the boat when firing. One time, I scared a woman so bad that she tipped her stroller with child in it, over backwards.

Ever since then, I have been cognizant of who is within 75-100 feet of the boat when I fire it up in mixed environments.

80% of the time when I spout off a warning I get a "Hell yeah brotha, fire that bltch up!! We've been waiting."
The rest of the time, just a 'meh, whatever you stupid republican' look.

Regardless, that's how I play it.

this is my procedure EXACTLY, even the "fire in the hole" part, funny..........you HAVE to be courteous of the kids and the old for sure........ I'll admit we do get a laugh out of when I warn someone, and they give the ol don't worry I'm used to it comment, then they jump out of their pants after I fire up. They usually give a laugh themselves too. Once had a small skiff behind me at a gas dock, I told them I'd wait for them to leave, they insisted I start her up....... needles to say she jumped so high she came within inches of falling in the water.......

At my old marina I used to tell people befor I started. But not so much at the new one with being at the end slip. And at the favorite watering hole it's 95% go fast boast so no one gives a heads up there

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If there are non-offshore types around I would always give consideration to them and let them know what's going to happen. I don't get the "f-u" attitudes when starting these machines, all it does is galvanize people against us and makes it easier to enact those preposterous muffler/sound laws. We're our own worst enemies at times.