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New to boating, advice / instruction?
Interested in boating, and just bought an advanced boat (42' Baja v-hull / triple inboard) - my dream boat, as a non-boater ;)
My last boating experience was a summer 20 years ago sailing dinghies off Catalina island when I was 12; I don't want to hurt my new boat, and would like to take as much instruction on boating as possible prior to its delivery. I'm in Las Vegas, and the boat will be delivered to the Lake Mead Marina. Doing some research the last few weeks, and I see some classes 100 miles away in Havasu, but they require your own boat, and mine will be delivered to Lake Mead in about two months. I don't have a tow vehicle, and don't have a trailer currently, so bringing the boat there for classes is difficult. I plan to keep the boat at my local lake, under an enclosed slip, on a hydro hoist. There are schools that will fly an instructor out to visit you and your boat, but I get the sense these are advanced performance boating classes - I intend to drive like Miss Daisy for a year or two before pushing the limits of the boat, so I'm not sure if I can use the money in a better way, eg basic boating and water safety courses. Apparently the only legal requirement for Nevada is a 10 minute online certification course. I'm thinking I can spend the next few weeks learning how to boat, perhaps renting some boats at the marina and get a feel for the act of boating. Curious if anyone has tips, advice, leads on instruction? |
When you get your boat all set up on your lift, go down to stay on it for a weekend and ask around for experienced boaters who would be interested in showing you how to drive it in exchange for beer, cocktails and a nice dinner. Many great friendships with dock-mates have started out in such a fashion. Beforehand, go rent a small runabout for the day a couple of times to get a feel for what driving a boat is like. Won't be the same as driving your boat but it will help.
As for high-performance instruction, while a big boat, a 42 Baja with no steps probably does not require HP instruction unless you have some monster aftermarket engines in it. First thing you need to do is simply learn how to operate your boat and back it into your slip without doing damage to your boat or to others around you. First bit of advice, when backing up a triple engine boat turn off the center engine. |
Slow is pro... Don’t approach docks, other boats, or obstacles any faster than you are willing to hit them. |
Great advice so far. Once you are comfortable enough to get it out of the marina find a buoy or channel markers away from everything & everybody. Practice using your docking skills as if u were side tying that buoy. Spend a LOT of time manuevering your boat around empty docks with at least 2 good deck hands to help protect your boat & dock.
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Excellent advice, agree with all of it. Docking at idle, center engine OFF, steering wheel straight (then take your hands off) and practice using the the two outer shifters to turn with a gentle touch on the throttle. It's logical, one fwd, one reverse and the boat will turn! If someone saw me in my boat at my local marina and said Hi, can you help show me around my new boat and give me a bit of instruction? I'd jump at it. Sounds like a good day out, messing around with a boat, helping someone get started, wouldn't cost me anything and might score a beer at the end of the day! Don't be shy, boaters love sharing their stories and experiences and we love playing on different boats too. If it's very quiet in your marina, ask the marina staff. Doesnt sound like a difficult boat (unless your hp is huge as mentioned previously) so go slow and enjoy yourself. Practice with two mates, no music and save the drinks till later. RR |
Go to river Dave's place.. it focuses on lake Havasu but there are boaters scattered all around. Oh buy they way have a thick skin as it gets rough there but generally good people.
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First congratulations on your dream boat.
seat time is a big part of getting to know your boat. Renting a small run about is a good idea for a weekend to get used to the water and general boating. Then with yours spend as much time possible practicing docking slowly. like stated above- have a few buddies come with you and enjoy the experience. learn in open water how the boat will react to different speeds, it will all get easier and more enjoyable the more seat time you have. happy boating |
All good advice but DON T EVER ONLY TRIM UP THE CENTER DRIVE ALONE! doing so brings the 2 outside drives in and when turning your props WILL hit the center drive and it is going to cost you at least one prop and probably 2 lower case of drives!!! that will cost a lot of $ and also boating time! |
Wind is something I don't see mentioned. Boats of this length become a handful real quick when the wind is blowing. ...whether docking or loading on trailer/lift/ When wind/breeze is blowing, I will often approach a marina very slowly to understand what the wind will do to my boat, before deciding where I will dock - then I approach a dock using wind to my advantage.. It is almost impossible to dock a 40+ foot boat when the wind is blowing you away from the dock, and you can get screwed up really quickly when trying to do so.
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Never understood why some say don't use the wheel. I do this for a living and thrust direction can greatly improve the ease of docking. I can walk my 35 straight sideways like I do with a 200ft boat. It takes practice and all boats handle a little different based on a myriad of factors but I wouldn't think of docking without turning the wheel. As an earlier post said definitely familiarize yourself with your boat. Switches and buttons. Know where everything is should you need it quickly. Yes take the online course, pay attention to spring lines and how they work as you have a good size boat and they can be a rookies friend. The biggest key was already mentioned. Don't approach anything faster than you are willing to hit it. |
Good point about the wind ALL IN. Easy way to dock parallel is to 'warp' the boat in if you have room. Back the boat in at idle with someone on the platform and a rope attached to the rear cleat you want to tie off from. When you're close enough, have him throw the rope around the dock bollard and secure the end back onto the boat cleat. Put your inside engine into fwd, idle speed only, and turn your wheel in towards the dock and wait. May take a little while but she'll come in nicely. Works well for a single engine boat too, If you're backing in to a berth and there's a cross wind, use the wind to stop the boat turning. Back up into the wind, perpendicular to the berth and turn the nose out using gearshifts to swing the boat around and in. By going against the wind, the wind will stop the turning (pivot) motion. If you go with the wind, when you get straight it will continue to push you around further. Using the wheel when turning helps but if you don't have a rudder indicator, you can get stuck if you forget the exact position of the drives. If you've got shaft drives, it don't make much difference because shafts don't steer, only the rudder, and the rudder depends on water flow through the water and at idle, there ain't much! RR |
Don’t forget about Youtube instructional videos. That’s my go to for everything these days. Here’s some simple advice: |
Hi. My name is Michael Jones and we have a houseboat out at R dock at Las Vegas Boat Harbor. Tho I don't offshore, I follow this group when I can and their advice is invaluable. I own a 28 ft. LaveyCraft with a single engine. A different animal from yours, but I enjoy the hell out of it. I joined an outfit called the Power Squadron last year. They are a national group and have a local chapter at Lake Mead. Mostly old salts that know more about the lake, safety and boating in general than anyone else around.
Wind was mentioned a few times on this thread. It is a significant issue anywhere, but in particular where you will be boating. A good app to have is called FishWeather. I have found it to be very useful in predicting the weather and wind patterns out there. I still have managed to get my azz kicked a few times on the lake anyway. Oh, by the way you will be boating in the deadliest national park in the nation....just sayin. I would love to help you out any way I can. I'll even provide the beer at the end of the day.. If you like, feel free to email me at [email protected].. Congrats on your new boat. |
I’m sitting in a airport heading to Vegas as I type. To bad you didn’t have it already, I could show you everything from mantanance to docking to running it. Best of luck with it. Todd |
Best advice I can give, BRING LOTS OF MONEY!!
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WOW just saw this post -- I'm not in the same league of boating as most of the folks on this site - but we all have the love of being on the water.
If there is one piece of advice that i would give anyone - take it real slow - don't try to get out on a busy day and try to do all this stuff - it will drive you crazy and most likely you'll meet the worst of boaters. I know when we went from our old Tri-hull to our Cobalt - it was a quantum jump. It handled way different - stopping needed more planning and wind across the bow - now became a little more important. Another tid bit - don't skimp on the safety stuff - everyone coming back to shore in one piece is always a good thing. I really wish you all the best - send pics and above all HAVE FUN !! 3pointstar |
Back it in the water and have fun. If you get the chance try navigating around an Buoy . See how the boat reacts with the sticks and the wheel. It's not that hard. The basic way to think about it is it's like driving a bobcat skid steer . Congrats and stay calm |
Congratulations on your purchase. A lot of great advise on this site. My main port of call is Lake Havasu but have been on Lake Mead a handful of times. Awesome place to boat but as with any body of water it needs to be respected. I know a few really good performance boat guys in your area. You can find them on River Dave’s Place. |
Just get in a Drive it. The only way to learn--- AND watch the Fuel Gauge! It will disappear Fast :ernaehrung004:
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The most important thing is familiarizing yourself. A lot of people will recommend that newbies leave the wheel alone when docking, I somewhat agree. I’ve taught a lot of people how to operate their boats. Some are able to remember which way they turned the wheel, some can’t remember to pull a shifter out of gear and into neutral. The more familiar you can get with how the boat reacts, and the amount of things you can keep track of at once the better. On a triple I use all 3 engines, the wheel and throttle input. I use the center engine to aid whichever side I need to favor. In some instances I.e big sea rays that tend to drift one direction when backing down I’ll even use rudder input to help track better. Good luck, and like said previously don’t approach anything any faster than you’re willing to hit it. |
I'm new at this too...went balls deep on my first real boat. The boat was slipped at a marina in a channel with slips down both sides...channel is 40 feet wide, boat is 35 feet long. Marina is located in a channel between 2 lakes so we have currents and wind influencing what the boat will do aside of the size of boat. To add to the mix my props are set spinning in...using forward reverse has little effect on maneuverability. Slow...go slow...have help on board and hopefully the other marina users are like the ones at mine...a boat comes in, everyone jumps up to help out. 3 years and 80k later resurrecting this boat...my first time going into the slip I was terrified. Have dock lines and a dock pole ready...you'll need these less and less as you get more experience...oh and big a$$ed fenders/bumpers. I picture the events in my mind before attempting them...go through the sequences mentally .. seems easier that way. Then just do it. The first time the bow got caught by the wind coming out of the slip and swung the wrong way...well I won't get into that story now...but I haven't hit anything yet. Once clear of the marina...play with it...as often and in as many varied conditions that you can...seat time seat time seat time.
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All great advice, but seriously rent a smaller boat a few times before shoving off in your monster to practice the above techniques and to learn the basics of how a boat's handling are affected by wind, current, forward/reverse selection and prop angle. Operate it around the ramp and practice docking, trailering if possible.
It's very evident the only requirement is some states is a 10 minute class, or in Florida zilch if you're above a certain age. Lunacy, considering people can't even operate a vehicle with traction (automobile) within lane lines, between curbs, with a plethora of signage etc. yet throw them in a boat without any knowledge and its fine. |
I would enroll in J. Darr's off shore driving experience.........:boat::boat::boat:
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Pete hit the nail on the head. Visualize what moves you are going to make before you make them.
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