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Old 03-21-2011, 04:54 PM   #10
Rattlesnake Guy
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I will pile four things on the advice list.

1) Unlike in a car, a boat bumps into things. As said previously, if you are going real slow and don't panic, no one will know the difference.

2) I taught my kids and bride to dock out in the middle of the lake. I would randomly orient the boat and ask them to park into and leave an imaginary slip where making mistakes is zero deal.

3) Wind is everything when things get tight. If you can spot a flag or other indication of wind direction and severity, it can save you a lot of aggravation. Take advantage of the wind or compensate for it if you have to.

4) A boating friend of mine taught me to try and forget what you know about steering a car. On a car you steer the front wheels. On a boat, you steer the back. You can't make the front go where you want. You can only push or pull the front by moving the back. It makes a big difference when you are doing anything important at low speed.

Enjoy the experiences and welcome to the forum.
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