First time ever boating.

Twox48 · 09-08-2016, 09:59 AM

You have received a ton of good info...
My biggest advice is "Don't Panic"...
If you stay calm in any situation that may try to "rattle" you, you'll be better off. Especially in close quarters such as docking. Remember to take the boat out of gear. Sounds simple but too many inexperienced captains panic and forget that simple task! Rushing, jamming it in reverse and goosing it will create quick direction change, yes but it's not usually in a direction you're hoping for putting your boat in an undesirable position! As stated by someone above, the slower you hit something, the less damage you can expect!

Have a great time! Enjoy our big lake!

Hivolt · 09-08-2016, 11:10 AM

Thanks everyone for all the advice, I think I'm going to look into renting a captain for a few hours, I Booked a weekday rental in the hopes the lake would be quieter and I wouldn't be stressed so much around public docks and whatnot.

Island Girl · 09-08-2016, 11:12 AM

You are right about the lake being quieter. This is Thursday and not only are there no boats, the lake is dead calm.

Have fun with your adventure!

IG

radiocontester · 09-08-2016, 11:42 AM

A little advice from a first-year boat owner/operator on the big lake: Assume no one knows what they are doing and drive defensively. I can't tell you how many times I had to veer off course and/or slow down to prevent a collision when I was clearly the stand-on vessel.

Also, when docking: SLOW=PRO.

GL!

rsmlp · 09-08-2016, 12:10 PM

20' bowrider on the northern tip of Rattlesnake I in THE most complicated lake in NE with extremely low water levels and a brand new captaincy of the boat sounds like trouble. Somebody had to say it.
I'd feel a lot better about it if the lake were full and your domicile was more tranquil.

chris410 · 09-08-2016, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsmlp

20' bowrider on the northern tip of Rattlesnake I in THE most complicated lake in NE with extremely low water levels and a brand new captaincy of the boat sounds like trouble. Somebody had to say it.
I'd feel a lot better about it if the lake were full and your domicile was more tranquil.

Cant believe it took that many posts for this. The first thing I thought of when I read the original post was, why would someone who has never piloted a boat, rent a house on an island...

Island Girl · 09-08-2016, 12:22 PM

When you first get to the dock, it is most helpful to take a line from the center of the gunwale (the upper edge of the side of a boat) and tie off to something on the dock. A post is fine.

This way the center of the boat is tied and the bow and stern will not get away from you. You can then tie the bow and stern is whatever order seems best for your dock. As metioned earlier, the more lines the better.

Do not tie too tight. Google "spring lines" to see how they work.

FYI, gunwale is pronounced gunnel.

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Descant · 09-08-2016, 03:24 PM

Island Girl's tie up advice is absolutely right. (Tie the middle first). On a rental boat, there may not be a center cleat to tie to. I've had to add such a cleat to some of my boats. Second choice is to tie the stern first. I see a lot of people with the crew member in the bow. They tie the bow first, too short, and there is no way to get the stern into the dock. Being in the bow, the crew member wants to reach out (natural reaction) and grab a dock post. Then they try to hang on when the helmsman puts the engine in reverse to slow or to pull the stern into the dock in reverse. Much yelling ensues, none of it useful. Put the crew member in the stern where there is more control and they have more freeboard (hull depth) to brace against.

Never try to save a bad landing (pilot talk). Back out all the way, not just a little. Bad landings are often the result of a bad approach. At a public dock or marina, if you back out all the way, this gives others on the dock time to walk over and assist with lines, etc. There is nothing wrong with accepting such help. I belong to a small club with very experienced captains. Any boat that comes in gets assistance from those on the dock. It's just courtesy.

09-08-2016, 09:59 AM	#1
Twox48 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sterling, MA Posts: 46 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	All Good Info! You have received a ton of good info... My biggest advice is "Don't Panic"... If you stay calm in any situation that may try to "rattle" you, you'll be better off. Especially in close quarters such as docking. Remember to take the boat out of gear. Sounds simple but too many inexperienced captains panic and forget that simple task! Rushing, jamming it in reverse and goosing it will create quick direction change, yes but it's not usually in a direction you're hoping for putting your boat in an undesirable position! As stated by someone above, the slower you hit something, the less damage you can expect! Have a great time! Enjoy our big lake! __________________ Enjoying every day at the lake that I can get. 2009 H260 5.7GXi Volvo Penta

09-08-2016, 11:12 AM	#3
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Dead calm You are right about the lake being quieter. This is Thursday and not only are there no boats, the lake is dead calm. Have fun with your adventure! IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

09-08-2016, 12:22 PM	#7
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Another docking comment When you first get to the dock, it is most helpful to take a line from the center of the gunwale (the upper edge of the side of a boat) and tie off to something on the dock. A post is fine. This way the center of the boat is tied and the bow and stern will not get away from you. You can then tie the bow and stern is whatever order seems best for your dock. As metioned earlier, the more lines the better. Do not tie too tight. Google "spring lines" to see how they work. FYI, gunwale is pronounced gunnel. __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

09-08-2016, 11:10 AM	#2
Hivolt Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 61 Thanks: 39 Thanked 23 Times in 15 Posts	Thanks everyone for all the advice, I think I'm going to look into renting a captain for a few hours, I Booked a weekday rental in the hopes the lake would be quieter and I wouldn't be stressed so much around public docks and whatnot.

09-08-2016, 11:42 AM	#4
radiocontester Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southern NH Posts: 155 Thanks: 36 Thanked 37 Times in 20 Posts	A little advice from a first-year boat owner/operator on the big lake: Assume no one knows what they are doing and drive defensively. I can't tell you how many times I had to veer off course and/or slow down to prevent a collision when I was clearly the stand-on vessel. Also, when docking: SLOW=PRO. GL!

09-08-2016, 12:10 PM	#5
rsmlp Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 474 Thanks: 5 Thanked 164 Times in 84 Posts	20' bowrider on the northern tip of Rattlesnake I in THE most complicated lake in NE with extremely low water levels and a brand new captaincy of the boat sounds like trouble. Somebody had to say it. I'd feel a lot better about it if the lake were full and your domicile was more tranquil.

The Following User Says Thank You to rsmlp For This Useful Post:
chasedawg (09-09-2016)

The Following User Says Thank You to chris410 For This Useful Post:
chasedawg (09-09-2016)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Island Girl For This Useful Post:
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09-08-2016, 03:24 PM	#8
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,357 Thanks: 1,344 Thanked 1,623 Times in 1,055 Posts	Island Girl's tie up advice is absolutely right. (Tie the middle first). On a rental boat, there may not be a center cleat to tie to. I've had to add such a cleat to some of my boats. Second choice is to tie the stern first. I see a lot of people with the crew member in the bow. They tie the bow first, too short, and there is no way to get the stern into the dock. Being in the bow, the crew member wants to reach out (natural reaction) and grab a dock post. Then they try to hang on when the helmsman puts the engine in reverse to slow or to pull the stern into the dock in reverse. Much yelling ensues, none of it useful. Put the crew member in the stern where there is more control and they have more freeboard (hull depth) to brace against. Never try to save a bad landing (pilot talk). Back out all the way, not just a little. Bad landings are often the result of a bad approach. At a public dock or marina, if you back out all the way, this gives others on the dock time to walk over and assist with lines, etc. There is nothing wrong with accepting such help. I belong to a small club with very experienced captains. Any boat that comes in gets assistance from those on the dock. It's just courtesy.