First time ever boating.

[Hivolt]

Just an update:

I had my first half day on the lake today. Apparently there was some confusion in my reservation for the boat AND captain and I was unable to attain the services of a captain, but I figured i'd just go slow and get comfortable and see where I was time wise once I felt comfortable operating the vessel.
I started in Paugus Bay where I rented it and was content just staying there if I felt uncomfortable, after a half hour I felt like I had control of the boat so I decided to venture out the mouth.
I made it out of the mouth and decided I would take it real slow to see where I could get in an hour. I crawled through the buoys between eagle Island and Governors and crawled again through the channel markers at the witches, the lake was nice and calm and I ended up making it all the way to Wolfeboro where I tried my hand at docking at the fuel dock and again at the public docks....meh, pretty ugly but I got in with damaging ours or anyone elses boat, the wife and I still have to work out a good efficient system. I can't wait to do it again though.

The only real trouble I had today was over steering at no wake speed. The nose of the boat was going right to left and I just couldn't find a happy medium, it that standard for a boat at no wake speed? Or was my boat maybe just a little worn as far as steering goes?

Thank you everyone for all of your help and advice, I was able to apply a great deal of the tips out there today.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

Just an update:

I had my first half day on the lake today. Apparently there was some confusion in my reservation for the boat AND captain and I was unable to attain the services of a captain, but I figured i'd just go slow and get comfortable and see where I was time wise once I felt comfortable operating the vessel.
I started in Paugus Bay where I rented it and was content just staying there if I felt uncomfortable, after a half hour I felt like I had control of the boat so I decided to venture out the mouth.
I made it out of the mouth and decided I would take it real slow to see where I could get in an hour. I crawled through the buoys between eagle Island and Governors and crawled again through the channel markers at the witches, the lake was nice and calm and I ended up making it all the way to Wolfeboro where I tried my hand at docking at the fuel dock and again at the public docks....meh, pretty ugly but I got in with damaging ours or anyone elses boat, the wife and I still have to work out a good efficient system. I can't wait to do it again though.

The only real trouble I had today was over steering at no wake speed. The nose of the boat was going right to left and I just couldn't find a happy medium, it that standard for a boat at no wake speed? Or was my boat maybe just a little worn as far as steering goes?

Thank you everyone for all of your help and advice, I was able to apply a great deal of the tips out there today.

Sounds like you had a great day--it was real slow where we were, so probably a perfect start.

I've been a pontoon-boat captain for a few years now, and two things: 1. I'm not convinced any of my dockings have been pretty. And it doesn't matter to me--as long as I don't damage anything, I'm cool. In fact, I almost always just slowly drift up and pull myself in. 2. I drove a friend's bowrider last week and I couldn't keep it perfectly straight either--just something that takes getting used to, especially after driving a pontoon.

Congrats on a great first day!

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[Slickcraft]

Tomorrow will present a different lake: rain and moderate breeze in the morning and a stiff wind in the afternoon. If I had to go somewhere I would take the rain early in the day and pass on the stiff wind.

https://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin...st?query=03246

[8gv]

Perfect docking usually occurs when no witnesses are present.

I trim my outdrive way up for the Weirs channel. That makes steering a straight course more challenging. It takes a while to get good at keeping a slow trimmed up boat to go straight. Fixating on anything other than your course can find you quite askew.

[garysanfran]

Was a non-boater at some point, and it seems they have survived...Some with more harrowing stories than others.

You'll be fine...

Have fun and let us know how the vacation went

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

Just an update:

The only real trouble I had today was over steering at no wake speed. The nose of the boat was going right to left and I just couldn't find a happy medium, it that standard for a boat at no wake speed? Or was my boat maybe just a little worn as far as steering goes?

Keep in mind Headway speed is 6 mph or the slowest speed to travel and still maintain steerage.

Speed up a bit in that situation so you can maintain steerage.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

Just an update:

I had my first half day on the lake today. Apparently there was some confusion in my reservation for the boat AND captain and I was unable to attain the services of a captain, but I figured i'd just go slow and get comfortable and see where I was time wise once I felt comfortable operating the vessel.
I started in Paugus Bay where I rented it and was content just staying there if I felt uncomfortable, after a half hour I felt like I had control of the boat so I decided to venture out the mouth.
I made it out of the mouth and decided I would take it real slow to see where I could get in an hour. I crawled through the buoys between eagle Island and Governors and crawled again through the channel markers at the witches, the lake was nice and calm and I ended up making it all the way to Wolfeboro where I tried my hand at docking at the fuel dock and again at the public docks....meh, pretty ugly but I got in with damaging ours or anyone elses boat, the wife and I still have to work out a good efficient system. I can't wait to do it again though.

The only real trouble I had today was over steering at no wake speed. The nose of the boat was going right to left and I just couldn't find a happy medium, it that standard for a boat at no wake speed? Or was my boat maybe just a little worn as far as steering goes?

Thank you everyone for all of your help and advice, I was able to apply a great deal of the tips out there today.

Boats wander at idle speed, just let it go, make small adjustments when you get too far off course, don't overcontrol it, my boat moves back and forth, you get used to it and it usually goes straight unless the wind is really blowing. I told my kids when they were learning not to worry about the position of the wheel or the tiller, worry about where the boat is going. Loading, wind and in the ocean, currents all affect where a boat is going, which means the wheel may not be centered to go straight.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

The only real trouble I had today was over steering at no wake speed. The nose of the boat was going right to left and I just couldn't find a happy medium, it that standard for a boat at no wake speed? Or was my boat maybe just a little worn as far as steering goes?

Thank you everyone for all of your help and advice, I was able to apply a great deal of the tips out there today.

One thing that seems to affect a lot of people is that they steer a boat like they are steering a car and expect the same instant results. Remember, you are steering with the stern, not the bow, and the bow will not move like the front of a vehicle does.

People tend to over steer because they don't see the bow moving left or right like their car does. Try turning the wheel about half of what you think you want to and then wait 5 seconds to see if you get the desired results. It will result in a lot less wandering. Also, don't look down at the bow but look ahead of the boat. These two things together will result in a lot less back and forth steering to maintain the desired course.

[Phantom]

GREAT way of explaining what we do by second nature !!


.

[Hivolt]

As my week wraps up here on the Island I definitely have many things to reflect upon.
1. I got really lucky with the weather. That little 8 mph breeze on Wednesday opened my eyes up to just how ocean like and unforgiving this lake can be.

2. I got really lucky again. In a state of confusion I split the red and the black buoys at sandy point in Alton bay and not realizing it until I watched by depth finder go down to 7 feet real quick. That was my only real mistake though

3. Everyone is extremely friendly and extremely helpful, multiple times pulling into Wolfeboro public docks I had the wrong approach or the wrong speed or a stiff breeze blew me and the few folks that were more than happy to help.

4. I was absolutely insane to rent an island house broad side of basically an ocean having never boated before, but I like steep learning curves.

5. In the end I did this because I am looking for a summer home and something about island life just seemed to fit the bill, and does it ever.

In conclusion, Thank you to all who gave me advice over the past few weeks, my rental boat steered much better at headway speed this time around I think it had something to do with the fact this boat was brand new (Cobalt) and didn't have a broken skeg like the one I rented from the other place did.

[ursa minor]

Hey, congratulations on your "baptism by fire". I hope you find a nice island place, sounds like you'll do just fine. Maybe a little premature on this but welcome to the club!

[Rich]

Congrats and I'm glad you enjoyed yourself with no large repair bills to remember it by!

If you think 8 MPH winds are tough, try it with 10 to 15 or more!

We hope to see you around much more.

[Descant]

I think we're all glad you had a good time. Certainly, we appreciate that you gave us some feedback on your experiences. What was the reaction of your shipmate? Did you both drive?

Now, just read the catalogs and decide which boat shows you want to attend. Annapolis and Fort Lauderdale are next month.

[Island Girl]

If you are still on the island, you will see how suddenly the wind can pick up. It was a little breezy then Whoosh... wind, waves and white caps. The worry now is boats hitting bottom when docks and the wave troughs get really low.

Hivolt, you did have a wonderful week weatherwise. And yes, we thought you were a little "insane to rent an island house broad side of basically an ocean having never boated before"!!

We all have lessons learned and gratefully lived to tell the tale.

IG

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

If you are still on the island, you will see how suddenly the wind can pick up. It was a little breezy then Whoosh... wind, waves and white caps. The worry now is boats hitting bottom when dockes and the wave troughs get really low.

Hivolt, you did have a wonderful week weatherwise. And yes, we thought you were a little "insane to rent an island house broad side of basically an ocean having never boated before"!!

We all have lessons learned and gratefully lived to tell the tale.

IG

This is where those who have pontoon boats will really appreciate what little water they draft!

[Hivolt]

Originally Posted by Descant

I think we're all glad you had a good time. Certainly, we appreciate that you gave us some feedback on your experiences. What was the reaction of your shipmate? Did you both drive?

Now, just read the catalogs and decide which boat shows you want to attend. Annapolis and Fort Lauderdale are next month.

We did both drive, she would not attempt docking however and I don't blame her, I wasn't exactly in a position to "teach" anything. I learned more about docking in the 3 minutes the kid at the marina was whipping the boat through pretty much every obstacle imaginable to the fuel docks when I returned it than I did in the rest of the time here.

I haven't worked out a good system docking yet, she was not born with good balance and could never jump from the boat to the dock without holding onto something so I've pretty much just been practicing doing it solo which was ok this past week but when the docks are packed and I have to shoe horn into a spot I am going to need to utilize her somehow.

Originally Posted by Island Girl

If you are still on the island, you will see how suddenly the wind can pick up. It was a little breezy then Whoosh... wind, waves and white caps. The worry now is boats hitting bottom when docks and the wave troughs get really low.

Hivolt, you did have a wonderful week weatherwise. And yes, we thought you were a little "insane to rent an island house broad side of basically an ocean having never boated before"!!

We all have lessons learned and gratefully lived to tell the tale.

IG

We left about 11:45. I noticed after the rain stopped it was fairly calm with little to no breeze. I was going to give it an hour or so to dry the dock off a little so I wasn't tracking so much crud onto the boat but then the wind began to pick up so I decided to get a move on as I had 2 trips to the RIA dock to make before bringing the boat back, I'm glad I didn't wait any longer as I had a plenty bumyp ride as it was back to Wolfeboro.

[Descant]

The only ones allowed to jump from the boat to our dock are the cat and the dog. Both have missed the jump ONCE. If you jump and miss, it will only be ONCE. Jumping to the dock is not a good plan. Soon, you'll learn to approach close enough to reach a line around a post or hand a line to somebody on the dock. Glad you had fun.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Descant

The only ones allowed to jump from the boat to our dock are the cat and the dog. Both have missed the jump ObaCE. If you jump and miss, it will only be ONCE. Jumping to the dock is not a good plan. Soon, you'll learn to approach close enough to reach a line around a post or hand a line to somebody on the dock. Glad you had fun.

Each to their own with what works over time. Going on 39 years either my wife (usually) or I hop onto the dock with both fore and aft lines as the boat kisses the dock. Or if no kiss of the dock then another try. There is almost never anyone to hand a line to and our usual wind from the side makes trying to loop a line around a post from the boat more changeling than "quickly" and simply stepping off with the lines.

We are both agile and often have a side wind wanting to blow us away from the dock so that this has worked here for us and the prior generation.

Other approaches that I have seen for our situation is for the "crew" to use a boat hook to grab a post or a rope loop on a post.

[ursa minor]

Slickcraft, I hear you on the "crosswind landings". Seems like it's always blowing across our "U" dock one way or the other. With the canvas up, it's like landing a small plane some days, start 30 feet upwind and time the drift. The bride is pretty good at timing her landings too.

[Aquadeziac]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

We did both drive, she would not attempt docking however and I don't blame her, I wasn't exactly in a position to "teach" anything. I learned more about docking in the 3 minutes the kid at the marina was whipping the boat through pretty much every obstacle imaginable to the fuel docks when I returned it than I did in the rest of the time here.

I haven't worked out a good system docking yet, she was not born with good balance and could never jump from the boat to the dock without holding onto something so I've pretty much just been practicing doing it solo which was ok this past week but when the docks are packed and I have to shoe horn into a spot I am going to need to utilize her somehow.



We left about 11:45. I noticed after the rain stopped it was fairly calm with little to no breeze. I was going to give it an hour or so to dry the dock off a little so I wasn't tracking so much crud onto the boat but then the wind began to pick up so I decided to get a move on as I had 2 trips to the RIA dock to make before bringing the boat back, I'm glad I didn't wait any longer as I had a plenty bumyp ride as it was back to Wolfeboro.

For future reference when you have your own boat, these are invaluable: http://landingloop.com/index.htm

Welcome to the lake.

[Hivolt]

Originally Posted by Aquadeziac

For future reference when you have your own boat, these are invaluable: http://landingloop.com/index.htm

Welcome to the lake.

What a great invention, thanks for sharing!

[ishoot308]

Docking on the west side of Welch Island can be quite tricky at times. Here's a loop I made for my pontoon boats. Standard 3/8" docking line that I put through flexible tubing. The tubing keeps the loop shape so it can be easily tossed over one of our dock post. I hook the opposite end to the front of the left pontoon (or right depending on dock), once loop is around pole I hit reverse and turn motor towards dock which pulls the boat tight against dock so I can tie off stern.

Dan