Boat

[ceyko]

Just going through the course alone made me feel 100% comfortable and realized that there are a GOOD portion of people on the lake who don't have a clue as to what they're doing.

I had found that this morning, it's free the one I'm doing...

http://www.boat-ed.com/texas/index.html

...and you're right. I like learning from multiple sources, even though I trust the friends I'm taking. At the end of the day, the boat and the people in/around it are my responsibility and not my friend's. Soooo...trying not to be too much of a moron.

I'm good at backing trailers up, but I've never backed up a trailer on ramp that ends up in 20' foot water. My biggest concern is those videos I see where the water is lapping up on the ramp real high and they can't pull out. The trailer was not in too far, just the vehicle can't get traction. That does not seem to be the normal thing though.

[FunFordCobra]

It's not so bad. Put down a big down payment and buy a warranty. Only thing that sucks now is gas prices.

[Treybiz]

+ another vote for a pontoon....

Unless you are focusing on a specific water sport get something that is multi use. The more enjoyment you get out of it the better of you are.

[Snatch Napkin]

I agree with the pontoon boat suggestion. I will take that a step further and highly recommend getting a four stroke outboard.
Pontoon boats are easier to maintain, you can fit the whole family and some friends, and they're less likely to have the massive amount of problems that a fishing boat or fish/ski combo will have after sitting up for months in the off season.
IF you were a tournament fisherman then I could suggest a bass boat. Sadly though, the absolute worst thing for any boat is to not use one.

<-------- boat maintenance industry specializing in fishing.

[JimD]

It's also good to have a set plan for exactly how and who is doing what when you're at the ramp. It's a whole lot easier if you have one person to man the boat, and another to man the truck/trailer. Hopefully you're wife can be trusted to dock the boat if she's on that end, or park the trailer. You can do it all, but it takes a helluva lot longer that way, and that will get people pissed having to wait. I'd suggest taking some time during the week when it's quiet at the ramp to practice without having to worry about anyone waiting on you, tha way you've got the system down when you're at the ramp on a busy weekend.

Kinda what i do, my wife backs the boat last few feet to water, she can't back/turn trailer at all but she does ok last 15 ft if straight back.
Mine is a 21.5 ft celebrity, trailer has rollers. Pay attention to the nylon winch strap. Had mine break about 1/2 mile after leaving lake, i saw(in mirror) the boat roll back a foot or so till rear straps caught it. It now has a safety chain welded to the trailer, just enough links to hook the boat, and new winch strap.

[347Mike]

Granted I had a jetski and not a boat, I still went through all the motions before I got to the actual ramp. I looked at the ramp before heading out, looked how busy it was, played out different scenarios, how I was going to back in if half the ramp was taken etc. Where I was going to put the ski in the water once in, etc.

I had everything ready before getting to the ramp, drain plugs, straps, cooler, etc. So all I had to do when it was my turn was back in, unload the ski, dock it, drive off and then hit the water.

I had people make fun of me for "scoping" out the dock beforehand but it made me feel comfortable and I knew what I was doing.

I didn't have much experience backing in a trailer and the whole process from when I had the ramp in my vision took less than 8 minutes. That is, unloading ski, docking, driving off, then hitting the lake.


I would also recommend get your license or certificate (don't recall what it is called). It goes over everything, lake, ramp etiquette, docking etc. It is $15-20 and it took me a few days I think dedicating 20-30 minutes at a time.

Just going through the course alone made me feel 100% comfortable and realized that there are a GOOD portion of people on the lake who don't have a clue as to what they're doing. You get more of these people during busier times like Spring break.

[Jester]

Dude, my boat brings me more happiness than anything else I have ever owned.
I love it to take it out alone, head up the channel to my quiet redfish hole and catch fish while solving the problems of the world in my head.

Just got a new stainless prop for it.

Things I have learned about having a boat. keep and extra set of plugs on the boat and a spark plug socket/wrench. Keep food like crackers and stuff in a ziplock and just leave it on the boat. sucks when you get stranded and then get hungry. Keep a paddle on it. Keep a big ass flashlight on it. dont leave home without a compass for it. Learn how to back your boat into the water and take it out of the water quickly.
always check and double check that you have your drain plug in. Have an extra sheer pin for your prop just incase. a depth finder is a great accesory also.
elephant ears are great for working on the motor at home

[Mysticcobrakilla]

This is one of my biggest annoyances as a bass fisherman! There is always someone with an 80k dollar wakeboard boat that can't drive the boat or can't back the trailer!

Same can be said for jackass fishermen that haul ass to "their" fishing spot and throw line where I've been wakeboarding for hours, and then bitch about the rollers.

Jackasses on the ramp are just that. No matter what kind of boat.

[dblack1]

The same people who have a hard time owning a boat are the people who change their oil in the car when they can't remember the last time it was changed.

I know a guy with a 95 crownline that hasn't put more than a few hundred in it counting batteries and trailer tires in almost 10 years of ownership.

[ceyko]

I lied...just retried the pw recovery stuff and now it sent it for my un. Seems like a good boat or two for sale on there.

[ceyko]

Yeah I tried to logon to THF a few hours ago. Apparently they deleted my account for some reason. Little pissy about that since I'll have to start over if I register again.

[cde21]

It's also good to have a set plan for exactly how and who is doing what when you're at the ramp. It's a whole lot easier if you have one person to man the boat, and another to man the truck/trailer. Hopefully you're wife can be trusted to dock the boat if she's on that end, or park the trailer. You can do it all, but it takes a helluva lot longer that way, and that will get people pissed having to wait. I'd suggest taking some time during the week when it's quiet at the ramp to practice without having to worry about anyone waiting on you, tha way you've got the system down when you're at the ramp on a busy weekend.

This is one of my biggest annoyances as a bass fisherman! There is always someone with an 80k dollar wakeboard boat that can't drive the boat or can't back the trailer!

[cde21]

I'm at the lake every weekend, and fish as many tournaments as I can afford. We just picked up a 95 Stratos 201 with a 225 on the back for a little under 7k. It runs like a raped ape, so there are good deals on good boats out there. If you keep up maintenance on them, you shouldn't have many problems, but the maintenance is more with a boat than a car. If you keep up with all the maintenance, and petty little things, you won't have any problems.
I also spend the time I'm not here, over at Texasfishingforum, they have plenty of boat advice/fishing advice. Good people that will answer questions if you have any.

[Treybiz]

People that say boats are expensive are living beyond their means, and can't afford to own one.

This x1000.

We grew up with boats as kids, I had one through most of college and had a blast with it on college kid budget, and own one now plus a couple jetflees. I love having a boat and wouldn't want to be without. You don't have to spend a fortune doing it either.

And ramp etiquette has a pretty steep learning curve. I would recommend going the first few times on a non-peak day (mid week) and practice before I used a couple parking cones and an empty field to teach the old lady to back a trailer.

[silverranger]

Be mindful of things that can blow out of the boat at speed, like life jackets and such, and either have them in a cubby or under something heavier, or keep them in the vehicle until you get there.

Boat covers aren't failproof, and rain water will get in the boat. It's not going to completely ruin anything, but if left long enough you'll get mildew/mold, which is a PITA to clean.

very true, ours will let a little water in but as soon as the sun comes out, I take it off and wipe everything back down.