Sounds like a good idea for a thread…..you guys could post tips, boat maintenance and fix it how to’s for the inexperienced guys. (Like me). I know there’s alot of people on here who are very experienced and do a hell of a lot of fishing. Sharing tips from years of learning on the water could help a TOO member pull their bacon out of the fire someday.
Damn where would someone start. So difficult to explain for situational issues. I will start here. Put plug in boat and take out once your out the water. Seems simple enough but it happens all the time. Don’t fill fuel tank through the rod holder. Make sure bilge pump works. Wear a pfd all the time. Channel markers are color coded. Keep red on right when returning to land. The deepest water coming out of a channel is 98% of the time on the falling tide side. Change in water color usually means a change of depth. The captain is always in charge so sit down and listen to instructions. If navigating in heavy fog if your right handed you will tend to go in a right hand circle without proper navigation tools. Same if your left handed. Never haul ass in unknown waters and keep an eye on depth. Here’s a big one, learn the navigational rules to the road. Don’t drink and drive the boat. It takes half your normal alcohol intake to be drunk than normal. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Leave a float plan with some and your truck. Grease your trailer bearings often. Check mid trip towing for warm bearings. Use back of hand. Make sure trailer lights and nav lights work. Always wear a pfd if alone in boat and/or at night. Have an extra plug, flares and an extinguisher, signaling device, VFH radio. Expect the unexpected. Bring some simple tools….screw drivers, channel locks, a good serrated knife. Know the limitations of your boat and yourself….shit happens much faster on the water. If you haven’t been using your boat take short trips, once you know everything is good to go then you can take a longer trip. Never leave the dock without a full tank of fuel. Trips consist of 1/3 tank to get there and a 1/3 back. The rest is for shit that happens. Could be weather changes where you burn more fuel or have to take a different route. A flashlight can be very useful.
Just because someone can afford a boat, doesn’t always mean they should own one. Oh, make sure your registration is in order and on your boat properly. Don’t make a wake in no wake zones, don’t wake a boat that is anchored. You are always responsible for the wake that you make. Plenty of fish to be caught, don’t crowd another boat. Idol or use trolling motor to approach a fishing spot. Never throw your anchor.
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