Boat

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[FunFordCobra]

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

[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.

[ceyko]

Oh and pontoon was my initial want for years. It's just that I've grown to like the bass type boats a little better and I was hoping I'd be able to utilize it for some duck hunting to an extent later in the year. Primary purpose is to just goof off and fish during the summer. If enough power, maybe pull the kids around behind it and such.

[Treybiz]

Oh and pontoon was my initial want for years. It's just that I've grown to like the bass type boats a little better and I was hoping I'd be able to utilize it for some duck hunting to an extent later in the year. Primary purpose is to just goof off and fish during the summer. If enough power, maybe pull the kids around behind it and such.

Really with a big enough bass boat you can do whatever. Buddy that used to live with me had a 94 or 95 skeeter with a 150 merc that he used for everything. I've got pictures of him landing backflips behind it on the brazos. Only set back for him was the lack of seating with the 3 three across.

[Pro88LX]

My dad just picked up a MINT Laveycraft day cruiser/mini offshore for like 4500 bucks. Was a family members boat and has sat in indoor storage since new. Only has about 150 hours on it. Its a 350 Inboard/mercruiser outdrive and should be pretty trouble free. The marina hes storing it at is 180/mo for in warehouse storage. For that price they will launch it for you whenever you want, and wash it after every use. If you have the $$ boating is a very fun hobby.

the boat he got is just like this:

[lincolnboy]

parked more then used unless you have a boat slip.

[Treybiz]

parked more then used unless you have a boat slip.

Well, since you can't commute in a boat I would say that is true.

I use the jet flees 1-2 times a month at least from april to early october. My bay boat sees the water at least once a month year round. Every weekend generally in March-April-Early may.