24 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Ya that’s about what I go through too using ethanol free premium. Wish my truck got that kind of mileage.

Ain't that the truth. Wish my Jeep did as well

8 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Taking a boater safety class is invaluable. It’ll teach you things that would have taken you years to learn. 

Yep. Nothing worse than a bad boat operator, and there are a lot of them.

 

If you have no on-the-water experience then take a class and go boating with an experienced friend, for all our sakes. A-Jays advice previous page is spot on.

 

Don't go fast on water you aren't familiar with. I saw what was pretty much a floating island on the Delta two years ago. A mound of dirt is what it looked like. Even had a tree sticking out of it, and a lotta logs and junk floating near it as it traveled downriver.

 

My friend George sent me this video of it (that's not my voice). The water was flowing really high that year.

 

 

4 hours ago, Fishing97 said:

Same here on the Kentucky river, mainly fish a place called cedar creek it’s a nice size lake that’s roughly 30-40ft deep but it’s loaded with trees that barely stick up out the water, I’ve seen boats get a good beating hitting one but I’ve also seen people running full throttle and don’t understand how they can see that kinda stuff. 

They probably can’t see that stuff. They’re either pin it and pray guys or they’ve really spent a lot of time learning where they can and can’t run. Cedar creek isn’t too far from me. I’ve fished it several times. It’s a minefield for sure. I’ve only fished it in late spring and summer. If they draw it down in winter that can be a good time to go out and check things out. Exposes trees that are barely visible or invisible at higher water levels. Gives you a good visual of where the clear lanes will be when the water goes back up.
 

I’m not sure on cedar creek, but on other area lakes the deeper channels don’t always mean clear path. The upper end of cave run specifically. Keep that in mind. Also keep in mind that GPS has a certain amount of error to it. You’re not always just exactly where you seem to be on the map.
 

No substitute for time on the lake.  

25 minutes ago, Ski213 said:

Also keep in mind that GPS has a certain amount of error to it.

GPS mapping doesn’t account for water levels either. Especially in a river system, the depth can fluctuate greatly. Here in MN, all of my GPS maps are off by at least a foot this past season because of a major drought.

It took me a good two seasons to learn the basics of my boat. During that time it litterly beat the heck out of me.

It stayed in the garage for 10+ years  before I got a truck that worked well with the trailer.

Mine will do 45 but I've only done it once, too unstable even on glass water.

My personally hardest things were understanding the 50 hp merc 2 stroke and loading. I flooded out many times and broke the trailer and cracked a rib loading. The last thing was recognizing other types of boats, judging there experience,  and learning how to deal with them( ex. Wake boats).

I am far far away from even being average, but I know enough now to be safe.

Oh yeah....you'll learn what NO BRAKES REALLY MEANS, most likely when you smack a dock in rough surf.

@A-jay is 100%right. Always have a PFD and kill switch on. I got flipped off using the TM once. Also go slow, speed just costs more and more and more.

Start putting money back for a new lower unit. Don't ask me how I know.

23 hours ago, schplurg said:

Yep. Nothing worse than a bad boat operator, and there are a lot of them.

 

If you have no on-the-water experience then take a class and go boating with an experienced friend, for all our sakes. A-Jays advice previous page is spot on.

 

Don't go fast on water you aren't familiar with. I saw what was pretty much a floating island on the Delta two years ago. A mound of dirt is what it looked like. Even had a tree sticking out of it, and a lotta logs and junk floating near it as it traveled downriver.

 

My friend George sent me this video of it (that's not my voice). The water was flowing really high that year.

 

 

I’m taking a online boating safety course, roughly 8 hours long and I can honestly say it’s taught me stuff I had no clue about granted it teaches you stuff about huge lakes and boats that I’ll never use but it’s still nice to know…think I’m going to go at speeds I feel comfortable with and not try to keep up with the big dogs on the lake, also going to do as much research as I can before adventuring new lakes. 

Learn how to take a wake...

important

 

Learn how to use your power trim...

Good to know...

 

Then learn all the boating regulations...

 

Oh yeah, wakes kick my butt. A mostly flat bottom bass/crappie boat falling 4 foot belly flop...it freaking hurt. But in my defense it was that or run into a cliff.

I redo the online course each year, it helps a lot.

Just be patient and don't allow passengers to dictate your driving... if they do...have them walk the plank ?

I won't let a friend of mine on the boat at all. Very unsafe unstable personality 

Yeah my first outboard...I hit a log the bottom on the engine is in the Potomac river.

8 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

Learn how to take a wake...

important

 

Learn how to use your power trim...

Good to know...

 

Then learn all the boating regulations...

 

Shewwww my first wake experience was on lake Cumberland we was heading head on to eachother and he’s in a big ski type boat I’m in a little 16ft fish and ski boat (my baby) I hit his wake, when I tell you my heart and soul left my body for a minute what a rough ride…I definitely need to learn how to approach wakes. Thank you for the links!

Quarter them, trim the bow down a little back off the throttle.

If you get the bow up the boat can kit at higher speeds and blow over, not good!

Tom

I always make sure I have things stowed away before moving to a new location, or heading to the ramp. In rough water I don't want things bouncing around in the boat.

On 12/23/2021 at 1:09 AM, Fishing97 said:

I’m always scared I’m going to hit a log or something that’s barely poking out of the water

For me, this is a fear that is constantly in the back of my mind fishing lakes like Rayburn, Toledo, Choke Canyon, etc... And the fear is not necessarily bad! It's the lack of fear and respect for those objects that can make things dangerous! 

- Have a good navigational map (although don't rely on them 100%)

- Eyes up, ALWAYS. 

- Sometimes locals will sell map chips with boat lanes, those definately help. And also, sometimes people will post these boat lanes in a youtube video or online, so always try a google search or two

- If you don't feel confortable, slow down

- If you can't afford a new lower unit, slow down some more  

 

I fish rivers.  Rivers have a lot of debris.  Even more after storms or higher than normal tides but there’s ALWAYS stuff in the water.  Unless you want to idle everywhere you go, you have to accept the fact it’s not the tree floating on the surface that’s going to get you, it’s the one 6 inches under the water that you can’t see.  You can’t live in constant fear.  You should always be alert and even more so after a rain or any event that will put more debris in the water but otherwise, that’s what insurance is for.  

3 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I fish rivers.  Rivers have a lot of debris.  Even more after storms or higher than normal tides but there’s ALWAYS stuff in the water.  Unless you want to idle everywhere you go, you have to accept the fact it’s not the tree floating on the surface that’s going to get you, it’s the one 6 inches under the water that you can’t see.  You can’t live in constant fear.  You should always be alert and even more so after a rain or any event that will put more debris in the water but otherwise, that’s what insurance is for.  

I’ve noticed after hitting lots of logs, that it’s not as scary when you hit them slowly 

On 12/23/2021 at 6:55 AM, A-Jay said:

Some tips for driving a boat for beginners ~

 

#1 Wear a Life Jacket AND the Kill Switch cord EVERYTIME your big Outboard is running. 

#2 Only go as fast as you want to be going when you collide with something. 

#3 High Speed is a luxury (not a necessity) earned by experienced operators

      and the arch enemy of the novice.

#4  Being in a boat with an experienced operator who can demonstrate how to operate a rig safely/correctly is a priceless day or two on the water.  Perhaps consider hiring a guide and have them operate your rig with you as a passenger.  This can be worth several months or even years of your own 'Trial & Error'.

 #5  Launching & recovering a rig on & off the trailer is an important aspect of boat ownership.

        Practicing it is a solid plan. 

 

There's more but that's a decent start.

Stay Safe

A-Jay

 

 

18 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve noticed after hitting lots of logs, that it’s not as scary when you hit them slowly 

 

It has been so stipulated in Tip # 2 above.

A-Jay

• When you are ready, If you want to go fast in areas where there maybe obstacles try this.
• Take note of the lake level.
• Drive many times through the areas you want to go fast using your Electronics to show you track/trails.
• After you get through with the track and trails you will have a clear path you can use when the lake level is the same or higher when you plotted the track/trail. This will not help you with floating debris or trees that are floating at the surface.
• I had a friend give some trails that showed me some 'safe' routes at Toldedo Bend.
• That being said......I do not go very fast at all in those areas myself.

On 12/24/2021 at 7:24 PM, newbiedmv said:

...

I won't let a friend of mine on the boat at all. Very unsafe unstable personality 

...

I had a friend several years ago that I had to ban from my boat.  A bunch of us went out for a weekend of fishing and skiing (a 24ft ski boat), and he told me he could ride in the boat (on the trailer) while I towed it from the cabin to the dock (about 10 miles).  I told him no, and he kept repeating "nah man, it's cool.  It's cool."  He wouldn't take no for an answer, so I just flat out told him he wasn't coming, and he'd have to stay at the cabin.  He then said he'd ride in the truck, but I had already determined he wasn't safe to take out on the water.  Nice guy and generally fun to be around, but he was an only child of rich parents, so he couldn't wrap his mind around having to do what other people told him if he didn't want to do it.  We got back to the cabin about an hour later (the result of a classic Oklahoma pop-up storm), and he was already slurring drunk.  Though I do have to give him some credit, as he never held it against me.  

20 hours ago, BassnChris said:

Drive many times through the areas you want to go fast using your Electronics to show you track/trails.

 

This is great advice.  I do this on almost every lake I regularly fish.  My GPS tracks my route/trails and I simply follow them to get back to the access.  Its especially important if you are fishing at night time.

 

Water levels can be a great variable, especially in river systems.

As a newer boat operator here's what I learned in my first year

1. Take a boater safety class and pay attention. Even if it's online, find a quality one AND PAY ATTENTION. They're chock full of good information. I learned a lot despite the quality of acting in some of the presentations.

 

3. PFD and  kill switch 100% of the time when running the outboard. No exceptions.

 

2. Start slow in an open piece of water. Get used to how your boat gets on plane, how it handles on plane, get some idea for it's turning radius.

 

4. Learn how to cross a wake. Learn how to operate in waves. Storms and white caps pop up at the worst times, especially when you're focused on fishing. This was my baptism by fire my first day out on a rental boat. Taking the boater safety class was the difference between getting a little wet and potentially getting capsized.

5. Just because you have a top speed doesn't mean you need to use it. Excessive speed can turn deadly very easily in a boat. I promise, nothing on or under the water is worth dying for. These are dangerous machines when not handled with care.

6. Practice around a dock, moving in and around a slip isn't like pulling into a parking spot.

 

7. Your boat doesn't have brakes. Don't come at the dock / slip / trailer faster than you're willing to run into it.

 

8. Save the drinking for dry land. Keep your head up. Most boaters I've met are fine people, but there are irresponsible idiots out there. Watch out for the pontoon crowd especially.