“You can tell a new boater when”

Ok a new one from the ramp. The guy unhooked the trailer from the truck, walked the trailer to and down the ramp to his new JetSki. Put the ski on the trailer and then backed the truck down the ramp to reconnect the trailer to the truck. Even the original owner of the marina, from back into the 60’s said he had never seen anything like this. The ski and trailer kept floating away from the truck. In this photo the ski is already on the trailer but it’s underwater.View attachment 135444
Well, that's one technique. Maybe he should just hook up a winch to the trailer and winch the ski and trailer up the ramp...
 
The thing I like is when a new boater is trying to dock and is constantly putting the engines in and out of gear like he is running a payloader. That always makes me chuckle.
Define "constantly". I was taught to do this by the MarineMax delivery captain who had been boating for 40 years. I have boated my whole life, but before 2004 it was always someone else's boat. So they always docked.
 
Define "constantly". I was taught to do this by the MarineMax delivery captain who had been boating for 40 years. I have boated my whole life, but before 2004 it was always someone else's boat. So they always docked.

When you put an engine in gear for a quick second and then back out and the other in and out or even the same. It's hard for me to describe what I have seen many times, except it's like watching a payloader operator that knows how to swing the bucket.

If a MM Captain taught you to do that, then he isn't much of a captain. But I suspect he meant put it in gear until the boat starts to move then back into neutral if needed. Nothing wrong with that, in fact that is the safest if current and wind allow it. But but putting in to gear quickly and then back out before the drive can engage is close to what I am describing.
 
When you put an engine in gear for a quick second and then back out and the other in and out or even the same. It's hard for me to describe what I have seen many times, except it's like watching a payloader operator that knows how to swing the bucket.

If a MM Captain taught you to do that, then he isn't much of a captain. But I suspect he meant put it in gear until the boat starts to move then back into neutral if needed. Nothing wrong with that, in fact that is the safest if current and wind allow it. But but putting in to gear quickly and then back out before the drive can engage is close to what I am describing.
No quick in and out is not what he taught me. Put it in gear at idle and when the boat is moving put it in neutral to control speed. No quick ins and outs. That is why I asked for your definition of "constantly".
 
No quick in and out is not what he taught me. Put it in gear at idle and when the boat is moving put it in neutral to control speed. No quick ins and outs. That is why I asked for your definition of "constantly".

Yep, exactly what you should be doing while learning your vessel and surroundings.
 
No quick in and out is not what he taught me. Put it in gear at idle and when the boat is moving put it in neutral to control speed. No quick ins and outs. That is why I asked for your definition of "constantly".
I have to say though... mine is relatively "quick" as the 3116's provide such torque and move so much water, that I get the desired result pretty quickly. This is usually while turning to back in.
 
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I was thinking about this as I was backing into the slip yesterday. I give enough "bump" to move the boat in whatever direction I want it to go, then wait/pause a few seconds minimum, and bump the shifter(s) again only if I need to. Those CATS do bite well! I also try to let mother nature do as much of the work possible for me (wind, current, etc.) . The wind was pushing me off the fuel dock Saturday, the dock girl asked if I wanted a push off, I said "No, wind will take care of it for me" - she seemed confused :)

I cringe when I hear the new owner 2 outdrive boat shifting back/forth real fast.
 
Yep, exactly what you should be doing while learning your vessel and surroundings.
Yes. But I am not learning my vessel. This was our 14th season with it.

I don't do it as much as I used to. Now I just idle until my bow enters the slip, pull into neutral, then ease into reverse when the helm enters the slip.
 
They drop their new, trailerable boat off at the Marina for Winterization service, and neglect to block the wheels. That's MY car it hit!

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all the new guys I see do not understand easy. They all are going faster than they want to hit it.
once they do they get it. damage!
 
4th of July this year and we are anchored off of the City of Cocoa on the Indian River to see the fireworks; it's a great show from the water. Hundreds of boats all around us and pretty much everyone is well behaved and moving slowly getting into the cove. I'm next to a 45-something sailboat and a new Cobalt with a family comes in between us. They have nothing ready to anchor and are pretty much scrambling to get things in place. Winds are about 15 out of the south and they drift aimlessly and pretty much too close to other boats including me and the sailboat trying to keep that boat in control. There are boat's anchored in every direction and it's starting to get dark. They finally get the anchor rigged and throw it overboard but it refuses to hook; they try and try but nothing..... They come back up next to us and I notice they have the rode tied to the securing hole in the shank not to the eye at the end of the shank. I tried to explain they had the rode connected to the wrong part of the anchor but he simply couldn't comprehend. Finally, seeing nothing good coming from this show I offered to let them tie off of the back of my boat which they did and were very grateful as they were about to bag it and go home.
The message here is - we were all "green" at some point and, at least me, are still green around some of the fringes. I think one is a more mature and experienced captain to extend a helping hand rather than being a bloviating curmudgeon behind a keyboard.....
 
That’s precisely why I said neutral is there for a reason. Oftentimes it is your best friend.
I always figured the best thing that could happen was for the loan to be denied
 
4th of July this year and we are anchored off of the City of Cocoa on the Indian River to see the fireworks; it's a great show from the water. Hundreds of boats all around us and pretty much everyone is well behaved and moving slowly getting into the cove. I'm next to a 45-something sailboat and a new Cobalt with a family comes in between us. They have nothing ready to anchor and are pretty much scrambling to get things in place. Winds are about 15 out of the south and they drift aimlessly and pretty much too close to other boats including me and the sailboat trying to keep that boat in control. There are boat's anchored in every direction and it's starting to get dark. They finally get the anchor rigged and throw it overboard but it refuses to hook; they try and try but nothing..... They come back up next to us and I notice they have the rode tied to the securing hole in the shank not to the eye at the end of the shank. I tried to explain they had the rode connected to the wrong part of the anchor but he simply couldn't comprehend. Finally, seeing nothing good coming from this show I offered to let them tie off of the back of my boat which they did and were very grateful as they were about to bag it and go home.
The message here is - we were all "green" at some point and, at least me, are still green around some of the fringes. I think one is a more mature and experienced captain to extend a helping hand rather than being a bloviating curmudgeon behind a keyboard.....
That was very nice of you, did they ever figure out what you were explaining to them?
 
That was very nice of you, did they ever figure out what you were explaining to them?
When I was taking his rope to tie off, I had him show me his anchor and explained to him the issue. He couldn't understand the technical aspect but time will fill the gap I'm sure.
 
... The message here is - we were all "green" at some point and, at least me, are still green around some of the fringes. I think one is a more mature and experienced captain to extend a helping hand rather than being a bloviating curmudgeon behind a keyboard.....

This! - That is if they let you help ...
 

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