Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

[Home Cookin']

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

those telescoping hooks never really work in that regard; either they slip or they jam into one size. But they still work for me b/c length doesn't really matter. I am more interested in the adjustment so it fits better where I store it.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I have a three piece telescoping boat hook that I use for everything. One time I was coming in to put my boat on a trailer at a place I had never been before and the water got real shallow fast. I turned the boat off, trimmed it into trailer position pretty far out and used my boat hook to push off the bottom all the way up onto the trailer. Fully extended it's about 10' long, but I usually only use two sections. I had a cheap one at first, but broke the hook and bought the longer much more expensive one. I use it for docking if I need to, but not always needed. Great for grabbing the strap on the trailer when coming in after a day on the water.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I agree with what someone said earlier. I do it myself. Everyone in my boat wants to jump up front and help but they are just in the way where I can't even see the dock sometimes. As far as being nervous, I call it cautious. When you get too comfortable is when mistakes happen and damage occurs. As long as you are "nervous" you will be more careful.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

yes I agree . Its the kind of nervous I get when Im using my chain saw

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

yes I agree . Its the kind of nervous I get when Im using my chain saw

Precisely

 

[choppywaters]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

yes I agree . Its the kind of nervous I get when Im using my chain saw

This is what I don't get,lol. I run heavy equipment, zero turn mowers etc. and especially in my skid steer (BobCat) I put that thing in some really stupid positions a lot of the times but it never phases me, but this damn boat....lol. Im sure they will get better but for now I'll call it my instant rush,lol.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I never understand the people who don't get the children involved in running the boats--they are the ones who wonder why their children, when they become teenagers, don't want to go boating.

Let a 5-6 year old stand in front of you and "drive" and they are hooked.

My son is a teenager(15 yrs old) and I let him drive, but I have to keep an eye on him while he drives. I can't get him to scan ahead for floating debris or the small white buoys that warn of shallow water.

Drives me nuts!

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I was trying to put in to a slip on a dock and the wind was blowing pretty strong. I was concentrating on going in a little fast to get lined up. The young guy that had been out fishing with me made a run for the front of the boat and decided to jump for the dock about the time I put it in reverse to stop. His jump came up short and he hit his shin on the edge of the dock and broke his leg. Now I ask anybody who gets up in the boat to sit down and I will put the boat against the dock. My wife is always nervous about scraping the dock and I'm afraid she will injure a hand reaching to catch the dock. A friend who had a boat many years ago told me that nearly all of the problems he had while boating were from people trying to help. I beached a boat one time and some guy came running over and grabbed the front of the boat and drug it up across some rocks ripping gouges in the fiberglass as it went. What can you say except thanks a lot for all of the help.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Wow. Your blood pressure must be sky high...

it is:facepalm:, my shrink advised me to not quit smoking, matter a fact he suggested i smoke something stronger

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

This is what I don't get,lol. I run heavy equipment, zero turn mowers etc. and especially in my skid steer (BobCat) I put that thing in some really stupid positions a lot of the times but it never phases me, but this damn boat....lol. Im sure they will get better but for now I'll call it my instant rush,lol.

But, on the boat you aren't nervous about getting hurt, you're nervous about looking like a newbie to experienced boaters, and for paying for any damage you do (that's what makes me nervous at times)

 

[sixpackfemale]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I am new to boating but have been around them. The worst part of boating for me is coming back to the dock. I don't know what it is but I get so freakin' nervous even thinking about it. So far no issues and we've been out and back a bunch of times. The last time we were out, we approached the dock nice and slow, no one waiting at the dock which is always a good thing and we brush up against the dock nice and easy but my Wife couldn't get out of the boat to secure the line then she finally slipped and fell back into the rear seat (she was wearing flip flops that I guess were too big). By that time we over shot the first set of docking cleats. She finally managed to get out and secure the rear but by then the bow was about 3-5 feet from the dock. Of course my 14 year old son just sits there! I have much more confidence when we go with my brother in law because he just jumps off when the boat is about a couple feet away and ties us up. Would one of those poles help her because the last things I want to do is snap at her after a fun day.

I am a new female boater so feel very nervouse about docking as well as everything else. Just bought a 21.5 Bayliner Capri (don't laugh), have been around boats all my life but always a passanger, so this should be challenging. I will be docking and launching all by myself so wish me luck! happy boating

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Hey sixpack, don't pay attention to the male chauvinists, only listen to the constructive advice.
I wish my wife would take the helm sometimes, she grew up in boats but doesn't want to break my favorite-thing-in-the-world boat.
To the original post I agree with most of what's been said. Also when you practice take note of how the prop direction causes your boat to back better in one direction than the other.
Here's a nugget that no one has yet mentioned, if you come to a stop, turn the wheel and then bump it into gear you get the most pivot/response. Using reverse to "bring the boat around" in a small area is often done that way.
And remember slow, into the wind and into current = good!

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I am a new female boater so feel very nervouse about docking as well as everything else. Just bought a 21.5 Bayliner Capri (don't laugh),

I don't know about you...but my first car was NOT a brand new (insert BMW/Caddy etc...)
As a matter of fact, it was a 73 AMC Hornet(beige, hatchback).

I scratched, and dinged it up a bit whilst learning to park in tight spaces(the lack of power steering didn't help either!), but lessons were learned and carried over to bigger and better things.

Accept the fact that there WILL be hard knocks and embarrasing moments...but hey, EVERYONE has been there.

Enjoy the boat, learn something new everytime you take it out, learn the "rules of the road", practice basic seamanship(see signature below!), and you'll be fine!