I'm lost!!!

[Steve Gibson2]

Glad I found this place! I just bought a 1998 Nitro 185 Sport, it is my first real boat. I have learned much already reading posts here. The guy I bought the boat from showed me how to work most everything, but did not give me driving lessons. My first launch from the trailer ever was successful! My first attempt to pull up to the dock to pick up my passangers was not. I ruined the prop on my trolling motor and gouged about a 2 1/2 inch spot in the hull down to the pink stuff, the gouge is right on the "N" in Nitro. It was really windy! So anyway, I will not ask any specific questions now, I will save all of that for future posts. Now I just want to say hello, glad to meet you all, I have no idea what I'm doing so I plan on pestering this group on a regular basis.

 

[Buzz Bouvier]

Welcome aboard, it's a great place to ask questions and meet even greater people..

 

[John Foster]

Well your found now..)



Welcome to the site. We will answer any question you got as honestly as we can. And don't worry about asking to many questions. We all had to learn from somebody..



John F.



"Pesci O Morire"

 

[Sam Elkins]

Welcome to the board. Sorry about the 'first timers' accident. I did the same thing except mine was aluminum. Brand new boat, ran into the dock, scraped part of the decal off then when loading ran the boat upon the fender putting a nice scratch in it. Had some close calls with the dock and trolling motor too but no damage yet. Just look at them as battle scars that eventually heal and become some sort a source of pride, least your boatin' and fishin'. Good Luck.

 

[Barry Loos]

Just remember: There are not as many dumb questions as there are dumb answers. Don't be too shy to ask. Don't worry about the T/M prop vs the dock incident. There have been more props busted at the dock as anywhere else. These incidents are just more embarrassing because there's usually a crowd. Always carry spare parts. And as Sam was saying, the scars on the hull will be like a diary of your travels. Cherish them. Welcome aboard and we'll give you as much help as we can.



Bear

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Welcome aboard Readdurt. Don't worry about your blunder. Many of us here are avid boaters with years of experience and every so often we start a thread of the MOST recent stupid things we've done at the launch! As long as your gouge is above the water line you'll be fine. If not get it fixed quick. Water setting in the fiberglass mat will rot it. Ask all the questions you like, that is what I believe Rich started the site for. I still ask questions constantly. If it's one thing I know for sure, it's that I don't know squat. The folks on this board are second to none and very knowledgeable. If you are in the northeast, hope to see you at the rally!

 

[Mark Hofman]

Glad to see you on the board, Readdurt! Don't apologize for banging your new toy up. It happens to everyone (as everyone here has already said).



I've been driving boats since I was 8 years old, and recently bought my first bass boat. First trip out I broke the decket under the trolling motor . . . and a couple of jack nuts (had to sneak that one in there, guys!!) . . . trying to drive the boat into a marina slip. I've done some really dumb things, like:



1.) Disconnecting the cranking battery cables for winter storage and forgetting to re-connect them at the boat ramp: "Hey, I got no electrical power here! No!!! Don't unhook the strap!!! Hook it back up!!! Hook it back up!!!"



2.) Standing up with the safety lanyard connected before starting the outboard: "This )#)($%*) cold-blooded Mercury won't start again!! Yes, I've pumped the ball!! Yes, I choked it!! I should've spent the extra gazzillions on the Optimax so that I don't have to deal with this . . . . oh, wait! The kill switch is tripped. How'd THAT happen?"



3.) Forgetting to put the shifter in NEUTRAL when starting the outboard on the launch ramp: "Hey, I got no electrical power here! Yes, the battery cables are connected!!! But it beeps when I turn the key, and the trim works!! Now what????? Wait, hook it back up!!! No! I didn't say BACK up!! Hook it up!!!! This golldurn cold-blooded motor won't . . . oh, wait. I forgot to shift it into neutral. Look at that, it starts right up."



4.) Listening to the advice of my fishing buddy when I knew better: "No, that's the shallow side of the lake. The channel is over THERE! Are you SURE? This side looks really shallow and really rocky. Okay, but I really think we needed to be on the other side of the lake. Ggggazzzsstttttt....putter....pszzzt. Hmmm, do either of you know what a new prop will cost me?"



I've got more, but I'll stop for now. Congrats on your new toy.



MOFish

 

[Staci Matheis]

Anyone know where we had that "Stupid Boat Ramp Stories" post about this time last year? Maybe we should had oughta repost it to condemn the guilty!

 

[Bob G.]

Congrats on the boat purchase. I have a 2000 Nitro 185 Sport. One of the first things I added was a cleat on each side on the front of the boat since the boat only came with rear cleats. I then purchased two of the bass boat bumpers from West Marine. This will help keep some of the scars to a minimum when puling up to the dock. If you have any boat specific questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or post here.



Bob G.

 

[JEFF WHITE]

one hour old boat,the present one,taking the brother,sis in law,wife,and son on a trip around the lake,been to this lake with the tx-17 numerous times,back out of the boat launch,give her some throttle,wham,keep going,pull boat out of lake,notice 5"of skeg removed and a redecorated prop.had 1 hr on it.live and learned on that one!!



sand bars on sandy pond,ny,rock at boat launch,docks are tooo numerous to mention and remember,and the snapping of those things,what do you call them things holding the trolling motor dow,come on,those rubber isolators with the threaded insert,ah,JACK NUTS!!!snapped 2 of them puppys off,twice!!



wecome to the wonderful world of boat owners!!

 

[Steve Gibson2]

Thanks, the stories/advise were great. I just talked to a freind of mine who went on that eventfull first ride with us on Saturday. He admitted he had me let him off early because he did not want to be around when I loaded the boat back up on the trailer. Don't think he believes me that it actually went well!