Boat handling lessons

georgefelt · 08-23-2015, 11:21 PM

I was in the same situation last spring with A new (to me) 28 footer. I had a 24 foot singe a few years ago, then nothing, now this. It felt really big at first. I bought a couple books on power boat handling and spent my first few hours on the lake in low traffic conditions just practicing. IMHO these boats are two big to "single hand" operate, so for me one key was teaching and learning to work with my first (and so far my only&#128525

mate. This took time and is best done in low traffic practice conditions in fair weather with nobody else around to distract us. Tips in books on handling twins have also been priceless. Search Amazon for Power Boat Handling and get a couple books - not the same as real life, but well worthwhile in their own way. You will love it if you go slow at first until your skills build up a bit - stay away from wknd PMs; evenings on weekdays are good , or wknd AMs before 10:00. Good luck! One more thing - get a bunch of fenders and hangers and learn well how to use them to avoid dock rash... This is a MUST before you even turn the key on day one.

08-23-2015, 11:21 PM	#25
georgefelt Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 12 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Power boat handling books I was in the same situation last spring with A new (to me) 28 footer. I had a 24 foot singe a few years ago, then nothing, now this. It felt really big at first. I bought a couple books on power boat handling and spent my first few hours on the lake in low traffic conditions just practicing. IMHO these boats are two big to "single hand" operate, so for me one key was teaching and learning to work with my first (and so far my only&#128525 mate. This took time and is best done in low traffic practice conditions in fair weather with nobody else around to distract us. Tips in books on handling twins have also been priceless. Search Amazon for Power Boat Handling and get a couple books - not the same as real life, but well worthwhile in their own way. You will love it if you go slow at first until your skills build up a bit - stay away from wknd PMs; evenings on weekdays are good , or wknd AMs before 10:00. Good luck! One more thing - get a bunch of fenders and hangers and learn well how to use them to avoid dock rash... This is a MUST before you even turn the key on day one.