What would you have liked to have known about being a Nautique boat owner?

[Rex]

Hi all,

I am fortunate enough to receive my first boat on Monday. There are so many things that I do not know about a having a boat and about what to be aware of. Also, I realize that two - or five - years from now, I will know so much more about what I should have been aware of when starting up as Nautique boat owner.

To try and fast forward my learning - and to avoid the most basic mistakes as for example allowing ppl with dirty shoes on board - I am asking you to help me by sharing your insights base on: What would you have liked to have known when you first got your boat?

Thanks
Rex

[kmarine]

25 years and 5 boats later my advice would be the following. Make sure to share with family and friends including them in driving trailering and hopefully maintenance.
One you have already figured out. The people on this forum are nice and will help you with just about any issue you may come across from tow ropes to parts which are no longer available. finally be courteous to others when arriving on the lake observe skiing traffic patterns and follow what may be an unwritten rule among skiers as they may run the lake in a particular way as to allow everyone the best possible run. this will not be the case on Saturday afternoon, but on week nights and mornings. avoid busy times when first learning. better to take a afternoon off of work if possible than experiment with the stress of an audience. Most important have fun and relax.

[TwinTip]

If you are new to boating, you may want to make a list of all the items you will need to be aware of while trailering and boating.

Have a checklist for getting ready to tow, for getting ready to launch, and them retrieve/secure your boat to tow back. This includes hitching, safety chains, harness, tie-downs, making sure your lights and brakes work, boat is secure at the bow with safety chain, etc.

When you get to the ramp, follow launch and load/retrieve etiquette (plenty of videos in YouTube). Remember the plug in the boat. Make sure you check the ramp before using it, including how long it is and up to where put in the trailer (plenty of videos on boaters who sank their tow vehicles).

Idle is your friend around the dock. In and out of gear. Slow is better than fast. Anticipate what you need to do. Look for wind and current.

In the water, get familiar with the waters you will be boating in and any particular rules.

And then have fun. Always have life vests in the boat and wear one when behind the boat.

Congrats on the new boat!!!


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[Csb801]

24 yrs and 5 Nautiques later.....
1. If you have a crew, be sure to have a set "speech" as you leave the dock for the day. Boarding , rope person, seated during take off etc etc., storage places....just like when you fly.
2. Always check for ropes before taking off.
3. Load your boat yourself.
4. Leave plug out when storing.
5. If you are in a hurry.....stuff will happen. Bent props from hitting logs or bottom, hitting dock, banging head on racks or tower.
6. Keep a pair of goggles hidden on your boat just for you. (Prop inspection, untangle rope, Damage inspection)
7. I don't do this, but have friends that have concealed weapon on the boat for protection from crazy stuff at ramps late at night.
Last,,,,boat maintenance and cleaning is always a must. If your wife says you love your boat more than her....it's normal.


CSB

[nyryan2001]

2 Nautiques and 700+ hours later:

if you run into significant service or quality issues.... don't hesitate to contact Nautique or PCM customer service.

Massive difference between them and the other boat companies.

Companies like Malibu have built their business model around the illusion of high quality and premier customer service, and the reality is a 180 opposite.

Nautique isn't perfect, but the key folks in the key positions care and will do the right thing.

[Nautique Fan]

Expect a few dings and scratches while you are learning how to drive, dock, and load. Keep everything clean and do the scheduled maintenance on schedule. Double check everything when trailering and loading. Have fun and make sure to ski, wakeboard, surf, kneeboard, and everything else before you get the tube out. Have fun. Boating is the best family fun we've had.


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[wakemaker]

go slow when doing anything trying to dock ,load look at the wind and where its pushing u is it trying to push u right in to the dock .
end of the day teach the wife , or friend how to back the trailer down the ramp this will help doing it all sucks lol
know the lake where your are at how full are they , sorry spelling sucks lol if the lake is up or down get a map of the lake that tells u how deep it is at level
go slow ask the dealer to take u out spend some time doing this with them docking . have them help u u just spent 120000 or so

[rlwagens]

Theres plenty of threads on here if you search for boating tips and essential equipment to have with you at all times. Coming from someone who prolly spends 2 hours cleaning and upgrading the boat for every hour its actually being used only for the interior to inevitably start cracking and gelcoat fade after 10+ years in the sun, take the time to remind yourself to make memories and enjoy your time with others on the boat and try not to constantly think of resale and every little nic nac that may occur. You'll thank yourself when you look back on all those early years of boating. It's supposed to be entertainment, not work.

[Neverenough]

All great thoughts and I agree with them all. I'd rank the " if your in a rush stuff will happen"at the top. I gotta say Rex your a smart guy for doing this. I wish I had done so. I learned the school of hard knocks. I'd like to add boating etiquette...

1) NO POWERTURNS
2) If there's a boat with a rider don't crowd him, infact if you can somewhere else do so.
3) NO POWERTURNS
4) At the ramp think about everyone. Do load or unload your boat on ramp, do all that out of the way and be quick on ramp.
5) NO POWERTURNS
6) Watch your wake. Big rollers can flip fishing boats and other small craft.
7) NO POWERTURNS
Honesty a list could go on forever and it's really about thinking about other boaters. You can bet most are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtXa1a824TY

Congratulations on new ride!! Best wishes to you and your crew!

[Rex]

Thank you all for sharing your experience and insights. I am very grateful. We have a surf shop on the coast in Denmark, North of Copenhagen in a small surf & summer town called Hornbaek. We will make waves using the boat when there are none. Our plan is to drive the boat whenever it is +5 Celsius / 41F to get more people on the water and to create a way of consistant waves and thereby consistant surf for those who are committed to surfing. If you are interested, you can follow our endeavours here: https://www.facebook.com/hornbaeksurfshop/ Once again, thank you for the input and for sharing. Best. Rex

[2001SAN]

I'll chip in.

1) Most new boat owners I see make the mistake of slowing down in speed restricted zones but not to the point were the is no wake. In fact, a very slow boat can put out a large wake with the stern planted in the water. Slow down to idle speeds so your boat puts out no wake when in these areas.

2) If you plan to pull tubes don't do it in glassy/flat water. Wakeboarders and skiers can wait for days for those kind of conditions and you can tube at anytime.

3) All of the above.

Enjoy!

D.

[HVL2010]

1. No Shoes in the boat.
2. No snacks/drinks that contain red or orange coloring.
3. No chocolate.
4. Bring a good attitude and be ready to help. (man ropes and fenders, wipedown at the dock)
5. Be courteous and quick at the dock/ramp.
6. Leave plenty of room for turning/stopping a trailer in tow.
7 Check your wheel hubs for heat periodically.
8. Check Safety chains, trailer coupling 2x always before pulling the trailer.
9. Take good care of your boat and trailer and it will take care of you.

[G_WaTT]

Smoking (of any kind), pets, and board fins can easily burn, poke through, or cut your vinyl.

Smokers in particular will promise to be careful, but its not their boat interior they could be ruining. Either pull ashore or let them smoke off the swim platform. If she's smokin' hot (pun intended), maybe it's worth fixing the interior. Just be aware of what probably won't, but COULD happen.

If you want a dog on the boat you can get doggy shoes to protect your interior.

Either have someone help grabbing board from rider when getting back in the boat, or remember to place the fins up.

[seth]

Like stated above, NO POWERTURNS. Try to learn the ins and outs of boating etiquette and the best way to keep the water good for all boats around you.

[d_nodixon]

On the topics of smoking, I have always allowed it going on ten years now, and no seat burns yet...but don't let folks smoke in front while underway. Hot ashes in the eye sucks!

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