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

[Beg4wake]

KEEP A SERVICE LOG! And on top of that, keep up with your maintenance schedule...if nothing more for resale value!! Learn your boat inside and out! My biggest advice - DON'T BE AFRAID TO WORK ON YOUR BOAT A LITTLE! Especially since this will be your first one! (Minus warranty issues if you have a warranty) If you run into a problem, hit the forums and try to find an answer. Fix it yourself if possible! I've learned so much about boats over the years by doing this and by watching you tube videos! I'm even handling some gel coat repairs myself for a few friends now after I did some on my own boat a couple years ago. It was a learning process but well worth it! Learning to do your own oil changes and winterizing will save you hundreds to thousands. Learn how to properly inspect your boats wear and tear items and replace if necessary (such as impellers, belts, etc).

Keep your boat clean! Wiping it down after every use, both inside and out, will keep your boat looking young!

Always have a second hand on the boat that knows how to operate it, including how to dock it! Teach others to drive it! You never know when you may need somebody to help you out!

Redundant note here: NO POWER TURNS!! Especially in a good cove! Try to keep tubing to a main body and not in a known ski/wake cove. It's just common courtesy. Along the same lines, if you are driving along and about to pass a dock where somebody is about to pull into a slip, come off plane. Help them out by not giving them a wake to fight. Try to always be courteous to others on the lake. Bad lake manners is starting to cause a lot of issues these days, especially with the wake boat community.

These are just a few things....there are thousands more to learn! But good luck with your endeavors!

[btouchstone01]

The best advice I ever received.... don't approach anything faster than you are willing to hit it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using PLT Nautique mobile app

[GMLIII]

KEEP A SERVICE LOG! And on top of that, keep up with your maintenance schedule...if nothing more for resale value!! Learn your boat inside and out! My biggest advice - DON'T BE AFRAID TO WORK ON YOUR BOAT A LITTLE! Especially since this will be your first one! (Minus warranty issues if you have a warranty) If you run into a problem, hit the forums and try to find an answer. Fix it yourself if possible! I've learned so much about boats over the years by doing this and by watching you tube videos! I'm even handling some gel coat repairs myself for a few friends now after I did some on my own boat a couple years ago. It was a learning process but well worth it! Learning to do your own oil changes and winterizing will save you hundreds to thousands. Learn how to properly inspect your boats wear and tear items and replace if necessary (such as impellers, belts, etc).

Keep your boat clean! Wiping it down after every use, both inside and out, will keep your boat looking young!

Always have a second hand on the boat that knows how to operate it, including how to dock it! Teach others to drive it! You never know when you may need somebody to help you out!

Redundant note here: NO POWER TURNS!! Especially in a good cove! Try to keep tubing to a main body and not in a known ski/wake cove. It's just common courtesy. Along the same lines, if you are driving along and about to pass a dock where somebody is about to pull into a slip, come off plane. Help them out by not giving them a wake to fight. Try to always be courteous to others on the lake. Bad lake manners is starting to cause a lot of issues these days, especially with the wake boat community.

These are just a few things....there are thousands more to learn! But good luck with your endeavors!

Well said Beg4wake. Enjoyed meeting you at the Wake the World event on Tue at SML

[Beg4wake]

Well said Beg4wake. Enjoyed meeting you at the Wake the World event on Tue at SML

Likewise!! Beautiful G you have sir!

[functionoverfashion]

I won't repeat what others have said - lots of good advice, though - but I'll add a couple things I think have been missed:

Keep a basic toolkit on the boat for simple things that might come loose or need attention; I recently purchased a new set of allen keys to leave in the boat because of all the fittings on the tower that can come loose or may need to be moved.

If your dock lines stay attached to the boat while underway (mine do), be sure they stay in the boat. If they fall out, they can get caught on the prop and give you a bad time. Same with the ski rope, when you're idling or drifting around a rider in particular, it's easy for that line to go under the boat without you seeing it.

If you go long periods of time without using the boat, allow extra time to open it up and clean it/wipe it down before and/or after using it. The dirtiest boats I've seen aren't the ones that get used all the time, it's the ones that sit around (outdoors) but neglected.

Always cover the boat properly when not in use. See my last point about neglected boats.

Once in a while, set aside time to just go over everything in the boat and fix/adjust/make note of anything that needs attention. I've done this with no repairs in mind, and spent over 2 hours doing little things here and there. This helps you know your boat in and out, and keeps it working properly (hopefully).

Good luck with the new boat, and have fun! Post some pics when you can.

[swc5150]

That the drive shaft / prop on a G can apparently snap off at any time. Good info to know, so you don't get stuck out on the lake without a phone or paddle.

[gome123]

Lot's of great advice. Remember NO POWER TURNS!!!
To add a bit more.
- Remember that you also have a trailer to maintain. As other have said, keep the hubs greased, trailer brakes working good, replace the bunk carpet if needed. The trailer is what takes you to the place where fun begins.
- A tool kit is always good to have. It is amazing how many times you will use, even if not for fixing your boat but other things.
- I always like to keep a spare impeller and the tools to replace one if needed. Overheating = Not a good time (I learned that the hard way on my previous boat.)
- Wife always like to ensure we have a small first aid kit on board at all times.
- Many have mentioned to teach a 2nd person to help. I have shown my wife and younger sister how to do basics of loading, driving and towing.
- NO POWER TURNS!!

Congratulations and enjoy your new pass time.

[Neverenough]

Lot's of great advice. Remember NO POWER TURNS!!!
To add a bit more.
- Remember that you also have a trailer to maintain. As other have said, keep the hubs greased, trailer brakes working good, replace the bunk carpet if needed. The trailer is what takes you to the place where fun begins.
- A tool kit is always good to have. It is amazing how many times you will use, even if not for fixing your boat but other things.
- I always like to keep a spare impeller and the tools to replace one if needed. Overheating = Not a good time (I learned that the hard way on my previous boat.)
- Wife always like to ensure we have a small first aid kit on board at all times.
- Many have mentioned to teach a 2nd person to help. I have shown my wife and younger sister how to do basics of loading, driving and towing.
- NO POWER TURNS!!

Congratulations and enjoy your new pass time.

Forgot the the first aid kit!!! A must have for us! Aspirin, Benadryl ,eye wash stuff for late night bugs in the eye, and cut stuff all have been needed and **** glad the wife thought of that stuff.

[markj]

I say be prepared to be humbled by all of the compliments from people telling you how nice your boat is. There's something universally appealing about Nautiques that people can't put a finger on. There's something in all of our DNA that recognizes quality when we see it in person... part of the human condition. Enjoy.