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I recently came into a 24" 2006 Harris-Kayot Powerboat (from my boss, only 128 hours on the motor.........for $6,000). I've already taken it out for about 20 hours on my local bay (San Diego, Mission Bay). I had the oil change and tune-up done about 3 weeks ago since it is rarely used. No issues with the boat less a few scratches from fenders not being put out to dock. I want to take it out on the open water off the coast of San Diego this weekend but I don't want to die out there either so any tips anyone has is greatly appreciated! What I do have: 15 lifevests stored under the front seating. 1 x Uniden hand-held waterproof VHF radio 1 x Marine Fire Extinguisher 1 x Set (4) orange smoke flares 1 x Distress flag Anything missing? It's supposed to be good waters this weekend also, however I have noticed a large amount of inexperienced boaters (such as myself) and personal watercraft assholes out there breaking speed rules and whatnot, and it's lobster season so if I go out farther than 5 miles there are poorly market traps that can get caught on my propeller. Thanks goons 
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Oct 7, 2015 19:55
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| # ? May 3, 2024 09:39 |
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I am mainly a (not very fine) sailor, and you need a friend who knows about motorboats. If no such person is available, try to find anyone who knows about motorboats who'll help you take her out for a spin. Please don't take the boat out solo when you're on open water for the first time - Mission Bay looks great, but it also looks cut off from actual sea conditions. This may be worth a read: http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/safety/boatreg.shtml Please make sure you wear a kill cord. If you do nothing else, click on this link and read the whole terrifyingly sad thing. In addition to what the San Diego coastguard link lists (you definitely need a MOB buoy), I suggest a boat hook, preferably the latching type for easy pickup of mooring buoys, a portable GPS (assuming the boat doesn't have one, all the boats I''ve ever been on have been ancient and only had a compass), some local coastal charts (waterproof), good binoculars, an emergency towel and clothes in a drybag, plus a spare pair of sunglasses and baseball cap that never leave the boat - it's miserable being dazzled. An emergency spraycan of starting fluid has also proved handy to more boaters than would care to admit it. If you get into real trouble, you need to know how to call the coastguard and give them your current coordinates. I don't know how the stern ladders work on these boats, but hopefully yours can be reached and unfolded by someone in the water. Check that your navlights work every time you set off. It is common courtesy and sense to stay out of fishing areas, and five miles is a massive margin between you and the hazard - there is no way you're going to want to go five miles out - but crab and lobster gear can come adrift and snag you any time. I used to sail off the South coast of the UK and the amount of stray rope and net in the water was sometimes alarming. You can buy a purpose-made hook knife for defouling propellers - it looks like an Medieval polearm: http://www.cruisingonstrider.us/Pots.htm - the 'snap hook' method of getting rid of snagged potlines without damaging them is probably more useful to sailors than powerboaters, but is always worth a try if you've only hit them slowly. Or you can Macgyver a breadknife to a broom handle as described here: http://www.inyourfootsteps.com/sailing/tips/28/201/dealing_with_a_fouled_prop/ If snagging on AWOL fishing gear is a serious hazard, a shaft knife for your propeller could be a wise future investment if the boat doesn't have one fitted already. But the main thing you need is someone more experienced. I've always been acutely aware that every person I take out on a boat is my job to look after. If you express this responsible thought to someone who seems to be roughly in charge at a marina or chandlery, I'd be surprised if you find nobody prepared to help you get some open water confidence. Have fun!
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Oct 8, 2015 11:38
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If you forget everything else, remember Red Right Returning Keep those red channel buoys on your right(starboard) when coming into port, keep em' on your left(port) when leaving. It'll keep you from pulling a Captain Hazelwood, and make life easier if it's foggy and you have to negotiate a breakwater or other obstacle when leaving/returning to port.
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Oct 8, 2015 15:36
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You should get a real marine radio and look up the proper way to contact the coast guard in case of emergency. If your gas tank doesn't have a regular/reserve switch type thing, get a suitable container for extra gas to take with you. Figure out how far you can go with that can and don't go further from shore than that.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:37
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When it comes to small powered craft such as this, it's important to remember that you need power to have steerage. You don't have a big rudder like a sail or large craft. As such, without power, you have no ability to control the boat. At low speed, you need to goose the throttle to make a turn and you have almost no control when you back water.
mostlygray fucked around with this message at 02:11 on Oct 11, 2015 |
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Oct 10, 2015 20:30
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You need ten more lifevests
MOVIE MAJICK fucked around with this message at 23:49 on Oct 10, 2015 |
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Oct 10, 2015 23:24
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The surest way to go about this is to shoot yourself on the dock before you step onto the boat.
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Oct 11, 2015 01:44
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Learn the different tie-off knots when docking the boat. I've seen too many idiots that don't know how to properly tie off their boat return from the bar/restaurant to their boat floating off into the sunset. Here's some other ideas for things to carry: Docking and tow ropes available for the inevitable break down on water. A first aid kit and a good knife. A spotlight/flashlight (you will break down on the water and it will get dark). An external cell phone battery/charger (charged). An air horn. Extra drain plug. Foam key chain for the ignition key. Hand-operated pump in case the bilge pump fails. Sunscreen.
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Oct 11, 2015 03:37
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Also prepare yourself for the typical boat-owner arc: 1) Holy gently caress gotta get a boat gotta go cruising and floating and gently caress yeah boat! 2)Bought this boat fuckin gently caress yeah fill it up with some gas take the family out to dinner go cruising around on the weekends gently caress yeah! 3)Been boating in the same spots for a while now. Family/Friends not that into it anymore. The novelty has almost worn off. Yay boat. 4)Something went clunk on the boat while at full throttle last time. Had to limp/be towed to port. I guess this is what being a boat owner is all about right? 5)The lower unit on this outboard costs loving WHAT? Registration, and local ramp fees come due at this time. This fuckin boat... 6)You've spent $thousands getting the boat legal and seaworthy. It's old news now to both yourself and everyone who was once gung-ho for it. 7)Boat sits for ~2 years on the trailer at your house. 8)You sell boat to someone for < half what you paid for it. gently caress boats. It sounds like you got a decent deal on it so you may not end up too far upside down, but man I am telling you. Have a bit of fun and flip that baby while you can still realize a gain. Nothing depreciates like a boat. Break Out Another Thousand The best boat you will ever have is one you can ride but don't own. However, if you love boating or have the money to throw away on having it professionally maintained then by all means you should be the guy who owns the boat. All your friends *might* toss you some gas money.
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Oct 11, 2015 04:34
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Carnival of Shrews posted:you need a friend who knows about motorboats. If no such person is available, try to find anyone who knows about motorboats who'll help you take her out for a spin. Please don't take the boat out solo when you're on open water for the first time This. Take some classes on boating and navigation. If you insist on going out alone with no experience, buy a loving EPIRB so someone can come get you at least.
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Oct 12, 2015 18:42
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Stay in the boat. Always wear a life vest. Always hold on with both hands.
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Oct 14, 2015 02:08
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Duccy posted:I recently came into a 24" 2006 Harris-Kayot Powerboat (from my boss, only 128 hours on the motor.........for $6,000). I've already taken it out for about 20 hours on my local bay (San Diego, Mission Bay). I had the oil change and tune-up done about 3 weeks ago since it is rarely used. No issues with the boat less a few scratches from fenders not being put out to dock. I want to take it out on the open water off the coast of San Diego this weekend but I don't want to die out there either so any tips anyone has is greatly appreciated! You only need one life vest per person on board the boat at that time. Hand held radio is not going to work beyond five mile range. Fire extinguisher is required gear but is worthless to contact SAR Are the flares out of date? Check the 'freshness' date stamped on them. Distress flag, about as useful as............never mind. Write your name and address onto your chest so that the Coast Guard knows who to contact when they find your body.....if they do at all. Don't write it on your hand or anything cuz fish chew off the extremities first.
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Oct 15, 2015 12:04
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I believe Poseidon considers a bull or an ox an acceptable sacrifice.
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Oct 15, 2015 20:49
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As has been stated, BOAT stands for Bust Out Another Thousand. That's the first thing to understand. Buying the boat is the cheap part. Gas, maintenance, lines, fenders, anchors, coolers, etc, etc, etc add up quickly. As for how not to die? Know the boat's limitations and your own limitations as a captain. Before you head out onto the water, and while you are out on the water, check weather conditions. Wind direction and speed, tides if you're on salt water, rain chances, storms? Temperature, etc. If conditions are iffy before you go out, DON'T. If conditions are iffy while you're on the water, get into cover right away. Things change quickly on the water. As for safety things on the boat, there are coast guard rules for what you should have. In addition to those, get a good anchor (Not one of those crappy mushroom $8 deals...a good danforth or byers type) a length of chain at least 10 feet and an anchor rode that's at least 150'. Longer depending on where you boat and the depths. An anchor is a very important thing on a boat. Learn how to anchor, learn how much scope you need for the water depth. It will help a lot. Go out with a buddy or by yourself and practice docking, launching and loading the boat, backing the trailer, etc. Make sure you are confident in these things before you have non-boater people on the boat. Also, once you take others out on the boat, just remember, you are responsible for them as the captain. You're in charge of the boat and you make the rules for the others on-board. You are apparently boating in salt water so be sure to flush everything with fresh water every time you go out. Lastly, post some pictures of your new boat!
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Oct 20, 2015 05:48
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As a Merchant Mariner who works on a ( Small ) 600 foot Product tanker... for the love of all that is holy, please stay out of our way. I don't mean that in an 'I'm Lazy' or 'You make my job harder' way. Erratic movements by small vessels make it very difficult to plan ahead what we are going to do, because it messes with our radar data. If you see a large vessel, do not try to cross their bow - maintain a constant heading and speed as best you can. If you hear the ship blasting their whistle five times in quick succession, it means they have no idea what you are doing and you got too close. Oh, and 'Too Close' for us is kind of a huge distance. We try to stay a mile off of... everything ever, offshore.
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Oct 20, 2015 16:51
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Stratafyre posted:As a Merchant Mariner who works on a ( Small ) 600 foot Product tanker... for the love of all that is holy, please stay out of our way. I don't mean that in an 'I'm Lazy' or 'You make my job harder' way. Actually I am more worried about being run over by a inattentive large ship then getting in its way. Even with the AIS, I wonder how many ships keep a live watch while steaming. When I was moored out in the Flower Gardens, I couldn't sleep for fear of some crew boat running me down in the middle of the night.
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Oct 21, 2015 11:54
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Buy this http://www.amazon.com/Navigation-Rules-U-S-Coast-Guard/dp/0939837498 This, any version since 1802 http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Practical-Navigator-Bowditch/dp/0939837544 And maybe, but why not, this. It's $5. http://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-Small-Handling/dp/0688148921 I just got my captains license, and Bowditch and the USCG manual were the primary reading. Chapman's piloting is also a classic, and might have some stuff not covered in Bowditch. .
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Oct 23, 2015 05:15
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bandaid posted:Buy this Screw spending money. Use that cash to buy some 40s, get all liquored up and yell poo poo on VHF Channel 16 without leaving port.
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Oct 23, 2015 06:03
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I hope the OP has escaped the slimy clutches of Davy Jones. Did you sally forth into Mission Bay, Duccy, or think better of it?
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Oct 23, 2015 12:39
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| # ? May 3, 2024 09:39 |
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Carnival of Shrews posted:I hope the OP has escaped the slimy clutches of Davy Jones. I bet it was a viking's funeral.
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Oct 23, 2015 21:03
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