re: Tell me about driving /owning a boat

I guess you've never tried a compressor, small generator, log splitter, or welding machine trailer. It's pretty hard to back up something so short that you can't see. I've been doing it for years, and it never gets and easier.

Go rent a log splitter and put the video of you backing it up on YouTube

just get a boat you can afford. I wouldn't live without one or two . They require maintenance just like any other piece of equipment. Dont buy a boat if you only will use is 5-6 times a year. The worse thing for a boat is for it to sit up on land thats where all the problems come from.

I'm On a Boat!

A Bradley is an Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It is not a Tank. Based upon that alone, don't buy a boat...... (Just kidding, busting your balls)... No offense!!

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I would love to see the full video of the aftermath. I laugh every time I see that video.

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The youtube video set to "turn down for what" is epic.

I have pulled small trailers. We had one I would load my aluminum Jon boat on. The trailer couldn't have been more than 8-10 foot because a third of my Jon boat, from the middle bench to the front would hang off. It wasn't much bigger than the tailgate space inside my '93 Toyota 4x4 that had an aluminum toolbox taking up part of it.

I've also backed stump grinders.

I pulled/backed a compressor for an Ingersoll Rand jack hammer behind the bosses work truck, which was a crew cab dually, when I worked Landscaping thru college.

So yeah, I've pulled short trailers with trucks that were either lifted or long arse dually. You just have to barely turn the wheel because of how sensitive the trailers are when they are that short but it's still something that a man should know how to do.

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Next learn how to depart and return safely to the landing because each time the wind or water height is different.

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Finding out which of your friends is the guy who's good with helping you land the boat, catching the pier and making sure you don't bump the pier or any other boats that are tied off that goes a long way towards any mistakes or errors in judgement because of the wind or choppy water or current. A good first mate goes along way because most every other person in the boat that doesn't look good in a two piece is wasted space.

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Lean boat landing etiquette. Acquire some navigation skills and rules of the waterway.

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Best advice in the thread. You need to pay attention to the other boats about 10x as much compared to driving on the road. Any idiot with a line of credit can get a boat and be out there driving around.

Memorial Day and 4th of July are the two worst days for this up here on the Tenn River. I've lived on the River for over 15 years now and I dread these two days more than any others.

Stop me if you have heard this one....but the two happiest days of your life are
1) when you buy the boat
2) when you sell the boat

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Finding out which of your friends is the guy who's good with helping you land the boat, catching the pier and making sure you don't bump the pier or any other boats that are tied off that goes a long way towards any mistakes or errors in judgement because of the wind or choppy water or current. A good first mate goes along way because most every other person in the boat that doesn't look good in a two piece is wasted space.

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Good advice for a newbie. I'll add some. You need to practice docking in all kinds of conditions until you can do it solo in case your idiot friends drink too much and become less useful than the bikini babes on board.

I hate being out on Memorial Day but the family requires it so I'll be out there dodging the idiots who just got their boat from the dealer or out of storage.