www.iFourWinns.com

Turn the exhaust to quiet and have fun....the hardest thing about this is learning where you are boating...that can be tougher in the bay than other places due to shallow hazards.....and is one huge reason you see boaters normally are repeat visitors f the same waters....not just a ton of ecplorers out there.

_________________
http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

....everyone on this forum has screwed the pooch at some point or another That is so true!

The length is not too long at all especially where you boat and honestly might be small for those waters. You won't really feel much difference is docking an 18' compared to a 20' and you WILL appreciate the extra two feet. My first boat was a 20' and I'm in a 24' now and it feel a bunch safer on "bigger water". The power of the boat is like everything else, just because it can go fast does not mean you need to. I rarely run my boat wide open and when I do I'm by myself on calm water because the family does to care to go that fast. If you are not aware of the power and dont always have it in the back of your head that it can get you in trouble (and do so quickly) you need to worry. You can get in trouble on a Boston Whaler just as easily as anything with more power.

You WILL "miss" when docking, you WILL " miss" the trailer occasionally, it happens to everyone. The above advise about going out on a Monday or Tuesday to practice is the best advise and to this day I still do it. ASK FOR HELP, I had a neighbor tell me up front he needed pointers and we had a great time. Everyone has a first boat and there is always someone more experienced, take advantage of their knowledge, relax, know your limitations until you are comfortable, BE SAFE always and remember that boats change lives, have fun and enjoy it.

_________________
Askieffer
2009 SL242

I agree with what everyone has been saying here, practice is key, confidence comes with time in the saddle.

Every year I try to get to the Toronto Boat show. At the indoor lake in the show, there are demonstrations on docking by a local (to Toronto) marine dealer. His demonstration and advice are quite good, and I must admit I have learned a few tricks by watching him.

He has a instructional DVD's for the characteristics of single engine, twin I/O and twin inboards:

http://www.milleryachts.com/videos/index.asp

Might be worth the 30 bucks to pick one up and have a look. I'm in no way affiliated, just have always been impressed with his advice

Don't give up on yourself!

_________________
2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

All the advice posted here is very good. We knew nothing about boating when we bought our boat which is 23'. It took a while to get comfortable. I took a USPS Boating Course and also went on some trips sponsored by the marina where we bought the boat. The trips helped a TON! There we boaters of all abilities and the marina folks were great in making sure everyone was comfortable and learning, etc. So I guess my advice would be:
- See if you can find a local boat club that does simple day trips. Some marinas and dealers off these. Even some overnight type trips can be done if the marina for the overnight has a hotel. Being out where you can follow and learn from other boaters really helps.
- Yes, Take the Boating Class!
- Also, I think you boat almost exclusively in salt water? If so, maybe try to find a local lake where you can get used to handling the boat w/o worrying about tides, depth, sea state, wind, etc. We have boated several times in the keys and it's very tricky....At least in the middle keys where we go....You have to constantly monitor the water depth and in my opinion you really must have color GPS with current charts + hard copies + depth gauge + polarized glasses...and even with all that I'm still worried about grounding. Haha.

Good luck! Like nearly everything: Practice + Experience and you'll be fine.

_________________
'99 234 Candia Funship, 5.7Gsi SX

Your confidence problem is that you are intimidated by the waters and not the boat. I wouldn't want a smaller boat on open water so you didn't buy too much.

You need to take the course to build your confidence. If you completely understand what you see going on out on the water then your confidence will grow.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

+1

_________________
2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

All the other suggestions are very good, you need a VHF, good depth finder, and towing insurance, very important. One tow back to your launch point can run 400 bucks. With an open bow boat, consider keeping the bow cover on and the windshield center panel closed in rough water. I like the versatility of the open bow but in rough water it is a liability if the boat is not self bailing. My next boat will be an dual console fishing style boat with an outboard, they are like a bowrider but are self bailing and the outboard power is less work in salt water regions. I have taken the bowrider out in LI Sound but I am very cautious about the weather and it has to be a flat calm day for me to do that. Consider getting some inflatable PDFs they are more comfortable to wear all day.
Lastly look at the capacity of the bilge pump and if it is a little bitty 500 gph unit upgrade at least to a 1000 if you can.
Dual battery systems are also a must in my opinion. Always good to have a back up.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Lou brings up a very good point on the pump. I would just add a 2nd pump (750 to 1000gph). Thats why I mentioned, I bowrider can get swamped easily.

Thanks to all of you for the advice! I really needed some moral support after my last docking and I definitely screwed the pooch lol! Just seems I am more at ease flying my friends piper than going 2 miles an hour coming up to the dock to tie up. And yes at black point marina there are these crowds that BBQ and get drunk and just wait for the boats to come back and I really hate those people even though I have never screwed the pooch in front of them. LOL! My new favorite saying Screw the pooch. Its seems as soon as I hit those channel markers coming back in my stomach goes to crap and my hands start getting sweaty. Hoping for the day when that doesn't happen anymore. Thanks for your moral support I read every single post and I do feel better knowing this happens to everyone and that I am not some screwed up nervous wreck even if I feel like that sometimes.

I think you are 100 percent correct with not knowing what's going on in the waters and it really getting to me

Paul I. wrote:
....everyone on this forum has screwed the pooch at some point or another That is so true!

+1

Hello Jafo4u

Blackpoint marina.

Homestead/Miami ?

_________________
07 Tiara Sovran 4300
07 338 Vista - SOLD

Yes I try not to go near that place on weekends but during the week it's not bad at all.
I have been trying to go to Matheson but once I get out I just stay around the front of the marina a little past the channel markers lol! I know what the heck is wrong with me. My wife really loves the boat so I am really lucky for that. I have gone out through bay front park also and that was not bad. I really would love to dock at Gilbert's with my boat one day. Are you at Blackpoint? Joe from Miami

Great advice Thanks!