I've wanted a bass boat for 25+ years.. The time never seemed to be right financially.. It was always something.. I just made my last truck payment and was looking at new cars.. I thought to myself.. Your excuse has always been that you did not have anything to pull a boat.. Then you did not want a boat payment with your truck payment.. Now you have a paid off truck.. The heck with a new car.. Im getting a boat.. I just bought my first bass boat... A 2013 Bass Tracker..

I am getting my new boat on Saturday and I am excited as heck.. The night I bought the boat I was so excited I only was able to get 4 hours sleep.. Ive been spending most of my time getting prepared for the new boat.. I have a buddy thats helping me out.. He knows boats.. But I would like to hear more from you guys.. I am very cautious and want to do things the right way on the water and at the ramp.. What are some tips that you guys can give me to make my time on the water safe and courteous to other boaters.. Thanks for your help..

Rule #1: Never, ever forget the plug.

A courteous ramp rule: If your unloading or loading boat at night / dusk, turn off your headlights on your truck as to not blind other folks who may be trying to back down in the lane next to you.

Take your straps off and prepare the boat for launch before you back down to the ramp. Also, never crank your motor before backing the boat into the water to see if it is going to crank, this will eat the impeller up. Wear your life jacket and have the kill switch connected to it at all times when getting on plane. So many to list. LOL I could go on and on and most were learned the hard way.

#1 Lifejacket. Wear it.

#2 Take your truck & new toy to a big empty parking lot. Take some orange safety cones (or similar markers). Set your cones/markers up to represent the boat ramp & practice backing the trailer "down" the ramp. Take your time and go slowly so you learn to do it correctly.

#3 Bilge plug. Keep a spare in the truck (don't ask how I know this!)

#4 Develop a checklist for pre launch. I start at the bow & make sure the safety chain is unhooked & trailer lights unplugged, then move down the portside to set the VHF anntennae up, etc. Plan a launch checklist/routine that works for you.

#5 When you're actually backing your boat into the water. Relax. It's not a race. Take the time you need to do it right and safely. Just because the guy with the Skeeter next to you can launch & park his truck in 90 seconds does NOT mean you have to. On the other hand, you don't want to waste time on the ramp doing things that you should have done in the parking lot (like loading tackle into the boat).

#6 This is the most important thing .......




ENJOY YOUR NEW BOAT AND GO CATCH SOME BIGGUNS!!

http://www.boat-ed.com/tx/handbook/

we should all spend some time educating ourselves at the link above.
tons of good information regarding all aspects of boating !

take a look here http://www.boat-ed.com/tx/handbook/night.htm

Good stuff on the boat-ed site

Great Tips guys.. Thanks !!