Five Great Boat-Handling Tips From a Photo-Boat Driver
You will need to pop the boat in and out or reverse 3-5 times to get enough momentum without prop interference to have the rudder get a good hold of the direction. Once you feel the boat going to the left, you can put the boat into reverse-idle and leave it there. You should now be holding a straight line or turning slightly to the left. Pop the boat in and out of gear, wait until the engine engages in reverse, leave it there for a second, then click back to neutral.
Slalomers need a slalom course, and having boat wakes go down the course will force them to stop and wait for them to dissipate, as hitting wakes at slalom speeds is dangerous. Online maps are such a quick and straightforward solution that can help you prevent major issues with your day. Potentially even opening up amazing opportunities on the water, simply by checking before you commit to taking a look. Make sure the observer you have in the boat is paying attention and not just playing on their phone. You don’t want to watch the skier for their full turn and crossing the wakes, you want your eyes to predominantly be looking ahead of the boat.
If it’s windy, I would recommend positioning the front of the boat downwind, in the opposite direction of the wind. Pontoon boats don’t have small turning circles, so you should think in advance before turning in the water. Place the throttle into forward shift and start off slowly with little bursts krazy of power. Next you will need to start turning using the steering wheel. If you have a clear path in which to drive back into, make small and controlled bursts on the throttle to back the boat out of the slip. Using the pontoon’s throttle should be something done with a very gentle motion.
When traveling at planning speeds and especially when running at very fast speeds, make steering adjustments slowly and smoothly. Jerking the wheel one way or the other can cause sudden shifts that can catch your passengers unawares, and turning very rapidly at high speeds can be downright dangerous. When driving a boat in close quarters to maneuver up to a dock or into a slip, turn the wheel while the boat is in neutral. Shift into gear until the boat begins to respond as desired, and then shift back into neutral. Eliminating any power or steerage between adjustments allows for much more precise handling.
Keeping the crew aware can make the difference between an enjoyable time on the water and one of discomfort or, worse, injury. Let the rider swim up to the boat, do not drive all the way to them. It’s a good idea for the whole family to enroll in a boater education course.
While there happen to be a handful of accidents each season. It is better to be prepared and take account of all safety precautions. After all, boating is all about fun, leisure, and relaxation. Plus you would not like to ruin all the excitement of everyone who comes to celebrate your big day as the captain of your boat. If the boat has trim tabs or a trimmable drive, try trimming the bow up and down a bit.