hi everyone,

tildefish wrote: hi everyone, i was just wondering if i could ask some really dumb, basic boating questions here. i'm new to boating, but not fishing so wanted to find the answers to some things that are puzzling me. hope that is ok being new to the forum.

No dumb questions - I would be interested as you may get dumb answers but probably not, there is no harm in revisiting the basics I think it is useful for all of us.

Is the boat open or does it have a cabin? My EPIRB is mounted on the side of the cabin entry. Somewhere near the helm is a good option. If you are worried about it getting wet maybe a small bucket over it would help & that wouldn't hinder access in an emergency. My ePIRB is waterproof I presume most are to some degree.

The socks are scuppers and are designed to be self draining. They shouldn't allow water in but when moving, any water from the boat should drain out. Check them out to see they aren't perished.

Some outboards have manual trim, others electric. If it is electric it will have a switch on the remotes and another on the motor cowling.

I keep my eprib in the grab bag, along with flares, first aid kit, torch, handheld vhf and other useful items.  A grab bag is a floating bag that you keep emergency supplies in, and if the worst should happen and the boat sinks you grab it and take it with you.  If you google grab bag you will find them, along with suggestions of what to carry in them.

Do you have any friends that're experienced boaties that you can take out on the boat to give you advice as you go for a few trips?

Vert often newbies are that because they dont really know anyone to head out regularly.. then throw in there are a lot of ppl out there who may look good to a newbie but in essence many of us would  only head out once and once only with them.

What area do you live in? - there may be someone from forum who has a similar boat you can visit and get a run down from?
 
 Yep, or even just spend a couple hrs and a couple coffees going over a well set up boat.
 If your area is listed in you profile, often you will find members will PM you quietly...

I started boating last October. took out a experienced fisho mate from work quite a few times before even my family. He helped teach me about launching and boat handling. I have a couple of youngsters so it can be quite stressful especially at a busy ramp. Made a checklist which helped a lot. And launch real early when ramp is less busy. Still worry when launching and feel that helps not be complacent. Was thinking about doing one of the boat courses.would be happy to help share knowledge and go out with you. Although know there are a lot more experienced people available on this forum.

Here's some more advice too, book yourself into a Coast Guard Day Skipper course and then a VHF course and get a VHF callsign.

Stuff like jackets , flares, spare prop,spare chain/ anchor, are all permanently loaded..

Day before heading out
Engine run, battery voltage  and charge checked, VHF checked, nav/ anchor light checked, bilge pump checked , steering , trim checked, bearing buddies checked  and pumped up with evinrude triple gaurd red bearing grease
Rods drags pre set, traces set...
Just before leaving
 bungs in, rods , sounders gps loaded, plugged in, checked.
 bait and burley into bait burly chilly bin.. ice blocks into fish bin, and loaded.
Crews gear, warm clothes, food drink loaded.
 1st burley and bait packet put into bucket to thaw.

So basically as we hook up the trailer.. boat fully loaded, ready to drop in the water.. tie downs etc checked.
 Stop fill up the boat tank..
 About 20/ 30 mins to load  to leaving the gas station.

 Get to ramp, swing boat around line up.. crew go down each side, removing bow tie down , rear tie downs, and motor lifted droped 1/2 down, 20/30 secs then backed in.
 bow shackle removed, Permanent bow roped passed to crew on side ramp...quick push boat slides in, trailer taken away...
When parked , the rollers given quick check, as walk the winch hook to rear cross member ( keel roller trailer)

While  trailer parked, motor fired warmed up, gps sounders turned on, rods taken out of stow  and into rod holders.

We them make a quick stop at one of several bits foul not far off he ramp.. throw over couple soft baits, bait up.. put lures on.. a quick 10 min drift, if nothing happens move out to fishing grounds.

Ready to head home..
 last burely pulled up, couple rods still out on a long drift.. wash down, using a couple $2 hearth brushes.. used to be bucket water, now wash down pump..
 Sea water container filled (rinsing fillets later)
 Clears re clipped down, everything including rods packed and stowed, ready to unload when get home... last couple rods wound in and lure added.. just in case a work up ...
 At thev ramp.. trailer retrieved, final stow couple things away.
  Boat on trailer... rem the winch hook already just to pick up..
 boat pulled up, shackle put in drive out... everyone already in the truck.
 up to the wash down, rinse off boat, trailer rise motor, carpets  soaked, rods reels rinsed...they are stowed in a manner that is assessable from outside.  Bow tie down put on, rear tie downs on...home.
 Having everything packed and stowed before the ramp, means unpacking at home quick easy.
 Boat quick foam up with CT 18...
Fillet fish in the shed, stainless bench.. production line style..

Fish are all cleaned gutted, at sea... before going into the fish bin so chilly bins etc are clean
 Chilly bins ice bricks quick rinse all thats needs.. bricks and any still frozen bait / burley into the bait burly freezer.
 Rods racked on work benches to dry

 next day, boat carpets etc re foamed, and washed down .. about every 4 th /5th trip water blasted..if needed.
 While washing down , motor run in the drum...
 Rods sprayed with inox wiped down, and oiled..drags released and put into the wall rack.
  Cabin carpets  etc get light spray  gone in 60 sec 10% soln of concentrate... that prevents smells algie mould etc. 1 min

 When everything has dried or near dried, CRC all the rollers, wheel nuts, trailer lights connector, hitch padlock, hitch, tie downs bimmini clips, carbinas , motor hydrolic trim mechanism.  2 mins

Every 4/ 5 trip clears, screens get a quick polish with meguires car quick detail polish  3/ 4 mins...good 6 yrs now still as good as new...
bimini seams get quick spray from inside with the gone 60 secs, and seats seams.
 Hydroilc piston shafts get a good grease with evinrude blue triple guard, as does the steering arm and motor grease nipples.
 Every 6 months under cowl given a good wipe clean out... more wipe than anything to clean, then a mist spray of lanolin in a aerosol can.

 Seems a lot of work, but being organised, its not and makes general cleaning maintenance far quicker, less things go wrong, thing last yrs longer..
 And things like get a puncher, wheel nut come of easy , no beaking studs, or hard work... steering rods cables dont get jambed.. motor tilt doesnt corrode, or seals leak etc.
 Very rarely need to spend time with break downs,  'fix ' anything.
As my Grand father used to say 50 odd yrs ago
 'Work Hard at being lazy'

 Even to the extent we pull the 5.5m fully loaded Commander up on the keel trailer with a 18v battery drill faster than can wind it up.

Woah next level steps, thanks!