How to Drive a Pontoon Boat in 3 Simple Steps with Photos

For instance, if the weather is extremely windy, your boat might not turn exactly in the direction you want it to be. I have been mentioning earlier how driving a boat is somewhat similar to driving any other motor vehicle. You need to know about driving a motorboat that isn’t present when driving a car or other types of motor vehicles. Adjust the speed of your boat according to weather conditions.

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.

Boaters can get information nature from VHF marine radios, commercial radios and television stations and newspapers. As a boater, you need to be aware of the types of advisories and take action before a storm hits. Warnings range from small craft advisories, with winds of 18 knots or less, up to hurricane warnings with winds of 74 miles per hour or greater.

The trim has two main purposes which are; move the propeller away from the ground in shallow water and contribute to the overall performance of the boat while it’s underway. However, throwing the throttle in reverse while underway will act sort of like a brake and bring the boat to a halt quicker than if you just put it in neutral. Once the prop is submerged and the engine is tilted to the degree you want, turn the key and start the motor.

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.