My wife bought a fishing boat

[Bobby]

Yep. That's right. She complains we don't fish enough. We went walleye fishing with a friend who owns Passintime Charters, runs Lake Erie. Went with another friend who runs Benzie Fishing Service, guiding on the Big Manistee. Afer that she wanted a boat. So she started researching and now we have a 16.5 ft Lund, 50 HP Honda 4 stroke, a couple downriggers, etc. Bought it used.

So, what do we need to know? I am certain there is proper etiquette at launch sites, in the water (do you pass on the left or right) safety equipment needed and better yet, other than the law, what should we have? How about a boating safety class? Who puts them on? Probably 100 things I need to know but don't know to ask.

The saying, I don't know and I don't know I don't know.

Then later I might ask how to fish out of this boat. But until I know what I need for the basics of boating I will wait on that. I have always been a stream fisher, preferably small brookie streams. Now things are a changing.

I'll be waiting.

Thanks

[doublell]

the Coast Guard Auxiliary offers excellent boating saftey courses. they have a great introductory course. It is a good course for a husband and wife to take together to learn the "rules of the road". They as well as the state and federal goverment have free pamphlets which are full of useful information. Good luck and thanks for taking the time to do it right.:)

[lkmifisherman]

First off CONGRATULATIONS on your new to you boat...It is going to provide countless hours of rest, relaxation and fun....I just wish my wife was that excited by boats and fishing....

As for your questions....Check with you local county sheriff...They will have booklets on the rules and regulations for the inland and the Great Lakes...This will answer a good deal of your questions. They will have the same booklet at the SOS when you go to register the boat...Another good place to look is:

http://www.boat-ed.com/mi/mi_laws.htm

There is some of the same info there....

Good luck and remember that a bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work....

LMF :fish:

[Spanky]

You need to move out, she is deffinately to controlling. I will send a profile and pics for her to find a qualified fishing.....buddy!:evil: All my tackle works perfect in a 16.5 Lund!



:) ;) :lol:

[Mister ED]

You need to move out, she is deffinately to controlling. I will send a profile and pics for her to find a qualified fishing.....buddy!:evil: All my tackle works perfect in a 16.5 Lund!



:) ;) :lol:

However, I certianly think she'd rather be AT LEAST 18' from Spanky's famous bibs.:lol:

Bobby - if you've never seen Spanky's bibs before ... you might not understand that statement .... let's just say that they never been washed.:yikes:

[DonP]

However, I certianly think she'd rather be AT LEAST 18' from Spanky's famous bibs.
The bibs are one thing... but whatever you do... don't let her see Spanky in his chartreuse speedo!! :yikes: Might as well get the divorce papers ready if you do!! He is one hot chick magnet when he wears those!! :D :lol:

[Priority1]

Congrats on the new boat. Hang on to that woman. All GR8 advice above. It would be a good idea on your first trip to take a seasoned boater with you. The classes are gr8 but nothing like hands on instructions. I have seen far too many bad scenes at the boat launches.:yikes:

[trout]

Does she have a sister :)
Your one lucky man!
Have fun fishing.

[snowman11]

My wife bought a fishing boat too.

I just hope she doesn't figure out that that's where her tax return went.

[Mister ED]

Joking aside, lkmifisherman gave the link that I was looking for. A lot of good info there. All of it may not apply to your situation (like the pwc portions) .... but I think it is good to be familiar with all of the info.

As Priority said, hands on is the best teacher, and taking someone experienced with you the first time or two will certianly shorten the learning curve (and the learning curve can be expensive if you make a mistake).

When starting out, stick to the smaller/less crowded lakes. You can take your time and double check things over without a line of people watching over you and making you nervous. Do yourselve a favor and do not head to the boat launch in the middle of the day, on a holiday weekend ... until you have a few trips under your belt and are comfortable with the process. Make a written checklist for launching & loading, IF you do this and follow it ... you will never forget to put the plug in.:rolleyes:

For the next couple months, spend some time in the boat (on the trailer) becoming intimate with its components and their function. Sitting in the garage or drive and playing with the new toy may sound kinda dumb, but that way when you do launch you will already know where everything is and how it works.

Congrats on the new boat. And coudos for attempting to learn how to operate it Before you actually use it. Good luck.

[Chocha]

Master..... You must teach me!!!:D


COngrats... Enjoy the boat!!

[Jason Adam]

I commend you for looking for information on boaters saftey and etiquette before just jumping in and heading out. Seriously. If more people took this approach, EVERYONE would be MUCH safer and have a much better time on the water. Thank You.

That said, what lkmifisherman is good info. Most county sherriffs departments offer basic boaters saftey courses startig in the spring. They are 8 hours, one day or two evenings. They are VERY BASIC, but are 80% of what you need to know to operate a boat safley on iniland lakes and the great lakes. If these were mandatory classes, the lakes would be much safer. You can definitally follow up with something like a Power Squadren course or whatever, but the basic sherriffs course basically covers the rules of the water and the fundementals.

As for the boat ramp etiquatte, read this thread(kind of a long read(and I was cranky)):
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36936

This is a good ramp thread as well:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116450

[fish-on]

Spanky in his chartreuse speedo!! :yikes:

lord, i dont even want to go there :lol::lol::lol:
congrats on the boat

[1wildchild]

Dang...maybe I should go boat shopping. ;).
Although if it attracts speedos, I might have to pass!!!

[eddiejohn4]

You sir are a lucky man! a wife that wants a fishing boat? I have read about such women but truly did not think one existed.

[fishfanatic]

My husband and I can't agree on what kind of boat, I want one small enough for me to put in the water by myself for my own outing on the inland lakes, he wants one for the big lakes! Too bad we don't have enough $$$ for his and hers! :)

[MiketheElder]

Buy one of these.

http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/1018367/used/Chapman%20Piloting,%20Seamanship%20&%20Small%20Boat%20Handling

[Spanky]

sorry to hijack your thread, I have to agree with Jason A. I was lucky enough to go through boaters safety alonnnnggg time ago in school when I was 13:yikes: That along gets you more info than half the boaters on the water on any given weekend. I did the power sqaudron thing when I was about 28, quite a bit tougher , but still important. Taking a seasoned angler along for a trip or two is always a great way to learn, everything from ramp etiquette, to learning harbor navigation, rules of the water, launching and loading, rigging and tying down, how to handle certain situations, pierhead traffic(my favorite), and of course the easy stuff like rigging lines, and selecting baits, netting fish, and lifting the cooler into tow vehicle!

I would recommend at least 2-3 trips to get started, by then , the wife might let you do some driving!:D
So when do you want me to meet you, and at what ramp?

Don't listen to them guys about the bibs, they are just a measure of experience, and some of the "love" from certain spawning salmonids!

Have fun, spring is near!;)

[JasonCarp]

You don't need no stinking etiquette. Just swallow down a six pack before you hit the launch, jackknife that boat trailer into the ramp, proceed to the restroom, walk the dog, load the tackle into your boat, and whatever else you can find to pass the time until the trucks are lined up 16 deep at the ramp just before first light. Power off load the boat, step on a few guys rods, tackle, what not on the dock and take off. Be sure to speed by the guy in the 12 row boat with the electric motor close enough so you can read the name brand on his underwear. Who cares if he dumps out, as long as you git to your fishing spot the fastest way possible. Troll 3 feet off stern of the guys pulling lead core line, and be sure to pull some yourself through the channel and in heavy traffic. If you see a planer board off the starboard of the guy next to you and he isn't actively staring at it 100% of the time, feel free to pull up to in and cut that "snarled mess" it's attached to, and have yourself a freeby find.

You may think this seems extraneous, but trust me, I've seen all of this at some time or another, and I didn't own a boat until last year. (friends' boats allow more observation of the folks around you)

Happy boating!

[fish-on]

Don't listen to them guys about the bibs

:lol::yikes::lol:, now ya went and brought up the bibs :yikes::yikes::lol:

all hail the orange bibs,,,all hail the orange bibs...:lol::lol: