Solo boating

[JamesHawk101]

I do this all the time! But my G23 leans so it bugs me when I do.

[AirTool]

...I have become efficient launching it by myself as well. I can beat the typical launch ramp wally with full crew almost every time.

Awesome and I'll race you. I know we have the typical crew beat....that's too easy. How 'bout some friendly competition at our respective launches then switch.

I know you are good...so there is a chance you beat me.

Should you be ahead in the final heat....for your final attempt you get assigned to watch my 2 kids plus two of their friends and maybe a newbie dad to ask you questions all the while.

No - just joking of course - but it does sound like fun or maybe an idea new reality show.

I've said before about my dad and I launching the fishing boat when I was a boy. We were fast even when I was too young to drive the boat alone. (Back then we took off our tail lite with plugs and wing nuts cuz they saltwater ate them up before the next trip.)

Once I could hop in and start it as it slid in the water, we could have set records. He'd park the truck and walk through the bait shop and pick up shrimp....then I'd nose up to the bait dock (sometimes between two parked boats LOL) and pick him up. - yeah some called us jack asses I guess but any moms in the other boats surely wondered what was taking their crew so long.

[dfoster]

How about solo riding?

(disclaimer: it isn't me and I don't condone it...yada yada)

That said, I agree... sometimes it is nice to just get out on your own. My oldest daughter gets that. She will just sit on the boat with me in between sessions relaxing and looking at the water. That is pretty nice.

[wawasee]

I grew up going to Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana. I learned to barefoot from the father of a friend from high school. My friends father loved footing so much that he would take his 1985 Prostar out first thing in the morning and barefoot with a boom off the drivers side of the boat. He would foot and drive at the same time. That is true solo boating in my opinion.

[swankster]

I do this all the time! But my G23 leans so it bugs me when I do.

Balance it with the tanks and take the lean out of it. No reason to be bugged.

[grkero]

oh, i got it. what i do sometimes, and even more stressless, but maybe weird. i just take a book or some music, and sit in the boat in the lift.

That's funny... I did that about 4 times this past season.

[Zach@n3]

I grew up going to Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana. I learned to barefoot from the father of a friend from high school. My friends father loved footing so much that he would take his 1985 Prostar out first thing in the morning and barefoot with a boom off the drivers side of the boat. He would foot and drive at the same time. That is true solo boating in my opinion.

I've heard stories from old guys about them holding onto the steering wheel and footing. That could end badly ha. But really there is nothing like some coffee in the morning fog. Just you and your machine. When it cranks over and fires for the first time in the morning you cannot recreate the sound when all of the pent up water makes holes in the lake as it exits the exhausts at high speed leaving nothing to restrict the sound of the v8 just for a split second and then that sweet smell of a cold started engine being filtered through lake water rolls over the transom and into your nose. At that point you know it's going to be a good day.

[swc5150]

oh, i got it. what i do sometimes, and even more stressless, but maybe weird. i just take a book or some music, and sit in the boat in the lift.

Awesome, I do that too. It often times leads to a nice nap as well.

I also like a solo drive around the lakes. I do some of my best thinking during those outings.

[scottb7]

Now THAT, is funny. I thought about the nap in the boat (in boat lift) thing. I wondered how embarrassed I would be if a neighbor saw me carrying a pillow to the boat. Probably would think the wife kicked me out of the house. But the rolled up towel makes a very bad pillow.

[swankster]

But really there is nothing like some coffee in the morning fog. Just you and your machine. When it cranks over and fires for the first time in the morning you cannot recreate the sound when all of the pent up water makes holes in the lake as it exits the exhausts at high speed leaving nothing to restrict the sound of the v8 just for a split second and then that sweet smell of a cold started engine being filtered through lake water rolls over the transom and into your nose. At that point you know it's going to be a good day.

Well said! Going to miss some of it with the surf pipe :-(

[JamesHawk101]

Balance it with the tanks and take the lean out of it. No reason to be bugged.

Yah I know, that's what I end up doing a lot of the time

[pe4me]

My favorite solo act is to launch with a solid brake check to make sure it gets to a good depth, park the rig and then swim out during the dog days of summer. Tunes for sure once under way.

[Dingus]

oh, i got it. what i do sometimes, and even more stressless, but maybe weird. i just take a book or some music, and sit in the boat in the lift.

You're not alone! So it's either not weird, or we both are.

[79nautiquenick]

I love my 236 for cruising but my 79 takes the cake for solo cruises. Love the sound of the ole 351 Windsor once it's warmed up(cold collard) and has that low idle loping sound going on! But sadly that engine needs a rebuild and is tucked away in the garage with no immediate rush put towards her getting back on the water.