Boating Safety National Safety Council
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.
At the same time, having too much fuel can increase the risk of a fire. In general, laws regulate who can operate a boat and where you can go on your boat. Most states prohibit people younger than 18 from driving a 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 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.
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.
I have been there, you are nervous and doubt your ability to pilot your boat. Now you desperately need some nature final tips to feel confident behind the wheel steering the boat. Understanding how to properly trim a boat can have a dramatic effect on how comfortable the ride is, but every boat reacts differently to trimming in different sea conditions. So, most of the time it takes a bit of experimentation to find the sweet spot. The most important thing is simply that you try trimming, because many boaters never make any adjustments at all and never discover how big a difference it can make. When driving in tight spaces to maneuver up to a dock or slip, shift into neutral for more precise handling.
This helps you know how your boat responds at different speeds. Instead, just slow to a safe limit and then turn; generally 20-25% slower than the top speed. Now when you reverse slowly this will push your stern into the dock while your bow will move away.