Newbie Needs Some Advice

[halfwatt]

Congrats on your new ride! The next few months are going to be brutal, but that'll give you a lot of time to research the forum for any questions you may have. It's a great resource, as proven by the previous posts. I'd highly recommend spending your first few trips concentrating on how the boat responds to the way you drive, and learning the in's and outs of it. I learned quickly that patience is a must have when interacting with my passengers, mainly my wife! Good luck!

[ericinmich]

Don't forget the drain plug.
Never approach a dock faster than you want to hit it.
Always shut off the engine when a person is in the water boarding the boat.
Be careful with the wake/surf boards fins, they can damage vinyl.
Always run the blower before starting. Lift the engine cover and do a sniff test for vapors before starting... very important after filling with fuel.
Read the coast guard rules on PFDs and be prepared.
When boating in unfamiliar waters learn the water depth with charts, going slow, local knowledge. Nothing worse than a $300 prop or a $2000 shaft bill to ruin the day.
Know the rules of the road, who has the right of way.
The first scratch/ding on a new boat is the hardest to get over.
Learn how to tie a few knots. The bowline is one of the most versatile.
If there is a US Power Squadron club near you it's a good way to learn a lot about boating. There are probably other options.

[Edwards85]

Have dealer take you to lake! If you have friends with boats have them show you the ropes. If not there are plenty Tige family members that would be glad to meet you at the lake. Find a local ski shop to get you set up with equipment. As tubes go, I love the Airhead G Force 3 person don't get 2 person. Have been on many tubes and pulled many. Best tracking tube and riders feel really safe ages from 5-48. Ties up great to the back ski post and hang off back and rest on swim platform when going down lake. Please only pull your kids at speed 20-25 until you become a really good driver ( I never go over 27). And don't pull them when there are lots of boats around. When it comes to boards you will get thousands of suggestion. Check out Ronix Vision or August for your girls. My girls are older and I got them Ronix Krush ( very girly colors) If you are just starting wake boarding look at the Ronix vault. Great board to start with and learn on and you won't grow out of it for awhile.

[talltigeguy]

If you go 27 on a tube, then whip it around, you can easily go double that at the end of a 60 foot rope. Hitting the water at 50 MPH is not very fun. I lost a tooth due to my wife doing that once. I no longer have an appetite for tubing.

To add to what Edwards said, learn to be a good tube driver. Any idiot can go 30 MPH and whip you around until you get bucked off. That isn't being a 'good' tube driver. I am the best tube driver I know and the best tube ride is when they get a good ride, but you aren't just going so fast that they get thrown off. In fact, I consider it a perfect ride when they almost fall off, but don't. Don't get me wrong, they do fall off. Whenever my kids go ride behind someone else, they tell me how they were just going so fast that it was scary. Don't be THAT guy.

I do love the 5 man water boggan...it requires a fair amount of skill to balance the thing, and when just right, you can get bounced pretty decent.

[Z3CO23]

If you go 27 on a tube, then whip it around, you can easily go double that at the end of a 60 foot rope. Hitting the water at 50 MPH is not very fun. I lost a tooth due to my wife doing that once. I no longer have an appetite for tubing.

To add to what Edwards said, learn to be a good tube driver. Any idiot can go 30 MPH and whip you around until you get bucked off. That isn't being a 'good' tube driver. I am the best tube driver I know and the best tube ride is when they get a good ride, but you aren't just going so fast that they get thrown off. In fact, I consider it a perfect ride when they almost fall off, but don't. Don't get me wrong, they do fall off. Whenever my kids go ride behind someone else, they tell me how they were just going so fast that it was scary. Don't be THAT guy.

I do love the 5 man water boggan...it requires a fair amount of skill to balance the thing, and when just right, you can get bounced pretty decent.

Awesome!!! My bones hurt right now just thinking about some of the diggers I've took tubing. lol

[rsouth]

A big thanks to everyone for your comments and advice. I certainly have some homework to do, and have gleaned some great tips. I appreciate all the comments!

[EricU]

Most important! Don't forget to drag you kids on the tubes right through the middle of the calmest glass of water that you can find screwing it up for boarding or skiing....oh that's right! Please don't do that!!!

Again, That is one hell of an awesome boat you got there! The winter is going to seem long, but start putting in that stereo system and be ready for the spring!

You should probably plan on bringing it down to Northern California as our spring has to start earlier!!! Enjoy!!!

[Dandy]

X2 on the Thread that Duncan shared. We had 2 differnt boats (1 w/outboard and 1 I/O) prior to getting out Tige this year. The Thread that Duncan referenced was VERY helpful to us - the goggles and knife caught me by suprise, but I took advice and have them in the boat. Used the goggles once to go under the boat and inspect the prop - made it easy to see just HOW bent it was. There are alot of good safety ideas/items on that Thread.

Good luck and have fun