My boating expierence this weekend

[00Bolt]

well guys, to be honest you all had me a nervous wreck taking the boat out. So I was extremely careful but nervous. Ended up not going anywhere fancy, just dropped the boat in Joe Pool. On saturday went out there about 1pm and I felt like I owned the lake, we pretty much had the lake to ourselves.

I backed the boat in the water and the SECOND i unlatched it from the trailor, the game warden was whistling for me to come over to him, so we floated over to the dock and he went on about 3 kids without their life jackets on yet, which we had in our hands about to put on, then he said I had 5 seconds to show him my throw out floaty thing... it took me 11seconds.... so the 3 kids and the floaty thing, he said thats about $800 in fines.... but he was real cool and let me off, gave me a card for a boat safety class and sent us on our way... we spent the whole day out there and loaded up before it got dark.

then yesterday we went out there again about 2-3pm and stayed until about 11pm... the water was more crowded and real choppy, on sat it was like glass out there.... but after the fireworks, it was like a race back to the docks and was a madhouse getting it loaded back up...

all in all I had a great time and im hooked... I dont know how I went 26 years without a boat, but glad we got one now... had a great time tubing, knee boarding, swimming, etc and I was actually very impressed with Joe Pool, was alot better than I had heard

[00Bolt]

ohh and check this out, wanna hear something funny and embarassing. on the first day we went out, went out with a couple friends of ours and their 2 kids... well we docked the boat in, drove around for a few mins then stoped to swim for a min...well while we were swimming, one of the kids must have taken off the safety latch thats by the ignition... it took me about 45 mins to discover that damn thing... i thought my boat was a POS and wouldnt start... lol

[Silver_2000]

The "5 seconds " thing is such bullshit ....

THe law says you have to have it - doenst say you have to have it around your neck for instant access.

Kid thing is important. ANY time the boat is in motion they HAVE TO have the vests on.

Biggest mistake you made was taking it off the trailer while he was staring at you .... I would have just waited till he picked on someone else.

Doug

[whitelightning'02]

ohh and check this out, wanna hear something funny and embarassing. on the first day we went out, went out with a couple friends of ours and their 2 kids... well we docked the boat in, drove around for a few mins then stoped to swim for a min...well while we were swimming, one of the kids must have taken off the safety latch thats by the ignition... it took me about 45 mins to discover that damn thing... i thought my boat was a POS and wouldnt start... lol

Yep, I can relate to that...lol. I just got my boat running after 3 years of sitting in the boathouse. No safety lanyard till lastweek, just a couple pennys and duct tape. The grandkids had a ball this weekend and are begging me to take them out on the lake again. We had two ski boats and three jet skis on the lake yesterday, besides the few fishermen. Next project is bumpers in the boathouse slip! the wind makes it hell to aim for the dock and almost make it. You forget that boats don't have brakes, only quick reverse. I need to practice pulling in and getting it on the lift.

[00Bolt]

ya that no brake thing does take some getting used to... i pulled up in the Oasis a couple times and prolly looked like a rookie.... but I think im getting the hang of it a little now

[00Bolt]

btw, anyone out at joe pool last night and see the fireworks? was crazy!! that last firework blew up on the ground (or very close to it) and ended the show... hope nobody got hurt

[SILVER2000SVT]

I've been around boats and lakes all my life, and the B.S. Grand Prairie lake cops at Joe Pool are the worst I've ever seen many times over. They have a serious case of the "I am better than God" complex. I've only ever had them give me a hard time once because I know the rules and I follow them.

I had one of my friends sitting in the front of the boat and I was crawling up the ramp pulling the boat out to a flat surface maybe 50 ft distance at slower than walking speed. I know you can't drive around with people in the boat, but pulling up the boat ramp isn't driving around. After I stop, the lake cop drives up to me and proceeds to yell at the top of his lungs that "you can be driving around with people in your boat". I was already stopped...but rather than argue I just said "yes sir" with no attitude. He yells again, "don't you argue with me, I ought to write you a ticket". I'm thinking what the F is this guys problem, but after gritting my teeth and clinching my fist wishing I could get away with popping this guy in the head and saying "yes sir" one more time, he left.

I had a buddy of mine get a ticket out there for driving his jet ski 10 feet from where it was beached to his trailer and he didn't have his life jacket buckled all the way...he had it on, just not buckled with all the buckles...I overheard the conversation too, my friend didn't give him an attitude or anything, the cop was just being a dick...

I've learned at Joe pool to use the boat ramp in the park. It costs the same to get in the park as it does to use the boat ramp at the public marina (beside the oasis) but I've never had to wait in line when I go to one of the two boat ramps inside the park like I always do at the marina. If you have a crowd and have people coming in seperate cars you just have them park at the marina and crowd up in one vehicle and go into the park because they only charge you per car.

Word of advice, don't be the guy that gets his boat ready or cleans it up while you are sitting on the ramp getting ready to put in or pulling it out. Have you boat ready to drop in the lake when you get to the point of backing down the ramp and clean it out and tie everything down after you are away from the ramp. That has got to be the number 1 most disrespectful thing that inexperienced boaters do is tie up the ramp when everyone is waiting.

[00Bolt]

ya i docked at Lloyd Park because its like 1 road away from my house, just take Debbie Lane all way there... but it does cost $10 which aint bad anyway for less traffic....

ya when I got there the first day, i didnt jump right in, I kinda parked away for a second and watched what everyone else was doing and I noticed the pull out, then strap up, etc and not do while in the water.... i was a nice boy and followed along