Boat Driving Skills

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

My wife is my main driver. She does a pretty good job sometimes. Just like most women she is really into the conversations going on in the boat and forgets to pay attention to speed. My speed fluctuates from 21-26mph. Is there anything I can do to teach her how to maintain boat speed? Have any of you told someone something that helped them maintain speed better. What are the skills of a good boat driver? How do you maintain good speed?

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

I usually tell them a certain RPM to run at.

Nick
________
Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries

MadDog · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 465 City: Upstate NY

Get perfect pass. The guy that usually drives for me was terrible at holding speed, got PP installed, and no more problems. Makes just about anyone a good driver.

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

If I had a larger cash flow I would get PP. I don't think that is an option unless I can get it for less than $300.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I dunno I think anyone can learn how to maintain steady speed if they pay attention. True driving skill comes when you are docking or recovering the boat with factors like wind and other boats.

I don't have the flow for PP so I wedge my hand between the throttle and the pad there. This way all speed adjustments are minor.

moblsv · Outlaw Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 228

Get a louder stereo so she can't hear the conversation Wink

Tony Herget · Newbie Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 6

i feel your pain breezer,my wife used to do the same. i dont know what kind of boat you have but sometimes alot of the problem is a result of constantly playing with the throttle (they tend to over adjust) i told my wife when she gets to the speed and it holds for a few seconds....leave it alone until turning around.when they try to keep it perfect the driver can actually make it worse by constantly over adjusting.

kstateskier · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 53 City: Manhattan, KS

The biggest thing to teaching someone to be a good driver is to get them to realize the points that will change a boats speed. It helped me that I pull a lot of good slalom skiers so pulling wakeboarders is not hard in comparison, as the pull is not as hard. You need to realize that the boat is going to slow as the rider gets into his cut and will slow until he releases. To get a PP type pull you need to have the driver feather the throttle as you pull and then bring back as you move into your transition. A truly good driver can tell speed by the engine noise. THe first thing you need to do is to get her to quit with the conversation. A great driver will not be a "part" of the conversation in the boat. Way too many things to watch for that (mirror, surroundings, boat temp, etc.) and will only be tuned in enough to answer a question if asked. It sucks, but that's why they have PP now. 21-26 is a big movement, I wouldn't be too happy with that! Rolling Eyes

Tony Herget · Newbie Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 6

hope this helps,if not save some snaps and get a perfect pass...its a no-brainer

RKG · Criminal Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 94 City: Nashville

A friend of mine has a rule when anyone gets in the boat and his wife is driving:
Don't talk to the boat driver.

She goes along with it usually.

jim Bogden · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 178 City: Sandy, UT

come on, women cant drive cars let alone boats. tell her to stick to cooking and let your friends drive Twisted Evil

kstateskier · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 53 City: Manhattan, KS

I've got a couple friends that are girls that could probably drive circles around half the guys on this board when it comes to boats.

Tiffanator · Posted: Mar 05, 2003 2:08 pm Post subject:

Hi Breezer, I'm trying to get a group of women together for a boat handling/riding clinic in Dallas in May. If your wife would like to attend, we would love to have her. In the clinic, we teach driving, trailering, backing it in the water, basic maintenance, and safety. It will be an all day thing with one session of boating and the rest is riding.
Later

RKG · Criminal Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 94 City: Nashville

Tiffany has it right. My first post was in jest of what I have seen, not what you should do. Many women get intimadated driving, especially for their spouse that will blow up about everything. The clinic is great to help improve skills and confidence. I would love to get my wife into one,even though she does well driving, her confidence is low about it and she has no desire about trailering the boat.

bluefish86 · Posted: Mar 05, 2003 2:35 pm Post subject:

Otto has it right. If you look at the speedo, you'll constantly have to be adjusting the throttle. What you (she) should do is get the boat going the speed you want, then look at the RPMs. Next adjust the throttle so the RPMs stay constant, and you'll be set. I do it that way and never have to touch the throttle after the first 30 seconds, and I have an I/O with a three blade prop Razz

kstateskier · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 53 City: Manhattan, KS

just because your rpm's are staying the same doesn't mean you're holding speed.

bluefish86 · Posted: Mar 05, 2003 5:17 pm Post subject:

If your rpms are holding and your not turning, your speed stays the same. Yes, when you carve the speed will lower about 1 mph, which is nothing compared to the 5 he's getting now.

NAW · Posted: Mar 05, 2003 5:39 pm Post subject:

I gotta give to my fiance, IMO she can drive a boat really well. But RKG hit it on the head with the importance of not blowin-up. But, she can hold speed great and watches the RPM and listens to the boat. Sure, when we got people in the boat she'll talk to them, but always pays attention to what she's doing.
Besides, she's been driving a boat longer than I have Very Happy

Tiffanator,
Idea

great idea with the clinic....they should incorporate that into some of the summer tours that cruise around...way to hook it up Cool

kstateskier · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 53 City: Manhattan, KS

bluefish,

technically, moving 1 mph both ways is not "staying the same." Mr. Green

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

I'll elaborate a little more on my post...

Telling them to maintain a certain RPM is what I tell new drivers, if I tell them to give it more throttle when I cut out, turn, come off the throttle at some times, it's too much for a new driver, they end up going all over the place. I usually teach them in steps:

1. Before we go I just let them drive the boat, have fun whatever, get used to it for about 5- 10 minutes. This will also give you a good idea of a starting point for their "training."

2. Then I tell them about how the boat will pick up a ton of speed after it pops up on plane and how they need to come off the throttle. This is when I tell them all the other stuff about picking riders up, turning the engine off, etc... I really emphasis that if they start drifting into a rider kill the engine.

3. Now we pretend like they are pulling someone, they gun it, get up on plane, and try to maintain speed. I tell them the general RPM for that speed. We do this until they can do it somewhat decently.

4. Then they start pulling me/people. Once they seem to have that down, I tell them all the other stuff about more throttle when people cut, etc.. etc... How you can listen to the engine and here if it is speeding up or slowing done. Another trick is to watch the speedometer as well. If the RPM is staying the same but the boat is speeding up you need less throttle or if the RPM is staying the same but the boat is slowing down you need more throttle, etc... This will change the RPM, you know what I'm saying...

Happy Teaching,
Nick
________
NEW JERSEY MEDICAL MARIJUANA

eeven73 · Posted: Mar 06, 2003 6:48 am Post subject:

If you think you cant afford perfect pass think about this.

When you get divorced she gets half of everything Exclamation

spend the grand or so and get the perfect pass Wink

bluefish86 · Posted: Mar 06, 2003 1:30 pm Post subject:

kstateskier, I'm sorry. If the RPMs stay the same, the speed barely changes at all.

noneya · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 796 City: Roxboro, NC

Technically even PP doesnt keep a constant speed

Tiffanator · Posted: Mar 06, 2003 3:27 pm Post subject:

NAW- I believe Cathy Williams may also be offering some boat driving/riding clinics. I'm not sure on that. We are planning the one in Dallas just to see what kind of interest there is. If we have a big turnout I wouldn't mind doing many more clinics like that next year.
For those interested, we are hoping for May 17-18. You can email me tiffany@glassandpowder.com for more info.
(ok, shameless plug for the clinic and WakeChicks) Laughing

Later

Grace B. · Posted: Mar 06, 2003 4:49 pm Post subject:

I'm a girl and I have been driving our boat since I was like 12 (I'm 16 now). I pull my friends wakeboarding and my dad who is a really good slalom skier all the time. I just look at the RPMs and can keep a really steady speed off of that, it also really helps if you focus on the speed and try not to get distracted by the people talking around you.

NAW · Posted: Mar 07, 2003 6:44 am Post subject:

Tiffanator-
It's cool, plug away Laughing

...we're all the way up here by Chicago and have no plans to travel down. But, I hope it's a big success and if it is, next year you should approach your sponsors about having you team up with a summer tour and get some exposure for Wakechicks....Isn't Joyride doing a summer tour this year??

thatnamealreadyinuse · Posted: Mar 07, 2003 6:59 am Post subject:

a good driver keeps a constant speed and also a constant line - nothing frustrates me more when riding than when the driver is constantly turning and the wake is constantly dissapearing. also important (where i ride) is the search for glassy water, only the above frustrates me more when the driver turns towards the chop when they could have been taking me towards flat water. i wish i had a clone to drive for me...

Bluesman · Posted: Mar 07, 2003 10:27 am Post subject: Re: Boat Driving Skills

[quote="Breezer"]My wife is my main driver. (snip) My boat speed fluctuates from 21-26mph.

Perhaps we could get your wife to teach my wife how to maintain boat speed within a 5 mph range!!!!!!

Partyb · Posted: Mar 09, 2003 3:28 pm Post subject:

I know that you said that PP is not an option. But seriously, I have found that it is the single most important thing on the boat. It makes driving more fun, riding more fun, etc. Once you get it, you will not believe you ever lived without it. Put it on credit card and pay it off. Anyone who has PP or has used it will agree. It is also cheaper then a divorce!

J_DOGG · Posted: Mar 11, 2003 9:26 am Post subject:

My chick soon to be wife is one of the best drivers I have now that I have PP....

No seriously... making the slight adjustments when the rider cuts out or approaches the wake is key, all novice drivers over compensate (male or female) it just takes time and a willingness to learn.... I ride with a guy that would rather have me drive for him than his brother and I ride with another guy that will never drive my boat as long as I live, my woman drives before him.

what does that tell you... everyone has a preference on who the throttle man should be and some people will never learn the right way to drive period.

PEACE

jvanick · Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:20 am Post subject:

My girlfriend also sucked at driving until I got perfect pass... I swear to god that there was a time she was driving that we were going well over 40mph with me on the wakeboard behind the boat... all I could think of was "don't bail... don't bail..." Smile

Everybody that talks about blowing up at your driver is so right tho... as soon as you blow up at them (especialy women, but some guys too) they get all freaked out and then try to over compensate to make it better.

Just get perfect pass and be done with it.

-J

King of the Tigers · Posted: Mar 12, 2003 11:34 am Post subject:

I think that it also really depends on the boat too. I have a Nauti 2001 and never want people to change the throttle when I cut because it doesn't change enough. No offense to the women but I've yet to find a good female driver. I think it's 50% confidence too.

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

I introduced an old friend of mine to wakeboarding last summer. Since there was just the two of us, she drove for me and had never driven a boat before. She has been one of the best drivers I've ever had and drove nearly perfectly after just a couple pulls, actually I think the only mistake she made was the first pull she got going a little fast, but she quickly slowed down. This was an I/O too. Incidentally, I taught her how to drive when she was 15 and I was 16...

Nick
________
RIVER ROUGE COMPLEX

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

I went today for the first time of the season and found my speed when I was driving. I told my wife to look at the rpm's. It was mucho better than when she looks at the speedo. Not to mention both of our speedo's didn't work.

Fishmaster · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 4:16 pm Post subject:

When growing up my Sister and I went nearly every day and she bacame as good of a boat driver as anyone I've met, not only at holding speed but rope delivery, glass hunting and keeping me from killing myself. I'm amazed by how many people I've TRIED to teach to drive a boat that just never seemed to get it (wonder if they every found a new person to take them out Smile

My pet peaves are delivering the rope so fast you dislocate sholders and taking me right into garbage water when there is butter "right over there". Since I griping now . . . Never mind.

Bill