One of the least taught dimensions of boating is controlling your vessel. It may seem crazy, but a large percentage of boat owners aren't familiar with controlling their vessels as they should be. We've put together some tips and tricks on launching, driving, pulling a wake boarder/ wake surfer to help everyone be safe and have fun on the water.

Launching and loading can make or break the day so it is important to take your time and follow all precautions. Let’s start with some of the basics on launching your boat to make sure you are not that GUY. When you pull into the boat ramp parking lot:

• Pull off into the loading area and load your boat, coolers, boards, people, and etc.
• As part of this step you should confirm you have enough coast guard approved vests for your passengers, an approved rescue throw able, make sure your horn works and your fire extinguisher is in good shape.
• Make sure you have a good driver of the boat and a good responsible person to bring the truck and trailer back to the parking lot and park it.
• Make sure your drain plug is in, your blower is on, your safety straps on back of the boat removed, and leave your front strap hooked. We have all seen or heard of the guy that unhooked his strap on the bow eye and started backing down the ramp and had to hit the brakes and watched the boat slide off the back.
• When the boat is safely in the water start the motor, turn off your blower, remove your safety strap from the bow eye and safely back it out.
• Pull your boat out into the river/lake or on the outside of the dock to wait for your driver. Too often we see people crowding the inside of the docks and make it very difficult with inboards to launch their boats. If everyone knew the lack of steering an inboard has in reverse I don’t think we would have this issue.

Repeat all of these steps in reverse when you are done for the day and you will always look like a professional and make for a smooth start and end to the day for you and others around you.

Driving in highly congested areas can be very stressful. We will mention a few of the very simple steps to ensure your safety and the safety of those with you and sharing the waterway. The most important ones consist of knowing some of the simple rules of the water.

• Keep your boat 200+ feet away from docks while you are creating a wake at any speed over 5mph.
• Keep any red buoys to your right when you are heading away from the ocean (heading South on the Willamette).
• Keep the green buoys to your left when you are heading away from the ocean (heading South on the Willamette).
• The opposite applies for traveling towards the ocean (heading North on the Willamette).
• Obey all no wake zones around floating homes and marinas and stay under 5 MPH.
• Remember you are responsible for any damage that your wake produces.
• If you are traveling and see a downed rider in the water make it apparent to the driver of the other boat that you see them, by reducing speed, turning your boat abruptly away from that rider and holding your arm in the air to signal that you see that rider. It should go without saying to stay at least 200+ feet and realistically much further back than that if possible when a rider is being towed. This is a very stressful situation for the rider, the people in the towing boat and the boat following behind so take any necessary precaution to avoid it. Remember you might see the downed rider, but make sure they know you see him.
• Always remember that you are responsible for your own wake so watch your wake when speeding by boats that are tied up, tied to a dock, or just hanging out. Also remember that your wake at 10 MPH is much bigger than it is at 30 MPH or 4 MPH.
• Be respectful of your stereo when you are around residences or other boaters. You might really like that song, but that does not mean others like the same music and the same volume.
• It is not a hard fast rule, but it is common courtesy to not power turn or wake up the water when others are trying to enjoy water sports. It is also not very safe.
• Don’t ever hesitate to ask other people at that launch of hazards or shallow spots to look out for if you are unfamiliar. Most will be happy you asked and what a great way to meet others that share your same interest.

When pulling a rider it is very important to follow some classic rules and common courtesies to your fellow wake boarders and water sports enthusiasts.

• Always carry a flag and use it very religiously when you have a rider in the water.
• Ensure that your rider is wearing a Coast Guard Approved vest or at minimum a vest that will hold them above water when they have exhaled all the air from their lungs.
• Always leave a safe following distance (we strongly encourage much more than 200+ feet) between you and the rider or boat in front of you.
• Always pull your rider in a straight line to ensure nice riding water for your skier/boarder and others on the waterway. When your rider falls quickly get the flag in the air and ensure he/she is not in any danger of another boat or hurt. If he is in danger it is the only permissible time to do a power turn. Otherwise always take your boat off plane and come to a stop and let your rollers pass you (sometimes even a touch of reverse) and then turn the boat back and idle back to your rider. It is very important to always circle around your rider or stop to pick your rider up while he is on your starboard side (drivers’ side). This is very important and allows the driver to always have visibility of where his/her rider is. If your rider is done simply have him/her tap their head as a signal that they are ready to get back into the boat.
• If you are pulling a surfer many of the same rules apply and please where a vest due to all the CO2 that comes out of the back of boats. You will sink like a rock if it knocks you out. Also a very important reminder when you are pulling a surfer and he falls that you should bring your boat to a stop the same way you do with a wake boarder, but make sure you turn the boat around in the direction you are weighted. For example, if your wake boarder is riding regular (left foot forward) your weight is on your starboard side. You should come to a stop and then when you proceed back to pick up your rider turn to your left and pick him up. It might not be the natural direction the boat wants to go, but imagine if you turn the other direction and one of your passengers sitting on the sun deck falls in. That is right, they will go right into the prop. If they fall out when you turn the proper way they will be safe. As you perform this maneuver a few times it will become very comfortable.

Please feel free to make a post in the forum section and bring it up for discussion if you are unclear on any of these, have better ideas, additions to this, or flat out disagree with something. This is a building process and we want to ensure everyone on the water is safe and you don’t want to be that GUY. We know it is hard to confront an experienced boater with etiquette, but it might be easy just to say; “you are that GUY”.