PERSONAL SAFETY Follow the ‘rules of the road’ to enjoy the boating life

Follow the ‘Rules of the Road’ to enjoy the boating life

The motherload of summer has arrived and with it, the humidity and meteorologists yelling, “code red!” In other words, it’s hot. To beat the heat, we seek the water of the lake.

I live next to Lake Lanier and according to Georgia law, I am

required to own a boat. I do and have since that time when I was using a callbox on the beat.

I’ve owned several different types of boats over the years, from small, 15-foot runabouts to a 38-foot cruiser. The bigger the boat, the more you better love boating, because she is an expensive mistress to have. If

STAY SAFE

Steve Rose is a retired Sandy Springs Police Captain, veteran Fulton County police officer and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House?” and the column “View from a Cop.”

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you are new to boating, here is a short synopsis of the rules and safety moves you’ll need to make it in boating society.

First, make sure your wife [or whatever person fills that blank] likes it, but remember, you will be compared to the other boats on the lake so spend out of your comfort zone just a bit and get

Steve Rose takes the helm, as Sandy, his wife, enjoys the ride.

something respectable. 1. Getting into the water

Assuming you have a boat to trail, find a parking lot and

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practice backing the trailer. Use the side mirrors and get used to it. You don’t want to be that guy on the boat ramp zigzagging down the ramp while everyone looks on.

When you arrive at the boat ramp, park to the side, load the boat, which includes family, life jackets, cooler, food, friends who brought the food, and music. Then, unstrap the back of the boat from the trailer, put the all-important plug in the back of the boat (see “Hey Siri, what do I do when my boat sinks?) and get on the ramp. Back it, start it, and get off the ramp and get the trailer parked. Lug all the stuff you forgot to load to the dock, get in, and go.

2. On the water

The Rules of the Road are simple, pass the other guy on the left. In other words, yield to anything coming across your path from the right. Respect “No Wake” signs, and be respectful, which unfortunately, many on the lake are not. Keep your eyes open when you are moving. Boats seem to appear from nowhere on a large lake.

3. Getting out of the water

At the end of the day comes boat-ramp duty and it is all business. People want to go home, and this is when you need to be at the top of your game. I’ve seen fights on the ramp, known as “ramp-rage,” and yes, alcohol is involved. Don’t worry about those guys.

To be your best, have a plan. Drop off the trailer driver and get the boat in line for the ramp while at the same time, the driver enters the trailer line. This is where your trailerbacking skills are best needed because there is no boat to see and the trailer sits low. Side mirrors are your friend so keep the trailer at a slight angle so you can see it. Make small adjustments and line up with the ramp curbs. Slip the trailer deep enough to just cover the wheels and then set the parking brake. (You can view examples of ramp failures on YouTube all day long.)

Loading the boat is where couples find the strength or weaknesses in marital bliss. My wife excelled in putting the boat on the trailer, even during crosswind evenings. Perfect, because she would never back the trailer, so our combination was a good fit.

Someone on the boat needs to pilot when loading the boat so again, practice. Go out on a weekday when the ramps are clear and practice. Go slow. You want the boat loaded onto the trailer, not the bed of your new pickup truck. Get it hooked, raise the engine, and get off the ramp. Find a spot out of the way and offload the boat. Make sure everyone is accounted for, and you are done for the day.

4. Don’t and dos

Don’t be “That Guy.”

The guy who takes all day loading the boat while blocking the line to the ramp. The guy who, after six tries, still can’t get the boat in the water.

The guy who never checked the engine, spending 15 minutes on the ramp wondering why it won’t start.

The guy who didn’t practice loading the boat, and the guy who blocks the exit while offloading.

There are more but if you avoid these, you are good to go.

Once you have the routine down a few times, it is not difficult or time-consuming.

There is so much more to boating and lake society, but the bottom line is that if you like it, try it. When you are ready to move up, try that. Find that happy place where the boat and your marriage are in sync and ride the wave, dudes!