Using the bottom of the steering wheel while backing is the key! Hold the
bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you want the boat
to go. Don't try to figure out if the front wheels point here, the back
wheels point there, so the trailer will go that direction.
The second thing you'll learn is that a steady speed helps when backing: too
slow and it takes forever to see any change in direction, too fast and
you'll be zig zagging.

"Genius? Not!" wrote in message
. ..

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
...

"Genius? Not!" wrote in message
. ..

Dude! - I can *so* relate!! I got a new Bayliner 175 Capri, and
struggled with almost all of the items you mentined. However, I
had the help of a experienced boater with me for the first few
outings, but I'm on my own now, so yeah, I can relate fully!
(and your piece is written pretty cool too!)

Thanks for understanding.


So that covers a lot of "logistics", but how about your actual
outting itself? Waves, dodging people, other boats etc?
So have you hit a wave yet and come down and landed so
hard that it knocked you senseless? I recently did this, and
don't know if I caused any damage, or if this is semi-normal,
or just how much of a slam landing a boat like this can take.

I've got a couple of lakes I can go to, and have, so I'm starting to
develop a preference. The nearby lake is too crowded after lunch and I
feel like I'm mostly just praying I avoid a collision. The 2 hour drive
gets me to a warm big lake with no crowds, but it's two hours north.
That slamming does worry me.

That whole backing up of the trailer *sucks*, and thats all
there is to it. (there is no sugar coating it). Might have to
do with the truck, and trailer design, but all I know is that
my 1996 F-150 4x4 w/ short box makes backing my boat
in a straight line very difficult (short wheel base on F-150

I've got the 5.5 foot box, so that might explain why its a little
squirrely when I'm backing. I'm getting better at the backing. The trick
for me was to finally give in and use the bottom of the steering wheel to
direct the trailer.

Enjoy!