quote:

Don't be too hard on yourself, a pontoon is much harder to maneuver than a "regular" boat.

YES. When we got into the cove my brother used to make us all jump off the pontoon boat because he was too nervous trying to dock with a bunch of people on board.
You'll get it.

Pontoons are tough. It's a big, high profile box that gets blown around everywhere. I considered one, especially since my family has gotten too big for all of us to fit on my little 16' aluminum fishing boat, but I just didn't want to deal with it, especially because I don't have a slip and would have to deal with taking it in and out all the time and storing it somewhere. That little boat is just so convenient and maneuverable. Keep at it...with practice you'll master it.

Just be happy you weren't trying to launch/recover at the boat ramp with a big line of people waiting to get in or out. Every year in the spring we have to deal with all the powerboaters who live on the lake. They only take in and out once a year, and have no clue how to do it. Can't back a trailer, can't unhook, can't handle a line, can't work the winch, afraid to get their loafers wet, yelling at their wife in the truck from the boat as she puts it in reverse instead of drive. Every once in a while one of them will sink their whole truck.

Too much ego to let anybody help them, too. He's the CEO of some big company in Chicago and owns a $4 million lake house that he visits a couple of weekends out of the year...no way he's gonna admit that my 10 year-old is better at launching a boat than he is. It used to annoy me, but I've gotten to the point where it's just part of the boat ramp experience and I sit back and enjoy the show .

Now sailboats...those are scary. I've had more than one near-death experience and destroyed any ego I might have started out with messing with those!

I have 1000’s of hours on the water

Every docking situation is different. There are still times I have to make a couple attempts at it

You will get it, just takes time

Don’t get frustrated and have fun

Thanks guys, for the tips, encouragement. I'll keep at it. I don't remember having this type of difficulty with a ski type boat. The pontoon is like driving a bus to me.

It’s just reps. I have a similar problem on the boat ramp. I like to be very careful, back in correctly, 100%, and double check things. Here there will be people in a narcissistic hurry and you can feel the trucks waiting behind you. It’s super stressful for me so I can see how getting into a narrow dock would be equally as frustrating.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
You don't suck. You have insufficient experience. You will master this. Quickly.

What Artie said. Everyone sucks the first time they try to do something.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

yelling at their wife in the truck from the boat as she puts it in reverse instead of drive.

At least they're working together. It's rare that I see the wife doing anything other than holding the boat while waiting for her husband to run up and get the trailer, then have him load the boat. And of course she's got the boat right in front of the ramp so no one else can use it.


If you have a person that will be out with you often, make sure they know how to handle the boat as well. Things can turn to shit real fast and if you're out of commission, someone needs to be able to take control and get you back home.

quote:

pontoon is like driving a bus

Accurate.

Take your time,
Practice during the week when pressure from other boaters is not there.

There are those that can't get there boats in the water .

Be patient, it won't be long.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,