Nancy and I finally bit the bullet and took our boat out on the Chesapeake Bay. This is kind of a big deal because, well, our boat is pretty small compared to the behemoths out there. We have a 16 foot Tracker bass boat with a 65 horsepower outboard. We bought the boat this April and have only used it on a small lake with just the trolling motor. We haven’t used the “real” engine until this past Saturday.
We put the boat in at Sandy Point State Park right by the Bay Bridge, and honestly, we had no idea what the hell we were doing. I had just passed the Maryland Boater’s Safety Course online, and it was a LOT of information to take in. As my buddy Chris said, it really boils down to “Don’t hit anything…boats, crab pots, sandbars, etc. Also, leave your ego on the boat ramp.” He taught me more in the 2+ hours we had him and his wife on the boat than I learned in the entire course online. Thanks again, mi amigo.
So, here’s a quick video that Nancy took of the boat at full speed (about 28mph) out on the open bay.
2 responses to “Boating on the Bay”
jealous! looks like a great time…with many more to come!
Don’t feel bad about making it up as you go along. Years ago, me and some buddies rented a houseboar for a week on Lake Powell in Arizona/Utah. Looking back, I can’t believe we took on the challenge. None of us knew ANYTHING about boats. But all they required was a drivers license and a deposit, so we figured what the hey. We had a fantastic time…and ended up doing it again the next two years. Lake Powell is now filling up with silt. But back then, you could find your own private cove, drop anchor, and go swimming and exploring the cliffs in the wilderness to one’s heart content. It’s still one the most amazing things I’ve ever done.
Everybody has to start somewhere…sounds like you had a lot of fun too.