My husband is a marine mechanic so that REALLY helps to make me feel comfortable! He keep spare parts and filters, tools.... he even patched a leak in the hull and got us home safely. Oh and also, people often think (just as I once did) that if your boat breaks down, you can just drop an anchor and wait for help.... BUT a boat can only handle the waves properly if it’s under power.... once the engines stop, the boat immediately swings into the worse position possible and you end up getting broadsided and bobbing like a damn cork!!! My husband had to go down and change a fuel filter once while we were in choppy seas and it took him so much longer just because we were rocking so violently!!! (By the way, rough seas often stir up sentiment in the fuel tanks and causes this to happen to begin with!)

@WayneTheBoatGuy

3 жыл бұрын

That's a really great point about waiting for a tow. It can be quite lumpy out there when you're just sitting. Thanks for watching and for sharing that story!!

@Aron-ru5zk

Жыл бұрын

A sea anchor would be good to have in that situation.

The guy with the cleanest tools

As a life long sport fisherman and former rescue diver , you may wake up newcomers to boating and thanks for that . I suggest a bit more , but much of that depends on where you are boating . As a fisherman I can not believe the number of boats with a single main engine that do not have a kicker motor . If a small boat and small outboard I suggest some oars for power down situations , NOT a single paddle . Even an electric trolling motor is better than nothing . Preferably a kicker engine with it's own gas tank in case main tank has an issue . Always install a water - fuel seperator . Do not buy gas for your boat at a gas station unless it is alcohol free . If you do it tends to collect water in your tank until it will overwhelm your separator . On bigger water I suggest a hand held VHF and a marine GPS . Even on small boats I suggest a secondary bilge pump , often the factory units are so small they are almost worthless . Needless to say a flare gun and a line suitable for a tow is recommended along with a fire extinguisher . On small boats with an outboard or even many inboards they is a dead man's tether , USE IT! I personally have performed a run away boat rodeo multiple time , endangering the operator and us rescue personnel .

Recently I restored and converted a 1994 15ft boston whaler rage to an outboard motor. New motor and mostly everything else except the gas tank. Yesterday I went out with my dog and I was very low on fuel which I didn’t know at the moment (gauge was not working properly it showed half a tank left) in reality I had only 2 or 3 gallons left and it seems there was a lot of residue inside the old gas tank from the restoration and because it’s and old tank. Fuel filter got blocked (with all the residue concentrated in the 2 gallons of fuel) and engine stopped receiving fuel. Was out longer than planned, about 3 hours waiting for someone to go rescue me, it started to get dark. No water, no food, my anchor and good weather saved me. I was very calmed and relaxed, my dog knew something was up and was very nervous. I’m almost 40 and had to call dad, imagine his face… I learned my lesson. Loved your video by the way.

Wayne, thanks for the great tips. The weather you get on VHF is practically useless, as you have to wait while they give every location but your own. If you miss the part where they give your location you have to wait all over again. I am surprised you didn't mention "Windy", which is the BEST weather you can get for a boat. As a sailor I always take the weather into consideration before leaving the dock, usually the night before and the morning of my passage. About anchoring, you won't be anchoring in anything deeper than about 50 feet, as your boat needs too much scope to stay put at that depth. And please people, anchor from the bow so your boat faces into the wind. The bow is the strongest part of your boat and can take quite a pounding, while if you anchor from the stern you will soon be swimming. I'm sure the popularity of kicker motors is partly due to feeling safe, if your main motor breaks down you can limp home with the kicker. With sailing I always had the sails to rely on if the motor gave out but now that I have a fishing boat there is no back without a kicker.

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! You bring up some great points - Funny you mention "Windy" I recently made a video about checking the weather before heading out (kzread.info/dash/bejne/fGh-lNiDfrC0iso.html) and I show "Windy" in that video. I have a video about anchoring coming out this week!

And just an FYI if you are in radio (vhf) range of a USCG station and have an issue which may seem small at the time with potential to get bad real bad (I've seen it happen 1st hand) call them! and they will radio monitor your situation without having to launch resources. And if they do need to launch resources they will. I spent 5 yrs in the USCG 2 on a buoy tender in Alaska and 3 at a motorlifeboat station in Tillamook Oregon. Radio watch, boat coxswain and law enforcement boarding officer

watching your video made me realize "I really need to go clean my tools".

@WayneTheBoatGuy

3 жыл бұрын

The trick is to plan a video shoot!

I have always owned used boats. When I buy one the first thing I do is go through it. I rebuild the carburetor, send the alternator & starter to get rebuilt, new fuel filter, fuel line if necessary, new spark plugs & wires, coil, points if it has, make sure fuel tank isn’t contaminated, new sea pump, check all hoses and clamps, remove the drive to check u-joints (if it has) everything else like the bellows shift boot, change gear oil and grease everything. I install a bilge pump that is much bigger than what’s in it I go way overkill to the point I have to make a bigger hole in the transom, 2 batteries, change all bulbs to led only to save battery power, have a radio, quality life jackets. People think I’m crazy for going this far like my one buddy that got caught in 10ft swells and waves in my 18ft boat that actually measured 16ft. We were in the river heading to the lake when the waves in the river started getting big which never happens because it’s 1/2 mile to the lake and has break walls. Well because my boat was so small and I was stuck between other big boats by the time I could turn around it was too late the waves were to big coming too fast. The waves came over the windshield. My girlfriend and his girlfriend are crying, he’s scared, everyone telling me to turn around and I said put ur life jackets on, we can’t turn on a wave we will capsize so let me drive. We get past the walls into the lake and I had a quick chance to turn around and then a 40ft sailboat was damn near ontop of us so I throttled up just enough to ride the wave and we got back safe. If i didn’t have a huge bilge pump we likely would have sank and if the engine didn’t run so well we definitely would have sank not being able to ride the waves and if i didn’t know how to drive in rough water we would have sank. I know this is a long post but people don’t understand how easy it is to get into a situation. Not only do I go through my boats for safety but when u go on ur boat it’s for fun you don’t wanna break down for that reason too.

Carry a drift anchor to keep your bow into the waves and slow your drift in deep water. Any port in a storm. Be sure to batten down the hatches. Watch the tides and avoid wind against tide, especially outgoing. Know your boat. Self bailing is best. It may not sink but you might not stay in it. Stay safe!

I towed a boat in with a crowd of tourists from Japan because the captain trusted the fuel guage. Never trust marine fuel guages. Dipstick if possible. Also most boats in Sooke B.C. where I live run an auxiliary engine. Cheers from Canada

@WayneTheBoatGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Oh man - when I bought my new boat, I drove it straight to my marina for fuel because I was worried about that!

I normally don't leave a comment nor like or subscribe , exceptionally this time , I have done all those steps , Great video, straight to the point , professional and down to earth man sharing his life experience that could potentially help lives in the ocean, appreciate what you doing.

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

Wayne, thank you for another informative video.

Another great video... keep them coming.

Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

thank you I think you have the cleanest tools in any garage i have ever been in....

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

lol - sometimes!

WOW This really helped thank you.Time to go out on the water.

Great video! Thank you

Awesome video, great advice. Btw had a kitchen fire last year but no fire extinguisher, luckily the spray nozzle saved the day

@WayneTheBoatGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Kitchen fires can be scary.

Excellent tips!

Cleanest tools on KZread

Great tips!

@WayneTheBoatGuy

11 ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

Thanks again.👍👍

Absolutely fantastic video thank you for sharing my friend

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you too

I have actually ran out of fuel before and that is a horrible horrible feeling you are stuck we were finally able to flag down a boat and get 80 home but it was not a very pleasant experience so mr. Wayne is Right always take plenty of fuel

I must confess you wiping down your wrenches reminded me I have a 5200 coated ratchet I still have in my toolbox 😆

@WayneTheBoatGuy

Жыл бұрын

that might need a razor blade!

Great vids

@WayneTheBoatGuy

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Interesting facts tho 🌛

Dead reckoning is VERY important if your gps stops working. DR is rarely used nowadays because of electronics

Caution on Canned Air Horns: They WILL explode in extreme heat if you leave them in the boat between trips under a tarp! There is at least one youtube video where the air horn blew up and totally wiped out the engine throttle unit that was above where they had stored the air horn on a hot Texas summer day. Just sitting in the yard under a tarp. KaBoom!

@WayneTheBoatGuy

6 ай бұрын

Wow - I had never experienced that!

@sams2960

6 ай бұрын

@@WayneTheBoatGuy FlyingSparksGarage youtubers title: Boat Explosion? Right Before Vacation of course!

Learn how to get your boat on a reciprocal course quickly. Conduct man overboard drills. You would think it would be easy, but it can be almost impossible to spot a swimmer if there are any waves to speak of. Post sign: "Unattended children and unruly passengers will be used for surprise man overboard drills".

Thanks Wayne. What would be your advice for myself. I have a small 16 foot sea boat, I only stay close to the harbour and close to the shore. I have an outboard. I am very nervous and cannot seem to build up my confidence to learn the skills required for safe boating. I always use a lifejacket, bring oars, anchor, vhf marine radio and mobile phone. Thanks in advance. Tom.

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

I took my time and very short trips for a while as well. It takes practice and learning - from others, from KZread, your own mistakes, and creative thinking. Just try to plan slightly farther and farther destinations and then try to incorporate new challenges like fueling up at a new marina, or a quick trip into unfamiliar waters.

@tomkearns7136

2 жыл бұрын

@@WayneTheBoatGuy Thanks Wayne, that is sound advice.

@brianallen6341

Жыл бұрын

@@tomkearns7136 Wayne gives some good advice here. I have a small craft that we take to very remote areas and after 20+ years of experience I will say redundancy is important. Maintaining everything is first but we have an auxillary motor and fuel as well as safety equipment on whatever craft. Look at it like insurance. Stay safe out there and have some fun!

Do you have a video on starting an outboard? I know this sounds so basic and idiotic, but there are many things that needs to happen before the outboard will start. One time my motor was not starting, and it was because the fuel line had fallen off. So I have a checklist of things to check when the outboard does not start.

How do you start a boat

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

If it's an old 2 stroke outboard - like this one: kzread.info/dash/bejne/imuF2pezcrqcmZc.html

Know the conditions before you go out on the lake

If you have plenty of beer, water and sunscreen you’ll be fine. Step one: Throw your phone as far out in the lake as you can. Especially a company work phone. Step two: Count your lucky stars if you have plenty of beer. If you boat in America, count your lucky stars again. You will be fine. Don’t let this tea-bag scare you out of a beautiful day on the lake. Remember: Beer, water, sunscreen, throw phone away.

If we sink we are swimming with alligators. I don't know if I'm just better off bringing a loaded 38 like the world war1 pilots😂. Not sure I want to hang around like bait on a bobber 😂

He's polishing his hammer

Just bought a boat and now you are the boat guy ? Lol... .

@WayneTheBoatGuy

2 жыл бұрын

Yep! That’s me!

Boats CAN it's

T e a c h e r

makes sense to me ......thx