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I thought I’d put together a top 10 list of things I learned during my 2021 rookie season. This was not my first year owning a boat or pwc, but definitely first year with a Mastercraft or inboard boat. Here are the top 10 things I wish I knew a year ago.
Here’s the top 10:
10. Put air in your trailer tires. All the way full. Fill em up. Get a good gauge and use it. This will save you so much trouble, especially if trailering any amount of distance. Don’t underestimate the value of good trailer tires, properly inflated.
9. Develop a checklist or routine for going out and coming in. Get a partner to help you and be your first mate. Pulling your wakeboard racks in needs to be on this list. And # 10.
8. My half ton Ford ecoboost truck isn’t as strong a tow machine as the manufacturer says it is. A 7500# boat will have its way with a ½ ton truck, no matter what the manufacture says. Yes it will pull it. Yes it will stop it. Is it fun or in any way smooth? Not so much.
7. Learn to drive the boat (away from hard objects). Take your time learning to drive an inboard. It isn’t rocket surgery but does take some practice. I’m no expert but I do remember when it all sort of clicked. For me, the feeling had to just set in.
6. Budget some crash money for repairs after the first year. I got away with replacing a minorly damaged swim deck, but it could have easily been worse. I’m OCD and most wouldn’t have noticed the damage but it drove me nuts.
5. Maybe don’t buy a new X-Star as your first MC. Learn on something a bit more aged and less expensive and perhaps smaller. This probably would have made my first year much more enjoyable (in some ways).
4. Shut your middle window before going down the highway. I can’t count how many times I jumped back up in the boat to close and latch that stupid window. See checklist.
3. Don’t let 300# 6’6” grandpa with bad knees sit on the seat that the cooler sits under when it 102* and no wind.
2. Plan more weekends away. Plan them, don’t assume you’ll use it as much as you think/dream
1. Remember to always Have fun. We had a blast and can’t wait to get out for the 2022 season.
Hopefully some of the things above help a new boater getting into the life of owning a Mastercraft. Chime in with things you wish someone told you. Hope you guys are all staying warm. This Forum has been invaluable to me over the past 1.5 years. The 6 mos up to buying the boat and the year after that… All good people here!
Here’s the top 10:
10. Put air in your trailer tires. All the way full. Fill em up. Get a good gauge and use it. This will save you so much trouble, especially if trailering any amount of distance. Don’t underestimate the value of good trailer tires, properly inflated.
9. Develop a checklist or routine for going out and coming in. Get a partner to help you and be your first mate. Pulling your wakeboard racks in needs to be on this list. And # 10.
8. My half ton Ford ecoboost truck isn’t as strong a tow machine as the manufacturer says it is. A 7500# boat will have its way with a ½ ton truck, no matter what the manufacture says. Yes it will pull it. Yes it will stop it. Is it fun or in any way smooth? Not so much.
7. Learn to drive the boat (away from hard objects). Take your time learning to drive an inboard. It isn’t rocket surgery but does take some practice. I’m no expert but I do remember when it all sort of clicked. For me, the feeling had to just set in.
6. Budget some crash money for repairs after the first year. I got away with replacing a minorly damaged swim deck, but it could have easily been worse. I’m OCD and most wouldn’t have noticed the damage but it drove me nuts.
5. Maybe don’t buy a new X-Star as your first MC. Learn on something a bit more aged and less expensive and perhaps smaller. This probably would have made my first year much more enjoyable (in some ways).
4. Shut your middle window before going down the highway. I can’t count how many times I jumped back up in the boat to close and latch that stupid window. See checklist.
3. Don’t let 300# 6’6” grandpa with bad knees sit on the seat that the cooler sits under when it 102* and no wind.
2. Plan more weekends away. Plan them, don’t assume you’ll use it as much as you think/dream
1. Remember to always Have fun. We had a blast and can’t wait to get out for the 2022 season.
Hopefully some of the things above help a new boater getting into the life of owning a Mastercraft. Chime in with things you wish someone told you. Hope you guys are all staying warm. This Forum has been invaluable to me over the past 1.5 years. The 6 mos up to buying the boat and the year after that… All good people here!
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