Here's a question for all of you tenured Dyne owners, from me - a relative newbie owner. When I first bought my boat, it was pretty beat up. But it was mine - and I'd wanted one forever - so obviously I was protective. First and only time I put it in the water (a story in and of itself but I won't kill you with details here), I drove the boat over to a marina on the lake where I met up with a friend of mine, who in turn had a friend with him. I picked them up and we went for a ride. Worked out pretty well for me, since I was in the boat's only seat. Didn't work out so well for the others in the boat, given the way they slid all over the place while I enjoyed myself behind the wheel. Too bad for them. In any event, when I pulled up and beached the boat at the boat landing, my buddy's friend got up and proceeded to walk with his sandy feet across the front deck of the boat. Although I was too polite to say anything, I nearly had a heart attack to see someone walk on the deck of my new, old boat. So here it is. The question. Is it - or is it not - proper for one to walk across the deck of a Hydrodyne when entering and exiting the boat? It seems that the structure is strong enough to support one's weight. And I've had some folks tell me that this is perfectly proper procedure - to walk on the deck. It has been pointed out to me that this is the only way in and out if you beach the boat, rather than pulling up to a dock (or pier, if you prefer). On the other hand, walking across a smooth, painted surface is, to me, like somone running their fingernails down a chalk-board. Well, let the commentary begin....
Ah yes this is a good question. I never let people walk from the shore on to the bow (They can get wet or buy their own boat and walk across that bow) exiting the boat is different, no sand feet nothing to scratch and no shoes. I also only use a soft sided cooler since most dumbies think it is ok to set their cooler on the side of the boat while getting in and out. The structure is hefty, you never see it flex even with a 210lbs person on it. Great construction if you ask me. Daniel
Mark, I operate off the beach all the time here in FL. I always go barefooted. I do not walk on the deck because it tends to put hairline cracks in the paint because mine flexes a little. If I nose the boat in I go over the side at the drivers seat and walk in. I am usually out of the boat by the time it stops. The boat is easy to leave and enter at the drivers seat while nosed in. If I launch from the trailer single handed I need to go part way on the deck which I do on my knees around the edge. I can put the boat sideways to the beach and step in and out. When I go to ski I turn the boat around (bow out) with the motor up and give it a little push and climb in over the stern deck on my knees. Next I hook up the tow line then sit down and get the motor down far enough that the prop will bite and get it into deep enough water to put the motor all the way down. After I drop off a skier I usually nose in then turn it around by hand again. That is the beauty of the light weight 18 foot boat. It is easy to handle by hand. Beach starts are cool. If you have a woman or child that has shoes on because it is cold or something just pick them up and put them in the boat. I have probably done that twice in the 17 years I have owned the boat. That is how I do it, and there probably as many ways to operate as there are drivers. jim
I agree with you Mark. I wouldn't let anyone walk on the bow of my boat, no matter what kind of boat it is. I would have said something to your friend. That's just me. I have crawled on the bow many times using the good old knees and elbows routine, but never with shoes, no matter if they were clean or not. That goes for the side walls too. It was always a pet peeve for someone to step on the sides also. Unless of course you're my mom or dad, then you get the "old person relative" exception.Especially if your boat is painted, and not just normal fiberglass. I would be very ticked, and even more extra careful with my passengers. Greg
Mark As you can see on the Home Page banner photo of the four Dynes, there is nothing on the bow of the boats that would scratch or mar the surface. Unless there was sand in the bikinis. I agree... No shoes, No sand, No service !! Marty
we would walk the bow all the time as long as there were no shoes on. we also would sit and sometimes lay on the bow. at dock most people would step over the side onto the seats or floor.What would piss me off was when people would enter by our step mounted on the stern next to the motor and stand IN THE WELL!!!What would make a person say "hey that looks like a good place to dry off"?!? Rolling Eyes
