Eli Buys a Boat off Facebook and We Talk Shooting

In this episode of The Road Hunter Podcast, things get a little wet and a whole lot of wild! Eli tells the hilarious (and slightly questionable) story of buying a boat off Facebook Marketplace and taking it out for its maiden voyage. Let’s just say… things didn’t exactly go as planned.

Related: the shots you miss.

Before we hit record, we also got in some solid range time, so we dive into the shooting fun we had and share some laughs about that too.

Whether you’re into outdoor misadventures, secondhand boat chaos, or a good range session, this one’s for you.

Three Boats, Three Motors, One Lesson

The boat-flipping saga escalated fast: a drift boat with no motor long enough to push it, a second drift boat needing a full floor rebuild, and a third aluminum boat that actually ran. On the maiden voyage of boat three, the outboard’s mounting swing cracked the transom because the motor wasn’t locked down properly: a reminder that used boat motors need their mounting hardware checked before the first real run, not just a test start at the dock.

650-Yard Practice: Form Matters More Than the Rifle

Stretching out to 550 and 650 yards on a private canyon exposed real form issues: shooting off a stump produced worse groups than prone, and dialing magnification all the way to 24x actually hurt eye relief and increased wobble compared to backing it down. The fix that helped most: relax completely behind the gun and adjust your position to the natural point of aim, rather than muscling the crosshairs onto target and fighting it through the trigger pull.

• Check that an outboard’s tilt/swing mechanism locks properly before your first real outing, not just at idle
• Maxing out scope magnification can hurt eye relief and increase visible wobble: back it off and test
• Find your natural point of aim while relaxed, then adjust your body position to match it, instead of forcing the crosshairs there

FAQ: Long-Range Rifle Practice

Why would shooting prone be more accurate than off a stump?

Prone position offers more body contact with the ground and a more stable platform than balancing against an uneven natural rest like a stump, reducing wobble at extended range.

Should I always use my scope’s maximum magnification?

Not necessarily. Maximum magnification can shrink eye relief and amplify visible movement (wobble), sometimes making a slightly lower power setting more practical for a stable, repeatable sight picture.

More boat content and more range time coming: thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time.