First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

FINANDPRAYER

Cadet
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
7
Hello everyone.<br /><br />Been lurking for some time, but this is my first post and thought I would share my first time out with my new boat and the lessons that I learned with you after having spent time looking over every elses dumb mistakes.<br /><br />Lessons:<br />1. Remove transom tie downs before backing into water. Well 'some' water came over the transom and I figured this one out pretty quick.<br /><br />2. Open gas tank breather valve. This lesson took a little longer to figger out. I was angry that my rpms were so low and wondered if I'd been had by the seller of my craft. So after running full throttle and going like 5 mph for 15 minutes, I found a cove out of the wind, shut down, and started fishing. I kept fuming and looking back over my shoulder at the offending 18 hp tohatsu that reportedly would plane out 2 people and gear at 22 mph. One time that I looked back the gas tank caught my eye and I immediately started laughing and shaking my head in sheer delight at my own stupidity.<br /><br />Good day on the water though and the boat does probably more like 30 mph with just me in it.<br /><br />Hope you laugh as hard as I. :)
 

RetNav

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 14, 2003
Messages
758
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Welcome to the board. It takes some courage to make your first post here in the stupid human tricks.. :D Don't feel lonely, many more have made the same mistake and some will even admit it.... :D
 

Mr.Ladyfish

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
848
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Heck, most of my trips include some sort of "stupid human trick". Of course it's always LF who does it. ;)
 

NYMINUTE

Captain
Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
3,298
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Those are the things memories are made of. My first trip out with a 87 Glasstream 16' I took out a downspout on my house, lost my trailer lock, forgot the transom tie downs, it rained 10 minutes into the lake and I tenderized my prop. It got better real fast after that.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,019
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Welcome to our world!<br /><br />Bob_VT
 

Formula1974

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2004
Messages
243
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

welcome to the board. When my wife and I bought our boat I quess I was so excited about it that I didnt listen good enough to the guy we bought it from and I didnt hear how to work the key choke. I thought you push it in till it clicks then release and turn the key. ( when really you hold it in after it clicks and turn it) well I killed the battery pretty quick. I almost pushed off the dock to get away from the people staring at me and i felt pretty dumb pulling the trailer back down and pulling the boat on with the rope. so anyways, at least you got to go out on your first trip. lol
 

jsfinn

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Nov 26, 2003
Messages
1,093
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Isn't it fun?! Welcome aboard!
 

Brew2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
427
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Like Formula1974 said...at least you got to go out on your first trip.<br /><br />I've known numerous boaters (including myself) that have either sunk a boat at the launching ramp, dropped the boat onto a concrete ramp just shy of the water, set their boat adrift on its own after launching, etc.<br /><br />It's all about the memories!!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Brew
 

Twidget

Commander
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Messages
2,192
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

You got all the basics covered in one trip. :) Welcome to the boards.<br /><br />When I was a kid, we were eating at a restaurant on a sluice between to large lakes in SC. The restaurant was on peirs and you could watch people on the water, it was neat from what I remember. At any rate, we were eating one night and I was watching a guy launch his boat. He forgot the tiedown and backed into the water. There was a pretty stiff current and it pulled his boat, trailer and pickup into the water. It was a big mess, but entertaining for a young kid to watch.
 

Frankhanhart

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 30, 2004
Messages
326
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Hi Finandprayer,<br />as I learned on this forum, thing come in 3's, so look out for the forgotten plug next time :D <br />Frank
 

NYMINUTE

Captain
Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
3,298
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Sometimes more..............$$
 

Barnbldr

Cadet
Joined
Sep 18, 2004
Messages
29
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

First 5 minutes of boat ownership. Never had a boat before, and all other trailers I've hauled didn't have a landing gear so.... Hooked up in the guy's back yard, pulled through slight ditch, ripped landing gear (jack) right off the trailer. On the way home noticed everyone looking as I passed. Hmmmm wonder why... Pulling through same ditch as before bumped the transom saver off the motor and was dragging it (saver) all the way home. Luckily the motor set high enough that it only caught on 1 speed bump. :( If the first 5 minutes was like that I'm almost scared of the first time I take it out!
 

jtexas

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 13, 2003
Messages
8,646
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

finandprayer, the other thing you'll forget which hasn't been mentioned yet, is that one day you'll be cranking and cranking, and eventually notice the emergency kill switch lanyard hanging from your belt loop! Just hope you remember it before you drain the battery completely. :) <br /><br />And who among us hasn't tried to drive away from the trailer without first unhooking the safety chains? or the wiring harness? :D :D :D <br /><br />Hey barnbldr, I'm not familiar with your terminology; I've heard of landing gear on aircraft but not on a trailer?
 

Barnbldr

Cadet
Joined
Sep 18, 2004
Messages
29
Re: First Post...First time out...Lessons learned...

Yeah it's what's the trailer is resting on when not hooked up, aka the swivel jack. Sorry, commercial trucks call it the landing gear.
 
Top