1st time was too good to be true

[bishop169]

So this weekend was the second time taking the boat out had to make some trailer repairs. I launch the kids and wife so they can play while i fix the trailer.. repairs go easy only take 20 minutes. walk back to the dock she is out like 500 yards i call her cell turns out she stalled and couldn't restart it. so my buddy was kayaking I swam out too her holding on to the kayak... I swim out like 200 yards and figured out she didn't set the anchor and she was still drifting so after a very long swim and her drifting into the shallows I finally get on the boat figure out the choke is sticking and go to start the boat battery is toast. she was blaring the radio charging her cell while the boat floated. i got a jump pack on the boat started and got us back to a good swimming spot set the anchor and made the kids sit around while i let the alternator charge the battery...

things go ok for a while for some reason i lost power full throtle i'm hardly making headway speed. time to chug to the dock. boat stalls again... this time both jump pack and battery are dead...

now we sit and wait for a tow kids get to swim for a bit finally a boat passes i shout for a tow they pass by but i guess the tuber they had heard us when they railed them in they came back for us..
get a tow line set and I pull in my anchor only to find it stuck..... after some chioce words i wish my kids didn't hear i get the anchor and the cinder block its stuck too into the boat

the very nice couple got us back to the launch as we are getting near another boat cuts us off and blocks the dock by making a T with his boat so he can drop some people off... say there good byes and pass all there stuff then chat for 15 minutes..... I was seeing red

get my boat close jump in with a line and hand pull my boat in slam my toe on some rocks(its a nice shade of purple today)......thank god there was enough power to lift the trim with me pushing it as well...

get the boat on and headed the he11 home almost wanted to put a free sign on the boat and leave it there..

the last time out the boat ran great this time uhhg is all i can say

 

[spdracr39]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

You gotta take the good with the bad. It's all about being together with your family and having problems is just part of it. If you will try, it's hard sometimes, to just roll with it and learn from each experience it will get easier if and when you have troubles. Everytime I go out with new people something happens and we have trouble but because I can take it in stride and am usually prepared we still have a good time.

 

[KFS]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

I know this isn't what you want to hear and I am SO SORRY (I'd be venting and upset about a wasted fun day too!) but let's look at the bright side.

You handled it.

None of the repairs sound pricey - just annoying.

You had friends and friendly strangers to help you.

Your kids got to see that that even when unexpected things happen, Daddy deals with it and gets that stuff going again. You're probably a hero. Someday when your own child is tinkering around with his or her car, boat, trailer they are going to think "what would Dad do?"

 

[southkogs]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

Humorously, two comments came to mind reading your post: 1.) what a drag & 2.) now you're a real boater

It really screws up a nice day when stuff goes "paws up" on ya'. If you're prone to get frustrated fast, it can really boil ya'. At the same time, the reality is especially if you run an old boat (see my signature) boating comes with all sorts of "problems." Sounds like you made a good start at making the best of it. We do the same thing - "well kids, the boat won't start. You guys wanted to swim, so have some fun playing for a little bit and then we're swimmin' her in!" My kids remember some of those funny "boat's broke again" times with fond memories (thank goodness).

We adopted a motto I got from CAP - Semper Gumby (always flexible)

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

Someday when your own child is tinkering around with his or her car, boat, trailer they are going to think "what would Dad do?"

Stub his toe and yell out a few 4-letter words! Ha, I couldn't resist.

I agree with everyone else. You learned a ton on this excursion. To me, those are the more memorable outings that I appreciate more. Some people need everything to go smoothly to have fun. Being more perverse, I prefer the challenge or a few unexpected obstacles. I'm mostly impressed to hear about the other boaters who helped you out. It also sounds like your kids had a good time, and that means everything.

Good luck on your next outing!

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

Sorry about your bad luck. You might want to consider adding a second or back-up battery or making sure that the one that you have is fully charged before heading out.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

Humorously, two comments came to mind reading your post: 1.) what a drag & 2.) now you're a real boater

Agreed. Sounds like my first three trips out this year. Sorry for the hard times. Sometimes you have too much fun on your boat so it has to keep you in check by leaving you stranded. Balances the karma...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

hey we've all done stuff like that--just not all in one trip!

Now that you have that behind you, you will have a perfect rest of the season.

 

[bishop169]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

Thanks guys I will agree none of us will forget that trip and the wife promises to remember the anchor next time after she stopped giggling about my Olympic swim.
I've owned some clinker boats a long time ago and walked/swam them in but this is the first time soo many things went wrong on one trip but on the bright aide the kids got plenty of swimming in and I got a free cinder block needed one anyway

 

[KFS]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

but on the bright aide the kids got plenty of swimming in and I got a free cinder block needed one anyway

That's the spirit! This made me laugh.

 

[tkz]

Re: 1st time was too good to be true

That's one heck of a day, everyone safe at the end of the day though.