Beefer
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,737
Pull up a chair, grab a drink and your reading glasses. It's a long one (would you expect less from me?)
I never launched a boat from a trailer before today. I just bought a new to me boat, and had to launch it to be able to get it to my dock. I spent time last night reading about launching, and watched some videos on youtube, to help prep myself. I had my wife and a buddy with me, so I felt a little comfortable having the extras hands. It's a 22' SportCraft WA, which while not huge, can be a little intimidating for a first time. Would rather have had some experience on my 16', but never needed to launch it. Had to rent a U-Haul truck for this, as I don't have a tow vehicle.
So we get to the ramp, I watch a couple of other guys, and figure it's now or never. I was really proud of myself! Back in perfectly, and when I saw the stern floating, tapped the brakes, and she slide off like a greased pig. Wife and friend tie her to the dock, and wife takes over the truck/trailer to head back to the house, and me and my buddy get in, she starts right up, and off we go. I'm thrilled with myself. I feel like a million bucks. About 5 minutes into the journey (just taking the boat up to our dock about 6 miles from the ramp), I give the wheel to my friend, and do a once over on everything, t o see how the new girl is doing. Start at the stern, then up to the bow, and when I come back around.... I see water going out the scuppers. I'm like... where's that coming from??? The engine compartment!
I lift the doghouse, and she's flooded! Aww F! Aww double F!!!!! I forgot the plug! All week I was reminding myself about the plug; don't forget the plug, don't forget the plug...:redface: I look in the cup where the PO kept the lug, and it's not there. Bilge pump isn't keeping pace with the water coming in, and I'm freaking out. Not panicking, just pissed at myself. So I figure I'll hit the throttle to help keep the water from entering. Good idea. But about 2 minutes later, the engine dies. Bilge is wirking overtime, water is now starting to reach the cabin floor. Dammit, where is that plug?!?! I tear up the cabing looking for the plug, empty every box, bag, and anything else that could contain a plug (cabin looked like a tornado hit it), but I can't find it. Look in the cup again, nope. Grrr, I must have, for some idiotic reason, brought it home (maybe so I wouldn't forget it) is what I figure. We're now windblown into the mango (sic) trees, nose first. Water is still coming in. My only thought was to go overboard, and plug it with my finger, so that's what I did (see pic). Off in the distance, I see the Tow Boat US boat. I'm friends with the Capt. Used to keep my 16' at the same marina that he's out of, so I tell my buddy to flag him down. He comes over, sees me in the water, and says "What're ya doing in that boat?" Tell him I got a new boat, but forgot the plug. He busts up laughing....:redface: I've got wakes crashing over me, a tow guy laughing at me, and my buddy taking pictures of me in the water. Nice.
Tow guy tosses something to my friend, and says, tear some off, and have him stick it in the hole. It was a Nerf Football of all things. And it worked! Got back in the boat, and checked again for the plug. Saw the wrench for the plug, and realized it must be with the wrench, and it was.... It was in a corner of a side compartment, and I just didn't see it before. Put it on, and give a big sigh of relief.
At this point, the bilge has been working overtime, with the engine off. Could not get the engine to stay running. Now the batteries are starting to drain. I open the livewells (there are 3 of them, 2 on either side aft, and one forward), and the 2 aft are full of water. But water wasn't coming from topside or the engine compartment. The valve must be open. Great. We tear off more of the nerf, and plug the fills, and start bailing. It's helping, but still taking on water. Tow guy had to go, as he had been on his way to another distressed (and paying boater), but said he'd be back to check on us. There is a shutoff valve for the livewells somewhere below the engine, but I still can't find it. Burnt my arm on the engine trying to find it.
Finally get the engine running, but only at idle speed (I'm thinking water in the fuel, or a spark issue, but that's a different post). We nurse our way back to the dock at idle speed where the wives were waiting for us, and get onto dry land, and go home....
So I'm the newest member of the No Plug Club. I'm also keeping a Nerf football onboard, with hopes of not needing it ever again....
Me using my finger as a plug
I never launched a boat from a trailer before today. I just bought a new to me boat, and had to launch it to be able to get it to my dock. I spent time last night reading about launching, and watched some videos on youtube, to help prep myself. I had my wife and a buddy with me, so I felt a little comfortable having the extras hands. It's a 22' SportCraft WA, which while not huge, can be a little intimidating for a first time. Would rather have had some experience on my 16', but never needed to launch it. Had to rent a U-Haul truck for this, as I don't have a tow vehicle.
So we get to the ramp, I watch a couple of other guys, and figure it's now or never. I was really proud of myself! Back in perfectly, and when I saw the stern floating, tapped the brakes, and she slide off like a greased pig. Wife and friend tie her to the dock, and wife takes over the truck/trailer to head back to the house, and me and my buddy get in, she starts right up, and off we go. I'm thrilled with myself. I feel like a million bucks. About 5 minutes into the journey (just taking the boat up to our dock about 6 miles from the ramp), I give the wheel to my friend, and do a once over on everything, t o see how the new girl is doing. Start at the stern, then up to the bow, and when I come back around.... I see water going out the scuppers. I'm like... where's that coming from??? The engine compartment!
I lift the doghouse, and she's flooded! Aww F! Aww double F!!!!! I forgot the plug! All week I was reminding myself about the plug; don't forget the plug, don't forget the plug...:redface: I look in the cup where the PO kept the lug, and it's not there. Bilge pump isn't keeping pace with the water coming in, and I'm freaking out. Not panicking, just pissed at myself. So I figure I'll hit the throttle to help keep the water from entering. Good idea. But about 2 minutes later, the engine dies. Bilge is wirking overtime, water is now starting to reach the cabin floor. Dammit, where is that plug?!?! I tear up the cabing looking for the plug, empty every box, bag, and anything else that could contain a plug (cabin looked like a tornado hit it), but I can't find it. Look in the cup again, nope. Grrr, I must have, for some idiotic reason, brought it home (maybe so I wouldn't forget it) is what I figure. We're now windblown into the mango (sic) trees, nose first. Water is still coming in. My only thought was to go overboard, and plug it with my finger, so that's what I did (see pic). Off in the distance, I see the Tow Boat US boat. I'm friends with the Capt. Used to keep my 16' at the same marina that he's out of, so I tell my buddy to flag him down. He comes over, sees me in the water, and says "What're ya doing in that boat?" Tell him I got a new boat, but forgot the plug. He busts up laughing....:redface: I've got wakes crashing over me, a tow guy laughing at me, and my buddy taking pictures of me in the water. Nice. Tow guy tosses something to my friend, and says, tear some off, and have him stick it in the hole. It was a Nerf Football of all things. And it worked! Got back in the boat, and checked again for the plug. Saw the wrench for the plug, and realized it must be with the wrench, and it was.... It was in a corner of a side compartment, and I just didn't see it before. Put it on, and give a big sigh of relief.
At this point, the bilge has been working overtime, with the engine off. Could not get the engine to stay running. Now the batteries are starting to drain. I open the livewells (there are 3 of them, 2 on either side aft, and one forward), and the 2 aft are full of water. But water wasn't coming from topside or the engine compartment. The valve must be open. Great. We tear off more of the nerf, and plug the fills, and start bailing. It's helping, but still taking on water. Tow guy had to go, as he had been on his way to another distressed (and paying boater), but said he'd be back to check on us. There is a shutoff valve for the livewells somewhere below the engine, but I still can't find it. Burnt my arm on the engine trying to find it.
Finally get the engine running, but only at idle speed (I'm thinking water in the fuel, or a spark issue, but that's a different post). We nurse our way back to the dock at idle speed where the wives were waiting for us, and get onto dry land, and go home....
So I'm the newest member of the No Plug Club. I'm also keeping a Nerf football onboard, with hopes of not needing it ever again....
Me using my finger as a plug
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