NW Redneck
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Messages
- 643
Mean
Time
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Approximately 18yrs ago, it was a "where's that water coming from" moment. Yeah, after many years of boating I left the plug out. It was just a matter of time. If you boat long enough it WILL happen to you.
The other day we went out for dinner on the boat. Cooked some hot dogs and floated around watching the seals popping up all around the boat. Had a great time with the wife and kids, boat ran great (just replaced a bad ignition switch and starter solenoid) and the weather was beautiful.
Got back to the ramp, kids held the boat while I ran up and got the trailer. Backed it in slicker than whale snot, pulled onto the trailer and winched her up nicely centered. Hooked on the safety chain, hopped in the truck and was already mentally patting myself on the back for a slick and quick recovery as I stared pulling up the ramp. The trailer cleared the water and I started turning into the tie-down area. Now at the top of the ramp, there is a change in the angle of the pavement. (It gets steeper) Just as the trailer starts onto the steeper part I hear the wife and kids start yelling and at the same time hear/feel a slight 'rumbling' sound. Yup, that would be the sound/feel of the skeg dragging on the ground. :redface: :facepalm:
It dragged for about 4 feet. Fortunately my OMC tilt clutch (that all those merc guys like to talk trash about ) allowed the leg to tilt up a bit so it just scraped off a bit of paint and a tiny amount of aluminum. You would have taken off more metal with 3 strokes of a file.
Well, I should be good for another 18 years!
Time
Between
Failure
Rate
Approximately 18yrs ago, it was a "where's that water coming from" moment. Yeah, after many years of boating I left the plug out. It was just a matter of time. If you boat long enough it WILL happen to you.
The other day we went out for dinner on the boat. Cooked some hot dogs and floated around watching the seals popping up all around the boat. Had a great time with the wife and kids, boat ran great (just replaced a bad ignition switch and starter solenoid) and the weather was beautiful.
Got back to the ramp, kids held the boat while I ran up and got the trailer. Backed it in slicker than whale snot, pulled onto the trailer and winched her up nicely centered. Hooked on the safety chain, hopped in the truck and was already mentally patting myself on the back for a slick and quick recovery as I stared pulling up the ramp. The trailer cleared the water and I started turning into the tie-down area. Now at the top of the ramp, there is a change in the angle of the pavement. (It gets steeper) Just as the trailer starts onto the steeper part I hear the wife and kids start yelling and at the same time hear/feel a slight 'rumbling' sound. Yup, that would be the sound/feel of the skeg dragging on the ground. :redface: :facepalm:
It dragged for about 4 feet. Fortunately my OMC tilt clutch (that all those merc guys like to talk trash about
) allowed the leg to tilt up a bit so it just scraped off a bit of paint and a tiny amount of aluminum. You would have taken off more metal with 3 strokes of a file. Well, I should be good for another 18 years!
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