So far this year... Please add yours!

[fishguy]

First boat, got it in June.<br /><br />So far I have:<br /><br />* Left the dock on the maiden voyage with a broken shear pin. Went okay until WOT, paddled back.<br /><br />* Lost the prop on the 2nd trip. (thought we broke a pin, pulled motor up, prop was gone. My buddy laughed, said I forgot the cotterpin..nope, pin's there, nut's there, hub's there...prop spun right off the hub) Previous owner lost the prop nut, and used an acorn nut. There was nothing to keep the prop from spinning right off the hub and sinking to the bottom the bay. Now I know.<br /><br />* Broke a pull-start recoil spring. Had to paddle to shore to remove flywheel cover and rig up the emergency rope.<br /><br />*Came in too fast and smacked the dock, cracked windshield. (Tailwind, and was going nice and slow, was expecting better half to use the paddle she was holding to stop us from kissing the dock too hard. She didn't.) No, I didn't come in 'hot'..my boat slows down to idle, but then when you cut the engine it sits down in the front and seems to speed up. Hard to steer with the motor shut off too. Now I know. <br /><br />*Broke a shear pin bass fishing in the cat-tails. I had put some power to it to clear some weeds off the prop, then shifted back to forward. Just because if the thick weeds and shore structure I had to jump out and change it there. The water was only a couple feet deep, but so was the mud. Now I know<br /><br />*Broke a shear pin in 30' of cold seawater. Had to go for a swim to change it. (It was in a bay, and there was a lot of seaweed floating. I'd get gobbed up, and have to idle down and reverse to clear the seaweed from the prop. Must not like being shifted from fwd to rev...starting to see that now)Now I know.<br /><br />*Nailed a bouy rope for a lobster trap. I gave the bouy 30' of room, but it was in 10' of water with a 40' floating rope. Ouch. The good news is that the old boat passed the transom test (ie. the transom is still on the boat) Broke the top right off the pivot shaft. Now I know.<br /><br />I apologize if the list seems a bit short..I would have broken more stuff but I ran out of summer! <br /><br />The good news is that I didn't:<br /><br />*Drink and boat<br />*Do anything stupid that endangered life and limb.<br />*Run out of gas.<br />*Run aground<br />*Run with scissors<br />And most important..I did not once forget the plug!

 

[BrianFD]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Man, talk about a whole lot of experience gained this year!!! Congratulations on surviving! From the looks of your list, next year can only be better, right?

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Where do you buy your shear pins from. I want to buy stock in the Company. <br /><br />Maybe you need one of those prop gaurds.

 

[aspeck]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

OUCH! THe boatin' can only get better - we hope!

 

[fishguy]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Should I really tell them about the shear pins...? Hmm...<br /><br />Okay, I bought a 3-pack of brass pins. The guy at the prop shop that sole me the new prop said to use either the factory brass ones, or stainless.<br /><br />I found a piece of stainless steel rod in the shed, exactly the same size as the brass ones. I cut a few and tried them.<br /><br />They seem to 'give' under the same conditions as the brass pins. So, I'll keep using them.<br /><br />I likely broke 6-7 pins this summer. I had a little tinny with a 4.5 that I fished with, and used in the same places as this one. I've never broken a pin with the little boat.<br /><br />In my defence, the new prop that I bought after 'losing' the old one doesn't have a mark on it. I'm not hitting things, it's from clearing the seaweed or just the plain weeds in fresh water.<br /><br />When the motor picks up seaweed (and it seems very bac for picking it up), you can tell right away. It slows down a bit and water splashes up in a V pattern on each side ot the anti-cav plate. You can see the spray from the drivers seat. If you ignore it, it picks up more and more seaweed until the spray is so heavy that it's splashing straight up the back of the transom and into the boat.<br /><br />I stop. Completely. Idle down. Shift into reverse and apply throttle. The prop will spin up but vibrates and doesn't actually move the boat backwards. I apply a bit more power...you feel the vibration stop and the prop bites...I can then see the seaweed in the water that the prop is pushing forward at the sides of the boat.<br />I idle down, shift to neutral, and then bring the rpms down to the point it's ready to stall, then shift back to forward.<br /><br />This process has broken 5-6 pins for me. I start out after doing that, and just as I apply WOT the pin lets go.<br />That was the same thing that happened the very first time I had it ouy...I know the pin was already broken when I bought the boat. I put it in the water and putted around for a bit in front of the dock. Then gradually faster and faster. When I goosed it, the broken pin let go.<br />I got back to the dock and found that the previous owner was using nails. (Ack!)

 

[fishhunter911]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

hmm ok,<br /><br /> So far this year I have,<br /><br /> Blown an 90 hp Johnson Outboard on the old boat,<br /><br /> Bought a new Wellcraft took it out the first day, by the way first boat owned with an I/O, no depth finder, I file down the prop in the shallows,<br /><br /> 3 weeks later while out with the wife and friends, jumped out of the boat and shattered my left ankle , oh yeh in the SHALLOWS, but deep enough for boat just not me<br /><br /> Thats all for this year, I hope anyway....might be more to come after this weekend

 

[TexSkeeter150]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

OK, got my first boat in July.<br /><br />So far I have.....<br /><br />...tried to trailor my boat with engine all the way down, made worst sound I have ever heard. Thank God caused no damage<br /><br />...missed trailor on a very busy Sunday and ran aground on a rocky shore, while this was happening a good samariton ran down to try to push me back out and stepped on some moss and did a backwards half ganner into the water (thanks anyway). Thank God again, did no damage to my boat put hurt my ego and the huge stawberry on the good smaritons butt.<br /><br />...battery went dead and could not restart my engine, finaly get someone to tow me back to the beach when my wife asked why I did not use my trolling motor to get back. I said that I did not think of that.(stupid me)<br /><br />...pulled my fishing seat up to stow away for trip back to dock and pole flew into the water. <br /><br />...finaly put boat into water and notices that the whole boat was even with the water line....Crap, forgot to put the plug in. Ramed the boat back on the trailor and pulled out. Drained and bilged for 45 mins. All the while everyone came by and asked the same question.."Forgot your plug, huh?"<br /><br />Other than that no problems at all and have become proficient at loading and unloading the boat all by myself.

 

[ISkiH2O]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Check the hole in the shaft, it may have a sharp edge that is cutting the pins. It shouldn't break that easily. <br />And try staying out of the weeds.

 

[ethelwright]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

I got one for you. I am a new boater so I use a fairly quiet boat launch so not too many people will see me mess up. On one of our outings my daughter and I were down at the launch getting the boat ready before getting near the water. I was climbing in and out of the boat , putting everything in place and I noticed a few people looking at me funny.I just thought it was because you don't see too many women doing this . After a nice afternoon out on the water we got home and I was cranking down the tongue jack and I heard my teen daughter laughing behind me . She asked if I felt a breeze ,pointed to the back of my pants .Sure enough I checked and lo and behold I had a rip in the backside of my pants and to boot I was also wearing flesh colored undies . No wonder they were looking at me funny.I bet they howled with laughter after we left.I am just glad I was not at the crowded , more popular launch.

 

[Ross J]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Earlier this year I pulled into a well known bay on the Whangaparoa and my son jumped into the water. Two foot deep, OK thinks I i'll do likewise and walk to the 4x4. Over the side I go into 6 foot of salt water......<br />Son laughs so much he lets go of the rope and the boat floats away. <br />I made him swim for it!!<br />Cheeky so and so......<br />Ross

 

[TexSkeeter150]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Sure enough I checked and lo and behold I had a rip in the backside of my pants and to boot I was also wearing flesh colored undies . No wonder they were looking at me funny.I bet they howled with laughter after we left.I am just glad I was not at the crowded , more popular launch. <br />

 

[snapperbait]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Lets see.. Hummmm? No physical injurys, still have all my fingers and toes... <br /><br />Only two incidents come to mind..<br /><br />#1 First part of summer... My best ol' fishing bud shows up with the rest his family (un invited).. All 4 of us pack into my 15' flats boat and head out.. Boat's big enuff for 2 or maybe 3, definately not 4... Durring the quest to catch bait, tempers got outta hand and I had to put them back on the dock.. Got kinda ugly.... 4 months later, we're talking again, a little..<br /><br />I must say that the entire summer fishing by myself was great... Very quiet and relaxing.. <br /><br />#2 was a mid season carb rebuild... Out one night and the merc started to burping and farting.. Two $5 carb kits and shes good as new..<br /><br />I still have plenty of time left this year, so something stupid may still happen.... Knock on wood..

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

well mine was not really all my fault altho i should of checked it so i guess i gotta take the blame. I bought an old beater pontoon boat that i rebuilt. now the dealer i bought it from put the used motor on it. so i completely stripped down the whole boat down to the pontoons and redid everything. new deck new carptet all new furniture. pictures here turned out real nice. was real proud of it. took it out a couple times with no problems. then my sisters come up and they want a ride. no problem i say i love to show it off anyway. well we get everyone loaded up 5 adults and 3 nephews. and we are putting around the lake. get to the otherside and hear cachunk! and boat slows way down then motor dies. look over the back and see that the transom is broke and motor is hanging on one little piece of angle iron. well the only person over there that can help me is a friend of mine. problem is he has a small boat with a 2 horse motor on it. gotta hand it to him it may of taken us an hour or so but he got me back to the dock. pulled the toon out and inspected the transom. all rotted wood. dealer should of replaced when installed motor. but i should of checked it when i rebuilt everything else! i did call the dealer and he said bring it in i garauntee it will be fixed before the weekend. i told him what i really want is a 100 dollar refund and i will fix it myself so i know its done right! well i did not get the money but i did fix it myself anyway. motor is now mounted to two pieces of 3/4 inch marine treated plywood and two pieces of 2x2x1/4 inch aluminum angle which inturn is mounted to the frame of the pontoons. that motor will never come off again. other than that and the other post i had Fish story it was a pretty tame summer. no serious injurys or real expensive repair bills. gotta knock on wood because there is still a good month or so left of fishing.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

FSHKPR,<br />You SHOULD be proud! I went to your before/after link and you did a great job!! My congrats!

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Of course you didn't run out of gas...you spent the whole time "paddling" back to the ramp. when you paddle, you get great fuel mileage <br /><br />Sorry to hear of your troubles....that just goes with this hobby (but I sure wouldn't give it up no matter how frusterated I get) It is stress reliefe being out there even with the challenges!

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

So far this year myself and my son the rocket sciencist have 1: Left the trailer lock with the keys sticking out of the lock sitting on the bow of the boat only to have him ask me Dad where's the boat keys 3 miles from home. We found them in the road getting runned over from traffic along with the spare remote for my truck. It didn't get busted. 2. Wiped out a brand new stainless prop. 1st timeout with the Searay. I thought I backed up enough to clear the man made sandbar made by people with drive-on trailers. Oooops!!! 3: Fought with the fuel problem on our 85 hp Johnson. No gas getting to carb. after tearing down the fuel system to find why no gas was flowing. I put the fuel line right-side up. What a differance it makes...... It fired right-up after that....Whew!!!!!!!!!

 

[Spidybot]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

It's nice not to be able to contribute with a horror story.<br /><br />All I experienced was a battery dropping dead. Checked it before leaving home, lotsa power and cranked fine.<br /><br />Half an hour later, launched and ready to go, it made one half crank and voltage dropped to 9.5 unloaded, 0.5 with just the lights on.<br /><br />Think it got a heart attack. At the age of only 2 years (just outside warranty, ofcourse).<br /><br />The shop at the marina sold me one of their overpriced batteries that day.

 

[RICKRICK1]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

One new transom installed , surgery right after and haven't been back to lake since before August. Trailer tags ran out got 3 blocks from house before cop pulled me over (friend) just wanted to let me know. <br /><br />Goo0d thing- have recovered and will be back on water in October.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Well, let's see. I've run aground in every named body of water within 50 miles. Left the plug out about a dozen times. Left the plug out of the live well 6 or 8 times. Ran out gas and had to push the boat about 5 miles. Put a huge scrape in the gell coat on the bottom of the boat driving it on the trailer. But, since I added the Smart Tabs, it runs through the shallow like a jet boat (famous last words )

 

[aspeck]

Re: So far this year... Please add yours!

Well, this wasn't this year, but a few years ago we were going hunting (hunt at the lake, use boat to get to the more remote spots). Checked the gas and both tanks were heavy, motor was working, we were set. Got to the ramp, covered with ice. Jack-knifed the truck/trailer on the ramp.<br /><br />Finally got boat in water and headed up lake. A couple miles out, hit ice. Used Skeeter as an ice breaker, going slowly, bringing her on the ice till the ice would break, etc. Slow going, but we were getting to the destination - till the ice got too thick and wouldn't break. Started to back up - till engine stopped. Out of gas in tank # 1. No prob, switch to tank # 2. It is empty - was frozen to the bottom of the boat, that was why it was heavy (Learned that lesson the hard way, now visual checks)!<br /><br />No prob - trolling motor. That worked till both batteries went dead - not very cooperative in the cold. Had to use gun buts as oars to get back to ramp. Ice on ramp - took almost 2 hours to get trailer in water, boat on trailer, and vehicle off of frozen ramp!<br /><br />Good day of fishing ruined, but some lessons learned. 1) Visually check gas, not just feel weight of tank. 2) If ramp is icy, and it is cold, it will only be icier later that day - try another ramp or don't do it! 3) Skeeter's were not meant to be ice-breakers. Don't try this stupid trick, leave it to the professionals!