What boating mistakes have you made?

[Home Cookin']

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I have read this entire thread and I am absolutely terrified. As if I wasn't nervous enough, now I come to learn that it's not if, it's when you make one of these mistakes. Anybody want to buy a boat?

Boating requires flexibility and adaptability. Operating a boat start to finish is nothing like operating a late-model car. It is more like operating an antique car that need constant tinkering and can be unrealiable. The new fancy boat looks like a car and as easy as turning the key--and the salesman will tell you it is--but it isn't.

The best way to take up boating is to start by learning to sail. With that knowledge and skill base, motor boating all makes senses. because it is way more challenging to sail than to motor, motoring becomes a breeze. And I'm not just talking about running the boat, but the whole trailer/launch/operate/dock/maintain/equip/preparedness thing.

Although everyone makes mistakes, either with the unfamiliar or just forgetfulness, the inexperienced don't know what to expect. Things as simple as tides and currents can throw you for a loop until you get experience. And there are all the "rules" about operating a boat, and the processes that appear insignificant can be the most important, while those that look major might not matter at all in the long run.

If you are risk-adverse and not able to address the unexpected, then boating is not for you; take up golf. Even safer, watching golf on TV.

 

[sprobst]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Here's one that I haven't seen mentioned.

I trailered the boat at the ramp and began pulling away. I got a few hundred feet toward the parking lot and felt a terrible tug on the trailer like I hit something. Turns out, I had left my dock lines attached to the boat's cleats and the dock line got wrapped around my trailer tire (while still attached to the cleat). I was lucky that the rope shredded but didn't pull my cleat off.

 

[Harritwo]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

While not technically a "small" boating mistake, it was still funny to see. About a year ago, the US Navy sold the USS Mcinerney to Pakistan and BAE Jax was refitting it for the Pakistanis. The Navy was training the Pakistanis in "casualty control" procedures. At some point, CCS had taken throttle control and was in the process of transferring control back to the pilot house. Throttles were NOT matched and the Pilot House was set at Full. When they pushed the transfer button, the ship surged all ahead full, broke the mooring lines and climbed up on the wall. It did damage to the pier and crushed the bow of the McInerney in below the waterline. It was not something you see everyday.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

While not technically a "small" boating mistake, it was still funny to see. About a year ago, the US Navy sold the USS Mcinerney to Pakistan and BAE Jax was refitting it for the Pakistanis. The Navy was training the Pakistanis in "casualty control" procedures. At some point, CCS had taken throttle control and was in the process of transferring control back to the pilot house. Throttles were NOT matched and the Pilot House was set at Full. When they pushed the transfer button, the ship surged all ahead full, broke the mooring lines and climbed up on the wall. It did damage to the pier and crushed the bow of the McInerney in below the waterline. It was not something you see everyday.

I've done something like that, but in a small boat....

 

[Blacksting]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

ditto, only my g/f was on the bow ready to tie off and she went head over heels onto the dock. as if that wasnt bad enough , she was walking along the same stretch later that night and yet another boat hit the dock and brushed her leg and put her on her butt . well after a few choice words and a few more tequilla sunrises , she was fine . whatta trooper !

 

[sutor623]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I saw this at the ramp last weekend. A man, his wife and son were waiting to dock, along with my wife and I. He had a beautiful 21' Cuddy that couldn't have been more than 2-3 years old. We exchanged some words, and he said "Boy, my son does NOT want to head in." We both were at the docks, and I was winching up my Starrie, and I heard the oddest scream. I looked up and the man and wife were standing on the dock, and had grabbed onto the boat fighting it from coming forward. I ran to the next slip and grabbed onto it, as the woman frantically threw the boat into reverse (while standing on the dock). Luckily we all prevented the boat from running up the concrete ramp.

The little boy was left in the captains chair, while mom and dad were tying the boat up, and they had LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING!! The little boy had pushed the throttle forward. He couldn't have been over 3-4 years old. When all settled down, the man thanked me for my efforts, and said "Well, the boy said he didn't want to come in." Somebody was watching over them that day!

 

[Maclin]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Kids have boat angels also...!!!

 

[Prophammer]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Left auto bilge pump switch on while trailering, pump decided to empty bilge while I was in four lanes of traffic and almost peed on car right next to me.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I've done most of the smaller boat things...forgot transom straps, plug, raising of motor when landing, fell in water between boat and dock...they all remind you you're human and we make mistakes.

My absolute favorite was..after a day of being anchoring in a cove we decided it was time to go, pull anchor, deflate toys, etc...go to start and the motor just keeps cranking over and over. I was getting kinda upset after a few minutes of checking the bulb for firmness, choking and throttling...nothing. I was getting a little stressed as I just had the motor/lower unit 100% rebuilt and up to this point had zero issues! People started pulling up asking if everything was "ok" to which I replied, stressfully, "not sure what's going on" "never had this much trouble starting before" after a few minutes I saw the lanyard laying on the floor...son or mother must've accidentally pulled it out and didn't realize, it was a step I over looked as I've never pulled it out prior...now when there's even a hint of starting trouble, it's the first place I look!

 

[Maclin]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Left auto bilge pump switch on while trailering, pump decided to empty bilge while I was in four lanes of traffic and almost peed on car right next to me.

now I have to clean the soft drink off of my screen.....

 

[davras]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Forgot drain plug, check.
Left trailer jack down, check.
Leave the trim down while pulling out, multiple checks. Thankfully, the bunks are adjusted so the skeg sits about 2 inches above the ground while in full trim down.

One I haven't seen mentioned on here, though. My trailer has the retractable tongue, slides back about 12 inches. Yup, forgot to put the pins in to lock it in the out position. Going out of the sloping driveway wasn't a problem. After I got into the street, and hit the gas, there was a scrape...BOOM! One broken surge brake line. Thankfully, the safety chains kept it from coming all the way out. Now, the pins hang on the safety chains so that I cannot connect the chains until the pins are moved from chains to tongue.

 

[nikon]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Left auto bilge pump switch on while trailering, pump decided to empty bilge while I was in four lanes of traffic and almost peed on car right next to me.

LOL, did the exact same thing. Only I found at while I was driving through a neighborhood and I hear a little kid yell 'You boat just pee'd on me!!' I look back and sure enough he got soaked with bilge water...got a good chuckle out of it and reminded me to stop and pull the plug

 

[Gibbles]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

LOL, did the exact same thing. Only I found at while I was driving through a neighborhood and I hear a little kid yell 'You boat just pee'd on me!!' I look back and sure enough he got soaked with bilge water...got a good chuckle out of it and reminded me to stop and pull the plug

oh man I can almost hear my Grandpa saying "well, why were you standing there?"

funny

 

[tilen]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

way too many to mention but on the top of my head I am on my third anchor forgot to raze my trim many times installed fishing pole holders inside my boat with four screws sticking through on the outside came in to a dock hot put a big hole in the bow and all that in the first season of owning my new boat I should of bought a practice boat on my defense it was my first boat.

 

[louiefl]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

My 15 year old son has been helping set up and put away our boat and he had been promoted from loading gear to helping hook up the trailer. Last weekend while raising the trailer jack the trailer crashes into the bumper and topples over. At first thought the jack collapsed or the wheel rolled but it turns out that when he rotated down he didn't quite lock it in place. Big gash in tow vehicle rubber bumper.

 

[Blacksting]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

After a great day on the bay on the 19' 4winns , I'm unhitching the trailer on my driveway . Its got a steep pitch and i was straddling the neck . the hatch of the SUV was wide open but as methodical as it 'usually' goes , i didnt realize my g/f went in the house to pee and she always puts the wood chocks under the tires. well 2 seconds later i'm riding the trailer like a bronco and rolling into the truck . my gazuntas were being crushed as my back is pinned to the roof . my neighbor comes running out screaming are you alright , and i'm squirmmng to get myself out . the tailgate gets bent and it took 2 hours in the dark to straighten it out with 2x4s and sledge hammer . motto here is , never asssume anything .

 

[smoedog]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I was out at a beach at the local lake and pulled up onto the beach to hang out and swim. Well I must have pulled a little to far on because after a couple hours my boat was pushed up farther on the beach by the wake and waves and when I went to leave I was pushing on the bow with everything I had and nothing. Walk to the back and my transom was sitting on the sand and my outdrive buried in the sand. So I threw out my back trying to lift the stern out of the sand for 5 mins before i got it out lol. Note to self.. I don't have a pontoon

 

[oldjeep]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Joined the drag the skeg on the ramp club today. Wife drove the boat up and forgot to raise it, pulled out and heard the awful sound. No real damage took maybe 1/16 off of it.

 

[brewern]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

After debugging a clogged fuel line back at camp, I forgot to remove the muffs... I'm not sure if it was that or dinging the prop on the ramp that took a chunk out of the prop. Either way, that set of muffs is at the bottom of lake Cumberland, along with my sunglasses.

The new prop arrived in the mail two days ago, and Wal-Mart has sold another pair of muffs. I'm ready to get back to the lake again! :facepalm:

 

[444]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Got my tube's rope wrapped around my prop hard enough this weekend to shut down my engine. Backed up into the rope without thinking. Had to get towed 100' back to shore, remove the prop and free the rope and all was good.