What boating mistakes have you made?

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

A lot of little stuff, but what I want to know is why this guy isn't on iboats. He could top us all. We were just getting ready to go out crabbing and this guy launched just after us.. guess he forgot to set his parking brake?

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Well, At least the boat didn't sink.

LK

 

[Blacksting]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Well, At least the boat didn't sink.

LK

first time out on an 18 ft trihull w/ an 88 spl . hit wot and the holeshot was too good for me as i fell out of my seat and rolled to the back of the boat . the boat turned to the right as i fought my way back to my feet .it may have been about 30 seconds but seemed like 5 minutes.when i finally got control of the boat i was cruising w/ a slight grin on my face satisfied w/ the performance of the motor . thank god there werent any boats in my way . couldve been ugly. so thats what that coily looking wire is for . kill sw. . :facepalm:

 

[Maclin]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

first time out on an 18 ft trihull w/ an 88 spl . hit wot and the holeshot was too good for me as i fell out of my seat and rolled to the back of the boat . the boat turned to the right as i fought my way back to my feet .it may have been about 30 seconds but seemed like 5 minutes.when i finally got control of the boat i was cruising w/ a slight grin on my face satisfied w/ the performance of the motor . thank god there werent any boats in my way . couldve been ugly. so thats what that coily looking wire is for . kill sw. . :facepalm:

What were you sitting on?!?!?!!!!

Glad you were OK and no one else was taken out

 

[Blacksting]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

What were you sitting on?!?!?!!!!

Glad you were OK and no one else was taken out

as i recall , i was sitting on the edge of the side of a back to back seat and when the bow went up , i went down . lesson learned , use your kill sw. .

 

[bassman284]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Beautiful day yesterday. Went to a nearby lake for a little fishing an a little cruising. Leaves are turning early so I got a few pictures. Pretty nice.

That all changed. I always tilt the motor all the way down to drain it. Then after stowing loose stuff, I attach the transom straps and tilt the motor back up and put on the flopperstopper. Yesterday for reasons that will never be clear, I snapped on the transom straps but left the motor down for the 5 mile drive home. Heard a screech as I turned onto the slight upgrade for my street. I stopped and went back, found the motor in full down position with most of the skeg gone. I don't remember hearing it leave.

 

[fishcracker]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

After 40 years of boats and working the last 12 specifically with them I am embarrassed to list the mistakes I have made, predicted would happen with my crew or in some way been a part of..

1. Missing Plug.... that?s an easy one lol..lol..

2. Forgot strap.... amateur stuff..

3. Fail to put oil in fuel with 2 stroke. They typically don?t survive that one, killed one like that.

4. Passing under a 14' bridge with two brand new (1st day) VHF antennas sticking 15' high..clean off!

5. Hooking hydraulic steering lines up backwards to helm, yes it still moves the rudder just the opposite direction....

6. Extreme high tide, short lines= upside down skiff when you return..

7. Super lube all rollers and skids on trailer, steep ramp, premature unhooking of bow eye. Tap breaks on way down ramp= boat on concrete! That one sucked!!!

8. 20 gals of gas in diesel boat... It will run, just not for long...

9. Fail to secure small outboard (9.8hp) on transom with bolts use thumb screws only= Engine flying off at wide open throttle a rather big surprise but not as troubling as the 6 gallon fuel tank still attached to the engine launching from the bow and passing by your head.

10. Pump 25 gals of gas into rod holder. Told them to pay attention when fueling that it could happen.. Well it did!!!

By far the best reply in this thread yet....ROFL

 

[coreybv]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I've made tons, but the two most expensive were....

1.) Wearing one week old $200 sunglasses, accepted a ride on the back of a friend's new jet ski. He flipped it. Glasses gone.

2.) Forgot to put plug in. Noticed water rising above floor, grabbed plug, hopped into water, inserted plug. 2 hundred dollar bills and 3 twenties apparently floated out of my pocket (I'm sure that made someone's day), and the water trashed my new $400 smartphone. I now make sure my pockets are empty long before arriving at the ramp.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Beautiful day yesterday. Went to a nearby lake for a little fishing an a little cruising. Leaves are turning early so I got a few pictures. Pretty nice.

That all changed. I always tilt the motor all the way down to drain it. Then after stowing loose stuff, I attach the transom straps and tilt the motor back up and put on the flopperstopper. Yesterday for reasons that will never be clear, I snapped on the transom straps but left the motor down for the 5 mile drive home. Heard a screech as I turned onto the slight upgrade for my street. I stopped and went back, found the motor in full down position with most of the skeg gone. I don't remember hearing it leave.

Whoa, Got any pictures?

LK

 

[bassman284]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Whoa, Got any pictures?

LK

Here ya go.

 

[Blacksting]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

last week i pumped 5 gallons of gas into the filler , which somehow got disconnected from the filler tube. duhhh, forgot to install a hose clamp . had to tip the bow up and drain it out . the gas station owner was furious to say the least . no boating that day for sure . it took 3 hours to clean .

 

[emoney]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I was working on my little Evinrude 2hp outboard the other day...in my swimming pool (you can see already where this is going, can't you?). I figured, hey, this is perfect, I can float the dinghy (8' inflatable), attach the outboard and start her up. Step one, "launching" the boat - no problemo. Step two, "attaching the outboard" - again, no problemo (I thought). Step #3, get in boat so it's easier to acces the outbaord - all is well. So I turn around to grab the pull cord and on the first pull she starts (boy was I proud of myself), so I decided to let her run a minute, because I wanted to see how she idled. I was near the pool steps and climbed out of the boat. However, I didn't prepare for an "exit" as I'd only snugged the outboard onto the transom (the initial plan didn't include my getting in the boat). As soon as I get a foot on the stairs, my 235lbs shifted the little boat and what's the outboard do? Pops right off the transom and proceeds to fall right down to the bottom of the pool still running. I'm staring in disbelief and my wife is there saying, "Ummm...honey?" I really was locked into the moment because SHE had to jump into the pool with her clothes on to retrieve the outboard, which thankfully had died once all the water flooded into it.

So, my little "motor adjustment", caused me to have to drain the swimming pool (what the heck was I thinking) and dry out the motor. Interestingly enough, however, the little outboard did start up as I had gotten onto iboats and found out it was best to run it as soon as possible to help get all the water out. Chlorine, I suppose isn't so bad for it after all. Although, interestingly enough, I've had to replace the pull cord since then. I'm not sure why? And, it's good to know that my wife is around to help clean up my messes, lol.

 

[roger56]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

After fishing all day with my brother filling a basket full of gills and perch. Its about dark and cast a few lures out before heading in and Boom! The water explodes next to Boat and almost jerks rod out of my hand. Long story short end up landing a 49 inch northern pike on a pontoon boat deck with no net. My brother is so excited says we are going in. The fish basket full of the days catch still tied to side of boat with Rope goes to the bottom of the lake as he speeds toward his pier. After reaching pier and finding missing basket My brother wants to go back and dive for the basket of fish. Its dark and chaulk it up to a lesson learned and story still told. One fish not worth eating and best at the bottom of the lake.

 

[yachtfrenzy]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

tying the boat up by the dock, wasn't watching where I was stepping and walked right off the pier into the murky / oily water. Everyone had a good laugh :facepalm:

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

I was working on my little Evinrude 2hp outboard the other day...in my swimming pool (you can see already where this is going, can't you?). I figured, hey, this is perfect, I can float the dinghy (8' inflatable), attach the outboard and start her up. Step one, "launching" the boat - no problemo. Step two, "attaching the outboard" - again, no problemo (I thought). Step #3, get in boat so it's easier to acces the outbaord - all is well. So I turn around to grab the pull cord and on the first pull she starts (boy was I proud of myself), so I decided to let her run a minute, because I wanted to see how she idled. I was near the pool steps and climbed out of the boat. However, I didn't prepare for an "exit" as I'd only snugged the outboard onto the transom (the initial plan didn't include my getting in the boat). As soon as I get a foot on the stairs, my 235lbs shifted the little boat and what's the outboard do? Pops right off the transom and proceeds to fall right down to the bottom of the pool still running. I'm staring in disbelief and my wife is there saying, "Ummm...honey?" I really was locked into the moment because SHE had to jump into the pool with her clothes on to retrieve the outboard, which thankfully had died once all the water flooded into it.

So, my little "motor adjustment", caused me to have to drain the swimming pool (what the heck was I thinking) and dry out the motor. Interestingly enough, however, the little outboard did start up as I had gotten onto iboats and found out it was best to run it as soon as possible to help get all the water out. Chlorine, I suppose isn't so bad for it after all. Although, interestingly enough, I've had to replace the pull cord since then. I'm not sure why? And, it's good to know that my wife is around to help clean up my messes, lol.

Thank goodness for chlorine!

 

[cribber]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

The battery died on my boat after four years of fun. Problem was it died in the middle of the lake so I called Sea Tow. While waiting for them to give me a jump I accidentally pulled my kill switch grabbing for something in the bow. Evidently when I put the lanyard back I didn't push it all the way on to reengage the kill switch. After cranking for a minute or two we decided a tow was in store to get us back. On the three hour tow back I happened to check the kill switch and seen it wasn't fully depressed. We get to the ramp and the guy fires up my boat with no problem. Man was I embarrassed by that one!!! He shrugged it off and says that happens often. Good news is I saved $450 for a SHT because I'm a Sea Tow member!!!

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Here ya go.

View attachment 170554

Ouch...

LK

 

[cgibbo308]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

ok ok. we all make mistakes from time to time... and i have made a few.
was winter and was in canada bay on the southern side of sydney harbour.

My mate is ex army artillary and knows sweet f all about boats. i have done part of the coxswains but am still learning about my boat and the way it likes to be handled..
now its just getting on dusk and we decide to go home. beach the boat, back the car down, all is well.. untill........
i line up the boat to drive her onto the trailer and the wind decides to pick up and cause no end of trouble.. now, me being, well me..
"i can see the wheels on the ramp, i'll jump in and line her up by hand' after all we where that close i could practicaly touch the trailer and could see the bottom of the ramp..

Ya knw thats not what happened eh... i never did feel ANYTHING under foot when i jumped in.. now. i KNOW what swims in there ands have seen how big they grow and now getting dark. I had hold of that bow rail with my feet up on the sides with my fat *** hanging down to the water (i would be impressed to see any shark get its mouth round my fat ***).
he puts her into gear and gives some juice and i could hear a laugh.. not from us..

anyway we get her loaded and pull her out. i strip naked in the car park and dry off and change. the security guy was the one that laughed. seeing what we were doing he then leaves and LOCKS the gates as it was the car park closing time..... he locked us in..
but we managed to get out without paying the $75 call out fee for him to come back and unlock the gates (they didnt set it up all that well), cars cant get out but the 4x4 even with a boat can

other stupid things done in the past include; moving in with my now ex gf. getting a truck bogged in sand, falling asleep whi;e working under the car ending in sundburnt feet. my stuff ups usualy start with "i have a cunning plan/ idea" or " hey, watch this"

 

[OllieC]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Well - Winterizing my boat last weekend (first time) I pulled the fuel/water separator filter. There was some gas spilled but I wiped it up. The filter was to the brim with gas.

So, the smart guy that I am, I decided to dump the residual gas from the filter into my lawn mower gas tank. After about 2 seconds of pouring, this funny looking clear stuff starts pouring out of the "water" separating filter. Of course, it takes a another few seconds before I figure it out. :facepalm:

Now I have t dump the gas in my mower.......

 

[marineatbn03]

Re: What boating mistakes have you made?

Had a Regal 18ft that I used on occasion when people wanted to tube and whatnot. I lived on a lake at the time and had a dock in my backyard, but the pontoon was permanently docked there, so the Regal stayed in the driveway and trailered to the ramp when needed. Forgot the plug once, but noticed it before the water level got to the engine. I also forgot to trim the outdrive up once and drug it a few feet.

The more costly of my boating mistakes came a few months ago. I recently purchased a nice Carver 32 Aft Cabin in Florida. Had to move it about 35 miles or so to our new marina, a nice stroll down the ICW. But the problem occured when we failed to time our arrival with the slack tide. The isle to our slip is a little narrow and offers little room for manuevering to back in to the slip. Match that with a very stiff current and we bounced off of a few boats. No damage, but the majority of the boats are liveabords and what a great way to meet your new neighbors then to bounce off their boat. But, like I said, no damage. The damage occured because I was not all that familiar with the operating system of the boat. After nestling her into her new home, we had to leave the next day to head back to NC where we currently reside. I accidently turned the main breaker off and one of the bilges into the continuous position (It was wired backwards so not completely my fault). The dockmaster was kind enough to start and run my twins every week and keep a general eye on things. Apparently the batteries drained by the bilge since the shore power breaker was turned off. The dockmaster realized the problem, turned the breaker back on, but one of the batteries was shot. It got red hot and was hissing. Had to have a mechanic come in to the tune of 100/hr and 600 dollars later the bad battery was replaced, a new bilge pump installed, and the bilge pump switch corrected. Could have been worse I suppose, but still costly for a boat I have only spent a few hours on.