The knucks

[FLATHEAD]

Was at a lake this past week and saw the best water show since I was in the Florida everglades. There was family staying at the same fish camp as us. We dubbed them the "knucks" Short for knuckleheads. They had a 16 foot aluminum side console boat on a drive on trailer. The fun began right away when it took Mr knuck a full 15 minutes to back the boat down the little ramp they had at camp. It was a good ramp with plenty of room up top to maneuver. They finally settled on the trailer being at a 30 degree angle to the ramp and the boat half way in the water. They were down there forever so I decided to take a gander. What I saw cracked me up. All three adults were in the water trying to launch the boat. It seemed they forgot the transom straps and were in the water trying to undo them. I guess in their mind it was easier than pulling the boat up the ramp. There was so much tension on the straps they cut them off. then proceeded to wade through the water with the boat to the slip. All this took about 45 minutes. About an hour later I was in the shower when my wife comes in and tells me the knucks might need my help. I go out and he asks me if water coming out the side is good or bad. I said water coming out of the engine on the side is good. He said it was coming out of the boat. I looked over and the boat was sitting awfully low in the water. I asked if he looked in the bilge. He had no clue what a bilge was. I went down and opened the hatch and the water was over the tops of the batteries. I lay down reached over the transom and felt around, sure enough the plug was in the livewell drain. I felt the drain hole and lucky for him it was partially blocked with weeds slowing the flow of water significantly. I had a spare plug in my truck and installed it from the inside. If I had not been there I am confident this knucklehead would have went out and sunk his boat. Once it all drained he was on his way, slamming into two docks on the way out of the boat slips. When it was time to load up it was all the same just in reverse, three people in the water to load a 16 aluminum boat. Some people have no business in a boat on the water.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: The knucks

Sad to hear but so true.
We helped a few out this year up at the cottage. Close to the ramp so we see it all.

 

[redfury]

Re: The knucks

That's called buying a boat and not getting the optional common sense, instead, opting for the more expensive "common stupidity" instead

 

[kanai8238]

Re: The knucks

I am just new to boating and perhaps alot of it comes with experience
and patients.I just hope when I screw up as we all do someone would
show some patients with me.A few years down the road and I"m sure the
knucks will be laughing also.Thats why I like to go out with some one
with a few years in the boating world but like they say common sense gos along way.

 

[Windykid]

Re: The knucks

I grew up on boats and water, I was fortunate. Others dont have that option. They have to learn some how. Why wait till they have disaster. Why does no one ever offer help before they have major problems. What ever happened to a good deed a day. Why wait until your asked for help if you see the writing on the wall.
If everyone tryed to help one another, like we used to do, it might catch on.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: The knucks

I grew up on boats and water, I was fortunate. Others dont have that option. They have to learn some how. Why wait till they have disaster. Why does no one ever offer help before they have major problems. What ever happened to a good deed a day. Why wait until your asked for help if you see the writing on the wall.
If everyone tryed to help one another, like we used to do, it might catch on.

You're right, of course. The trouble is that most of us have been cursed at a few times too many when we offered help. I still do it, but I try to assess who the person is beforehand.

I don't know what it is, but there's something about boats that brings out the worst in some people.

 

[Windykid]

Re: The knucks

You're right, of course. The trouble is that most of us have been cursed at a few times too many when we offered help. I still do it, but I try to assess who the person is beforehand.

I don't know what it is, but there's something about boats that brings out the worst in some people.

I think people should at least offer. If i get cursed then (sticks and stones). And I will have to smile when he sinks. He who laughs last.

 

[gcfishguy]

Re: The knucks

I felt sorry for a guy trying to back down the ramp to load his boat last summer.

He had a Suzuki Samurai , and a very short trailer. I used to pull my little dingy with a Samurai, so I sympathized with his problem.
Between the short wheelbase of the truck, the extremely short trailer, and the fact that he couldn't see the trailer as he was trying to back up....well, he was doomed from the get go.

I watched the poor guy try to get close to the water for a few minutes and then asked him to stop for a minute. I lifted up the back of the trailer and slid it over straight for him. By doing that a few times, he was able to get to the water and load the boat.

I told him I had the same issue as him. I lengthened the tongue by a few feet and it made all the difference in the world. I could see the trailer in the rearview AND being a bit longer, it was more forgiving to back up and correct.

<><

 

[Windykid]

Re: The knucks

Thats what made boating fun, everyone used to help each other. Heck we used to invite strangers to raft up with us, just because they offered help. made a lot of good friends that way.