This just in...... I'm an idiot.

newbie4life

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 19, 2007
Messages
410
It's taken two weeks before I could even talk about it.

I took my girls out fishing on Memorial Day weekend. It was looking like it was going to rain, but we decided to go out anyway. We went out for a couple hours, came back in after catching nothing but sea-bass. They hold the boat at the launch while I ran back and got the pickup.

I back down the launch, and there's another fella right next to me a little caddy-wampus, but it's alright -- I'll back down, straighten it out a little bit, and finish backing in.

I backed in, went to straighten and pull forward, but I didn't realize my kids were pulling the boat onto the trailer. I pulled the truck out, and the boat made an awful bang as it it the bottom of the trailer. As usual when this kind of stuff happens, there's probably around 12 people to witness the frustration, and embarrassment. So, I checked to make sure that everything is alright, and go to pull back into the water -- hit the boat with the trailer this time, as it was too close to the front of the landing.

My kids fet bad and embarrassed too, but it wasn't their fault. They were helping me. They made the remark that we've done this a million times and it's NEVER gone this bad.

This is why I bought a cheap boat the first time. That way I'll make my mistakes and sink it before I get my good boat. One thing about making that error -- it won't happen again.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

Some lessons come easy, some come hard. If you survive the hard ones without damage or injury you are ahead of the game. :)

Not an idiot, newbie, just an expert in the making.
 

Pony

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 27, 2004
Messages
4,355
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

That stuff never happens when noone is around ;)
 

eaglejim

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 2, 2008
Messages
1,006
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

Just about everything I have learned has been thru mistakes and some has cost me thousands of dollars,you remember that stuff and the next time you look very smart :D:D
 

ribbit1072

Cadet
Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
17
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

Yep, I know how you feel, I'm a newbie too and drug the skeg along the ramp for about 7 feet last weekend and forgot to turn the boat off. (husband, not me). Probably won't ever do it again! Talk about feeling like everyones watching you.
 

wajajaja02

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
667
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

no one hurt, now work out a loading plan, like, wait to load until the driver gets out and blocks the wheel and signals to go ahead. this saves being run over by wheels, broken feet. and run away rigs.
 

obezag

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
109
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

Last season we pulled up to the ramp to trailer up. Just as I killed the engine an elderly man and woman in the boat at the next dock asked if I had jumper cables. I always carry an emergency jump starter on my boat and took it over and we got his boat started. I put the jump starter in my truck and winched my boat onto the trailer. It looked like it was sitting differently to me but I started up the ramp. Kept looking at it and something just wasn't right. I stopped the truck to give the boat a lookover and saw that I never raised the outdrive! Luckily it's all sand at the end but any further and I'd be dragging on concrete. Now as soon as the engine is off the outdrive goes up!
 

newbie4life

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 19, 2007
Messages
410
Re: This just in...... I'm an idiot.

Yep -- I guess my Granpa was right... He always said, "Education is expensive."

At least this time it just cost a little bit of pride. Something I've lost over 15 years of marriage.
 
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