Dumb rookie mistakes

[belleview3]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Well thanks for all the info everyone. Just printed and lamitated my checklist for the boat. I think after a few more months it will be second nature.

I hope you have plenty of laminate. Those checklists tend to grow alomng with our experiences. I think I'm on page four.
Good boating!

 

[BonairII]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

just wait till you drop in the water, pull away from the dock and wonder why the boat seems to be filling up with water !

My favorite story is of the guy was driving his boat around on the water......



with the trailer still attached to his boat!!!

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Yeah bubba that sounds about right.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

just wait till you drop in the water, pull away from the dock and wonder why the boat seems to be filling up with water !

Or, just wait until you launch the boat, park the truck, BS with someone in the parking lot, take a whiz, then go back to the boat with water creeping up the deck Bilge pump test

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Mental not. Pee before launching. Check.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Fortunately, I haven't done the anchor thing.

I've done it with 2 different boats. :facepalm:

Now I ALWAYS look back at the stern/motor area to make sure anchor is up, fishing poles are stowed, and everything is secured.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Mental not. Pee before launching. Check.

Or the boat will be peein' after launching

 

[dan t.]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Yep, bin der done dat, started with the leg up, left the plug out, left the transom ties on, never did the anchor thing,embarassing at the time but a lesson learned, we is only human (well most of us anyway)

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

The nice thing about stupid mistakes is the more embarrassing it is the more likely you are to never do it again. Hopefully.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Like others have said it's not a matter of IF, but WHEN. I've been boating my whole life and done most of the 'oops' stuff at one time or other. Forgot plug, started with drive up, forgot to raise drive up when hauling out, didn't check battery before leaving home, forgot to undo a dock line when departing, etc. So far I've only done each of the above once each and they all happened when I was trying to rush for whatever reason. While it's easy to feel pressured to move quickly at a busy ramp, being methodical and efficient is better than 'rushing around'. The more experience you have the less pressured you will feel about your launching times. It's good 'therapy' (as well as entertainment!) to just go to the ramp and watch people launching/recovering once in a while. You will notice that the ones that are quickest overall are the ones that aren't rushing around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

Here's one just for stringer drive owners: I always start up my boat in the driveway on the hose before I leave (ramp is <5 min from my house) just so I know my battery is ok, everything is working and the engine is warmed up so I can leave right away when I launch. I have the hose connection on the pivot cap of my drive for running out of the water. One time I unhooked the hose, but forgot to put the cap back on the fitting so a couple of min after leaving the dock I started to overheat. I noticed it right away and shut down thinking that the day was shot. I literally 'facepalmed' when I raised the drive and looked down and saw that cap dangling.

 

[hog88]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Rented a pontoon boat many years ago at Dale Hollow, pulled up to an island threw the anchor out, pulled away a little while later to go to over to a cove. Pulling into the cove the boat stopped, yep, left the anchor out and it hung something on the bottom. Scared the bejesus out of us but luckily no damage.

Of course left the tie down straps on before but, knock on wood have not forgot the plug yet.

 

[floatfan]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

knock on wood have not forgot the plug yet.

I was part of that "not yet" club until last May. Rented a house on Lake Sinclair for the weekend. First day there, launching the boat to drive it over to the house. Backed the boat in, tied it off to the loading dock and left my wife there, parked the truck, grabbed the 3 year old and we walked back to the dock. As I'm walking up, notice the boat is riding mighty low in the back end. Hits me instantly what I've done (or haven't done!). I jump in the boat, grab the plug, hop in the 4 - 5 feet or so of water at the back of the boat and proceed to try to put the plug in. Crap...dropped the plug!! Thankfully, I carry 2 or 3 with me at all times (not only for me, but I've run across other folks at the ramp before who couldn't find their plug and I can save them a trip to the store). 2nd plug in. Bilge pump running. After getting most of the water pumped out, we motor the boat down the lake to the rental dock. I put it on the lift, pull the plug and let the remaining water drain out.

I've been boating for years and always laughed at the prospect of others forgetting the plug. Believe me...it can happen. In my case, I was careless and just rushing around ready to get to the rental for a relaxing vacation.

 

[CoffeeHound]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

When will some one invent a one way valve to replace the drain plug ?? Can not count number of times i have forgot plug ( &. or) the fish bat after launch .
Set a Porta-Jon near the launch pad ? Never need one till it is almost tooooo Late ! Bet there would be a waiting line there too !!

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

You can just pee in the water while your standing behind the boat putting in the plug you forgot to install before launching.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Lol now that's multitasking. my first time out ever I forgot my oars which really tuned into a problem after I found out if the motor was off for more than 5 min it became extremely difficult to restart and halfway thru the day the tiller handle broke off the motor. That was a bad day.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

I try to go through the mental checklist too. Where I get into trouble is when the launch is crowded because I get into a rush cuz I feel like an *** when I'm holding people up. I know I shouldn't let it bother me but it still does.

I'm the same way, I start to feel anxious/nervous as I approach the crowded ramps coming or going. I frequently launch and load the boat by myself and rush around like i'm competeing in a contest of speed in the endevor. I have noticed folks watching me sometimes and my speedy actions seem to cause them to stop lollygagging and speed up their own launch/loading process. I can usually get her done solo in less than 2 mins. unless my truck is 100yrds from the ramp when loading

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

I did something really stupid with a boat once...
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I bought one!

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

Lol so true aj so true. Sometimes I think crack would be a cheaper hobby.

 

[saumon]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

there is a whole "confession booth" thread under Stupid Human Tricks about "mistakes you have made" and most of them are very basic boating mistakes made by experienced boaters.

One thing about boats and boat advice--you constantly hear "always" and "never" and it's hard to know which of those "rules" are crucial and which won't matter if you goof occasionally.

Anyways, we're all guilty of the dumbest of all mistakes: we bought a boat, and we're loving it!

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Dumb rookie mistakes

I use checklists for virtually all aspects of flying, and have carried that habit over to boating(as well as competitive shooting, mountaineering, cycling, snowmobiling). I simply make a list and use a couple of layers of clear packing tape to secure it wherever I need...usually in sight, but not unsightly. Add some color with a couple of highlighters...and viola!

Believe it or not...even with warning buzzers and/or an annoying voice literally yelling "landing gear", pilots have bellied in because they've gotten either distracted or busy and did not use a checklist.

There's a video still on YouTube of that exact scenario come to think of it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hMn7ZweF6s

Yes...that IS the gear up warning you CLEARLY hear!!!

A VERY$$costly$$(and VERY embarassing) mistake!