ever happen to anyone else ?

[iron21]

It was a week after i bought my first boat last summer.I was at a nearby lake with my girlfriend launching my boat for one of the first few times. I sat in the boat(planning to drive it to the dock to pick her up) as she backed down the ramp. The boat starts floating and quickily drifts away only to realize i had left the boat keys in the car. How stupid! No paddle, rope or anything. Of course, plenty of people around to see this. Finally, as i was getting further away, someone managed to toss me a rope and pull me in. I kept my head down the rest of the day.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Join the crowd. lol

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Uh Huh! Sheepishly

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Well at least you remembered the plug.....good story.

 

[Belchy]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

I think we have all been there at least once. I once was getting ready to step off the boat to catch the dock, but missed the dock and ended up in the water.....at least it was at night so that was my excuse

 

[Twidget]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

I watched a guy do something similar to Belchy. Only difference was, one leg in the water, one leg in the boat. OUCH!

 

[ZmOz]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Originally posted by Twidget:<br /> I watched a guy do something similar to Belchy. Only difference was, one leg in the water, one leg in the boat. OUCH!

I did that in a white water raft...ended up in the river going down the rapids on my back, and I can't swim. Probably would have drown if a guy hadn't thrown me a rope...

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

At least your keys were close by, not like going 45 miles before you remember they are still at home!<br />These days I have an extra on my car keys.<br />Where were your paddles???

 

[Belchy]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

It seems that a lot of people have had at lease one accident....lol

 

[jtexas]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

no secondary means of propulsion? no anchor? No bow line? aren't those all standard safety equipment? <br /><br />

 

[brother chris]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Like Capt Joe said. At least you never drove miles and miles to find out the boat keys are still at home. <br />Boating is humerous, isn't it.

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

"Boating is humerous, isn't it."<br />Sometimes it's just a pain in the rear end, but then worst day's boating is better than the best day's work - so I'm told

 

[jtexas]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

I always say, if I can get the boat in the water, and back on the trailer, and everything still works, whatever happens in between has got to be called "fun"!

 

[3388sam]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

We had it happen the other way around. Moving our boat to our summer moorage, we drive a car up and leave it there so we can drive home. Cruise up next day (5 hrs) -Who's got the keys to the car -yep sitting at home - Cruise back and do the whole thing next day!

 

[ZmOz]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

That's why my boat key hasn't left the ignition since I bought it. I think this year I'm just going to wire up a push button start and skip the key all together. It's not like the key will do anything to stop someone from stealing it when it's parked in my yard...

 

[Triton II]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Ms T jumps off the boat to go and get the car/trailer. All OK, she backs up beautifully and stops car. Drive boat up to v-strips at rear end of trailer, Ms T clips on and winds in. Perfect... all done in about a minute flat.<br />I climb out of the boat and into the driver's seat. Car won't start. New fangled "transponder coded" key didn't like the soaking it got in Ms T's pocket. We clog up ramp for at least 20 minutes waiting for a tow. In the end Ms T gets a lift with the National Parks ranger back to home (About half a mile away) and brings spare key. A very embarrassing half hour or so!

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br /> push button start and skip the key all together)

I was going to to that on mine too. Until I got to looking at the switch. Depending on what ya got, some of them have more than one circut in there along with the 'start' position. When its 'off', it grounds ign. circut. You might need a accesory on/off switch, a 'start' button, and a 'stop' button/switch in order to eliminate the key switch.

 

[iron21]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

yea, for now on, 1 key stays in the ignition and a spare stays on my car key ring. There are too many things to remember when boating as it is, no need to add the the list. i think i might start making a checklist of everything i need.<br /> Some1 said at least i didnt drive 45 min and leave the key home....Believe me, if i forgot my keys after that long of a drive, that boat would have started one way or another w/o them!

 

[jtexas]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Few months ago, right here on SHT, somebody shared a story of how something caught on that flimsy beaded chain we all keep our keys on, broke it open & sent the ign key flying in the opposite direction of the keychain float. If I recall, at least it landed in the boat & was found after a frantic search.<br /><br />How many times have you seen somebody step from boat to dock, to fetch the truck, shout "hey, you got the car keys? toss 'em here." Boat driver digs keys out of pocket, flings 'em in general direction of dock...you know the rest.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: ever happen to anyone else ?

Many years ago a buddy and I had been out fishing upon returning to the ramp, he said 'give me the keys I'll back the trailer down' so there go the keys righ between the boat and dock. Tied a bunch a treble hooks and went fishing, got the keys back just in time for him to lock 'em in the trunk. We still laugh about it today.