First Day Out this Season

[bigred95stang]

So we just took the boat out for the first time of the year. I made sure to put the battery charger on this morning so we had good batteries and didnt have to jump start it. Made sure the main plug was in. Did a quick look over the fluids to make sure the it was all good. Went to pull the boat out and the kid starts yelling to stop! I stop and realize that the hatch was still up and had caught on the top of the garage door. No damage but a couple little tears in the sunscreen cover sock thing. Finally put the boat in the water and checked just to make sure everything was OK. Fired up the engine and quickly closed the hatch after another quick check. Tie the boat up to the dock at high idle for a few minutes waiting for the wife to arrive and get in the boat and finally pull away. The guages look good pulling away. A few seconds later the voltage starts bouncing around. I quickly open the engine hatch and realize that I didnt put the drains back in the engine so once it was running it was pumping water into the boat. Shut the motor down quickly, start the bilge and close the drains. The wind blows me towards the shore so I have to start the engine and pull out into the middle of the lake and shut down while the water pumps out. Finally road around for 30 minutes and took it out. Made triply sure the outdrive was up before pulling out

 

[madurodave]

Re: First Day Out this Season

whew! I am a worry wart and going to triple check everything. Although, I couldn't imagine leaving the plugs out! hahaha wont happen again, will it?

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: First Day Out this Season

No no no...you got it all wrong. You were just making sure all the cobwebs were washed outta the engine after storage! No worries...I got your back!

 

[discojimmie]

Re: First Day Out this Season

I did the same thing years ago, the results were 35 minutes of bilge pump work @ 800 GPH! 400+ gallons of good ole' H2O in the hull... OUCH!!! Actully did as you did and started bilge and stoped motor set there a minute then re started and went to shore continuing to pump water. Then was politely told from a passer by on a kayak that what he was doing was easier...

 

[dpoff]

Re: First Day Out this Season

Yeah.... I`ve done that one too!

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: First Day Out this Season

If I ever end up leaving the plug out and I catch it before the boat is unable to run, my plan would be to hit the pump and get that thing up on a plane as quick as possible......I imagine that at speed the water will be sucked out of the hole rather than pushed in..

 

[MRS]

Re: First Day Out this Season

If I ever end up leaving the plug out and I catch it before the boat is unable to run, my plan would be to hit the pump and get that thing up on a plane as quick as possible......I imagine that at speed the water will be sucked out of the hole rather than pushed in..

If you did that you would be putting more water in faster
I think he is talking about motor and manifold plugs

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First Day Out this Season

not to sound like a lecture, but this is why an anchor is your most important safety equipment. Drop the hook at first sign of trouble and you won't blow to shore, get washed out to sea, etc.

Like a fire drill at school, you should have everyone one the boat--everyone--alerted to how to operate the boat, anchor, fire extinquisher in case of emergency. The littlest child needs to know how to turn off the motor; everyone needs to knw how to drive back and pick you up.

Of course I don't know if you were in a 200' deep quarry, but generally speaking....