Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

[fseventy]

Got a boat from my father in law two months ago. Not a boater, but learning fast. I have fought this boat almost every weekend:runs horrible, wife smashes it into the dock, etc...<br /><br />Take it out last weekend. After adding 15 gal of gas at the local station, I notice a refreshing splash of liquid on my foot while adding the oil to the tank. I look to see gas POURING out of the bilge drain. Look over the edge of the boat to see approx 1/4 inch of gas all over the floor! I run into the store to let the employees know they better bring the x-large bag of kitty litter to soak this up. After jacking up the front of the boat and letting most of the gas drain out, I took it home to spend the next 3 hours cleaning up the mess. Turns out my doofus father in law decided that the fill hose didn't need hose clamps to hold it on after he cleaned out the tank before giving it to me.<br /><br />Take the boat out the next day. Fills up with gas fine! put the boat in the water, dock it, and go park my truck. I return to find the boat with about 5 inches of water in the rear floor! (I removed the auto-drain plug the day before to speed the removal of gas). I quickly find the plug, take off all my clothes except my shorts (turns out I would have been better off taking the shorts off as well!) I jump in the water, catch my shorts on the cleat and rip them all the way up to the elastic. I struggled for a long time to get the plug in as it had a kind of male/female knotch and I had never had to take it off and put it back on before, and doing so while angry in murky water was not the easiest job. While climbing into the boat I break the swim ladder to boot!!! AAAHHGGGHHHAAAHGHGHGHGH<br /><br />After adjusting my shorts, I go get the truck, and pull the boat. I let it sit for about 15 minutes to completely drain, and I make sure the plug is attached correctly.<br /><br />Luckily, that was it for the bad stuff. The ol' Marlin ran great and I got to spend some time watching different birds, including some hawks and eagles from about 50-60 feet away.<br /><br />I wonder what's next?

 

[brother chris]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Wow, you sure went through a lot. <br />At least the ole boat is working properly now. <br />Welcome to iboats.<br />Brother Chris.

 

[Frankhanhart]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Fseventy, welcome...welcome!!!! These are initiation rites and there are a few more to come. The trick is...SMILE!!!...and tell us all about it. I'll tell you tomorrow how I lost a $400 camera while boating. Got to go to work now <br />Frank

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Sounds kind of like my boat. Isn't boating relaxing?

 

[Twidget]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Are you sure you're Father in Law isn't out to get you? <br /><br />I hope your run of bad luck is over, they say it comes in threes, you have met the criterea.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Originally posted by Twidget:<br /> I hope your run of bad luck is over, they say it comes in threes, you have met the criterea.

If this "comes in threes" thing is correct, I hope I'm done with mine!<br /><br />1. Forgot the Plug.<br />2. Solenoid stuck because of being submerged the week before when we forgot the plug. Marina mechanic charged me $10 to test the battery (we thought it was that originally), and when he found out about the plug misshap he tapped the Solenoid and got us started.<br />3. Started up and heard a strange noise...turned off, but starter kept trying to start. Unplugged battery (cables were REALLY hot!), removed starter and replaced it...now find out from iboats friends that the Solenoid might have been the only problem, although we didn't have the tools to remove it. So spent $120 on a new starter instead of $40 on a Solenoid! <br /><br />BTW...2-3 times I have also tried to start it without relizing that I was still in gear. Embarrassing when you have friends on the boat and you are trying to impress them.

 

[sergioy]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Welcome to Boating Like Frank said, there are rites that must be passed. Being new, you will definately have a few more. I am in my second year and still find that I can do some amazingly goofy things.

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Better check whether or not your wife has upped your life insurance!!!

 

[beezee28]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

fseventy, welcome and enjoy boating... As the saying goes 'as we get older we get wiser', it is true in a way as the more mistake and dumb thing that we do we learn for it. You are on your to be wiser.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Welcome to the "I Forgot Hall OF Fame" It is a right of passage!

 

[QC]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Originally posted by fseventy:<br /> I notice a refreshing splash of liquid on my foot <br /><br />Turns out my doofus father in law decided that the fill hose didn't need hose clamps to hold it on

I'm thinking the FIL was just helping you increase your fuel capacity Cheapest idea I've heard of yet . . .<br /><br />Welcome, and yes, we all have done stupid stuff. When we got our first boat we went (witout the boat) to one of the busiest local launch ramps to see if we could learn anything. Best thing I ever did. Not sure I learned anything that I SHOULD do, but I learned a heck of a lot about what I SHOULDN'T do . . .

 

[Realgun]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

I jump in the water, catch my shorts on the cleat and rip them all the way up to the elastic.

Man thats gotta hurt/embarass. <br /><br />Thats Ok the trailer has gotten the bottom of a new pair of shorts twice now! Same shorts.<br /><br />At least they are only 6.88 at Wally world!

 

[Brew2]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

You do realize there was some "good" luck in your story....when you caught your shorts on the cleat, they ripped and as a result released you from the grasp of the boat cleat. <br /><br />When I pulled a similar stunt a few years ago, the shorts didn't rip, but rather wrapped around the cleat. Ended up with my shorts cutting off circulation to my leg, my feet in the air and my head under water. Had to keep doing sit-ups to breathe.<br /><br />You've had your share of mishaps for the remainder of the year!! Enjoy the summer!

 

[kevin88]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Fseventy... It's good to know you got you boat running well. Let us know in the other threads what you did to fix the problem so we can help the next fellow a little better.<br /><br />Wanna hear an emberrassing one? I locked the keys in the ignition of my truck while I had the boat backed down the launch ramp. I don't think you have to ask... Of course, it was one of the busiest days of the year. From that day on I crank my drivers window down as soon as I get to the prep area.

 

[carrotsnapper]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Originally posted by kevin88:<br /> ... From that day on I crank my drivers window down as soon as I get to the prep area.

Actually, I think that is a great idea. Never thought about accidentally locking the truck with the keys in it as you jump out to unhook the boat. Knowing my luck, that's a trick I'd probably pull.

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

ahh yes the dreaded in law boat....<br /><br />I would spend some time going over the FAQ sections<br /><br />The list that my dad had wrong on the boat was long...<br /><br />wrong plugs<br />never did de-carboning<br />No oil changes<br />etc etc etc<br /><br />Since I got the boat I have developed my own check list of things to go over prior to launching 90% of the list is gone over prior to even leaving the house.<br /><br />You made the assumption that FIL was giving you a working boat, but in most cases they give up the "free" boat because it needs time and $$$ to get it going again.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Rule 1: There's no such thing as a free boat.<br />Rule 2: See Rule 1.

 

[QC]

Re: Follow the trail of the unlucky boater

Originally posted by carrotsnapper:<br />

Originally posted by kevin88:<br /> ... From that day on I crank my drivers window down as soon as I get to the prep area.

Actually, I think that is a great idea. Never thought about accidentally locking the truck with the keys in it as you jump out to unhook the boat. Knowing my luck, that's a trick I'd probably pull.

Ya know . . . I always thought the Ford keypad thingee on the door was an ugly looking joke. We own an Expedition now and I love the keypad! Now I lock the keys in the truck on purpose!!! You can't lose them in the lake if they never get on the boat . . . The ONLY downside I can find is that I might lock the keys in some other vehicle . . .