Idiot new boater hall of fame

[brnewbie]

My name is brnewbie and I am an idiot. I grew up boating with my dad and I just realized that he did not teach me a whole lot. Long story short - I bought a used bayliner BR yesterday. I was so excited - mostly for the excited look on my five kids faces at the prospect of a summer of skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. They were so excited. We piled in the vehicle and launched the boat. I practiced the little I remembered however, I was unaware that the seller had detached the water hoses when he winterized the boat. We ran once up the lake (3 minutes) and when I idled down, water was present on the rear floor of the boat. I kept it at a slow idle and limped into the ramp. I turned on bilge to empty boat. Total time on water about 5 minutes. Boat still fires right up. I tested a couple of times before I realized where the water was coming from. I took boat to marina to get serviced and looked over. I feel like an idiot. I did not know any better and ran the boat with hoses unattached. What likely damage did I do? The engine temp appeared to be OK. The dealer said it would take several days before they could get to it. The wait is killing me. I had to share my stupidity.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

1) I did the same thing one time when I didnt tighten a hose clamp well enough after winterizing.

2) My bilge pump didnt work though

3) you did no harm at all, because the engine was pumping nice cool water (into the boat) so it was cooling off fine. It just wasnt shooting it back out.

4) dont bother with the shop, just tighten everything up, check it running tied to a dock to check for leaks, and have fun.

BTW - never take the family along for a first ride in anything. bad luck, bad idea. work out the kinks - then make it into a family outing.

 

[wanttofly]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Mistakes are usually made when you are in a hurry. I know the feeling though, something new and you just have to get out on the water. Don't beat yourself up to bad, the mechanic will tell you if there is anything wrong, but it sounds like you might be okay. Good luck, be safe. It probably would not hurt to get with someone who has there own boat to go through your new one with you, go through the safety features and even go out with you the first time. Have a great summer.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

My name is brnewbie and I am an idiot. I grew up boating with my dad and I just realized that he did not teach me a whole lot. Long story short - I bought a used bayliner BR yesterday. I was so excited - mostly for the excited look on my five kids faces at the prospect of a summer of skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. They were so excited. We piled in the vehicle and launched the boat. I practiced the little I remembered however, I was unaware that the seller had detached the water hoses when he winterized the boat. We ran once up the lake (3 minutes) and when I idled down, water was present on the rear floor of the boat. I kept it at a slow idle and limped into the ramp. I turned on bilge to empty boat. Total time on water about 5 minutes. Boat still fires right up. I tested a couple of times before I realized where the water was coming from. I took boat to marina to get serviced and looked over. I feel like an idiot. I did not know any better and ran the boat with hoses unattached. What likely damage did I do? The engine temp appeared to be OK. The dealer said it would take several days before they could get to it. The wait is killing me. I had to share my stupidity.

Two points:
1) could you please change that "my name is ......, I am an idiot" quote. It's too much like what could be the opening introduction at a meeting of "Idiots Anonymous". If my wife sees that, she'll try to locate a local chapter and enroll me.
Wife?... is a good segue into:
2) The only "mistake" that you made is taking your wife on your first test run...that always increases the odds favouring a mishap of some type...

 

[this forum wont let me]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Hey man congrats on the new boat what state do you live in? I would show you some boating things from a Man with OCD lol.

 

[brnewbie]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Steve - you are so correct. I was really ticked at myself for rushing everyone out there. What a dumb thing to do. Won't do that again.

Good to hear I did not overheat the engine. I hope the water level in the back area did not get too high and damage the engine. It still was running albiet I had the throttle all the way down and it was limping in.

It started right up today when I tried it with the boat backed into the water this morning. I then took it to the mechanic to have it checked out. I wanted to make sure all was OK.

 

[Backyardhockey]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Way to go dad! Just kidding. We have all had our "moments". Maybe you got water into the oil. Maybe you fried the starter. Hopefully you got lucky.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

You are now so far ahead of all those people sitting on the dock wishing they were you.

Congrats, welcome, be safe.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

The only thing worse than making a silly mistake is having witnesses to help you never forget! That'll be a mistake you'll make exactly once - no harm done to anything but the ego.

While it's in the shop - may want to take the gang to a boaters safety course or seminar. I found it extremely useful last year when we got our boat and my hub re-took the class with me. This way you won't be the only one double checking to make sure the plug is in and the safety equipment is on board.

Have fun, be safe.

 

[ThePostMan]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Puh-lease! If anybody ever tells you that they HAVEN'T done something similar on the water, they are lying to you!

Mine?

After an hour on the water with the bilge pump constantly kicking on and pumping out GALLONS of water. . .then every time I'd stop, pull the engine cover, and find a DRY bilge. . .then have the pump kick on AGAIN and shoot out gallons. . .I finally figured out the problem. . .

Some idiot (me) had left the CAP off of the cold-water exchange pump when he cleaned the sea-strainer. So, when idling, nothing was happening. . .but when I hit the throttle, the pump did its job and filled my engine compartment with water. Only to be pumped out and bone dry when I stopped.

Wasn't my first mistake on a boat, won't be my last!

 

[brnewbie]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Way to go dad! Just kidding. We have all had our "moments". Maybe you got water into the oil. Maybe you fried the starter. Hopefully you got lucky.

I don't think I fried the starter because the engine fires right up and idles nice. If there is water in the oil, what is remedy for that?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

If there is water in the oil, what is remedy for that?

Check the oil. If it is translucent brown carmel color it is probably fine. If it has any milky brownish whitish look to it change the oil and filter once or twice and it should be fine.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

My boat passed my car on the way to the ramp one of our first times out.

I'll say nothing further

 

[DixieBoatN]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Don't beat yourself up. Mistakes are the price you pay for knowledge.

As for the motor, it usually takes a LOT more to really over heat one. I doubt that you damaged it. It is great that you discovered the issue before embarking in a full day out on the lake resulting in a cracked head or worse.

As for flooding the motor, I used to be into offroading. I submerged motors all the way almost up to the intake. As long as you did not take water into the intake, you are fine. If you had come close to taking water into the intake, your boat would be on the bottom. The worst damage you can do from submerging a motor (but not taking water into the intake) is to electrical components. Distributor caps like to crack and other electrical components like to fail. It does not sound like you took on enough water to be in danger of any of these issues. The starter does not have power running through it unless you are cranking, so as long as it was dry enough when you tried to crank it, it will likely not be a problem.

Do as others said. Check the oil. Actually, change it. Who knows when it was last changed. Check other fluids also to make sure that you do not have water intrusion. Hook up the lines that were unhooked, tighten clamps and call it good.

As for taking family out on the first run... I don't do it. If I even suspect a problem, I do not take my family out. They are almost like a bad luck charm. You'll get stranded on the water when you least need to (kids and wife in the boat whining the whole time). Make sure all is worked out and no problems exist before you take the whole family out again and it'll be a blast!

 

[brnewbie]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

Everyone is making me feel better. Misery loves company. There is so much to remember, I was thinking about developing a step by step checklist for everytime I take the boat out so I won't forget to do something. The thing you realize is that even forgetting the smallest thing can cost $$ but also the safety of your passengers. I am definitely going to take a refresher on the boating course and bring my two oldest kids along with me.

It's funny, you mentioned the kids and wife whining. Here we are gurgling toward the ramp and I am hoping we can make it back without sinking the boat. I am in total panic mode. My wife told me my face was as white as a ghost and my two year old has a smile on his face as he points at the wake behind the boat. I have finally reached the stage where I can laugh about it.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

If our moments on board weren't priceless; we wouldn't go broke chasing them.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

You're right - making a list and doing it the same every time is the best way to make sure it all gets done - laminate it. Then at the end - have everyone all chime in and ask if the plug is in.

Just make sure you have a spare car key on the boat and a spare boat key in the car.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

I had a guy that did the same thing last week with a 27 foot Wellcraft..
He bought it and had a buddy drive it from the marina to his dock.
They wondered why the temp gauge was reading 260...

The marina had winterized it and left the water intake hose off the engine mounted raw water pump..
It ended up killing the impeller and cooked the water pump on the front of the motor..
Total cost for being a newbie,550 bucks....He was lucky!

I think you came out way better...don't beat yourself up..

One of my first boats was on an Easy loader roller trailer.My first launch was onto the concrete ramp...Not a pretty sight in the rear view mirror!

 

[MudSkunk]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

dont worry you are making your kids better boaters!! i grew up like that. my dad leaving the plug out several times fully sinking the family boat once. getting stuck on ramps launchingthe boat without a line actually tied to the boat. and on and on. made me a better boater now that i have my first new boat

good tip: get the wife involved, teach her to operate the boat. get her to go to the boater coarse as well. if you are knocked ou tof the boat by hitting an underwater object you need someone to help come get ya. plus having her able to operate the boat and such makes launching and recovery infinately easier.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Idiot new boater hall of fame

I just remembered my other good one from a couple weeks ago......I tried to crank my boat onto the trailer with it still tied to the dock! I was cranking and cranking like a mad man and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't go that one last foot. Dulp!