Waffle
Seaman
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2007
- Messages
- 64
We hadn't been out properly yet this year and I finally decided no more excuses, we're going to decent sized water. I had to jump start the boat in the driveway and let it run at idle for about an hour while i got things ship shape. Cut the engine and it popped right back over, so I disconnected the muffs and washed down the deck. Had the coolers full, got some 4 dollar fuel and picked up Subway on the way to the launch.
We had never been on a weekend. Thought since the week before was Labor day everyone was boated out. Wrong. In front of us at launch was a baja with through the hull exhaust. I thought to myself, great, going to have to listen to this guy's engine all day. They pulled out and we dropped her into the water. I had to go park somewhere I never knew existed because the lot was full. I heard the Baja in the background as I hurried down to the curtesy dock to get the heck out of the way. I jumped in the boat and fired her up. Through the fog that is concentrating on staying out and getting out of the way, i finally looked up as my wife was casting us off. I realized The Baja wasn't making noise anymore. Plumes of black, brown and orange smoke poured from the back of her and I decided that the no wake zone might best be ignored for the moment. Dropped the hammer and was on plane on an intercept course with the disabled boat. Someone was a little closer and plucked the guy from the water before we got there. I knew the other guy was safe because we parked close to each other and made our way down to the lake.
I have to admit that since everyone was okay that it was alright to chuckle a bit at their misfortune. The day would be quiter on the lake. We held our position about 1000 feet from the inferno. I left the engine at high idle to further charge the batteries.
The crowd that gathered had that part of the lake a virtual gawking session that no one was ashamed to witness. We all knew it can happen to us as well. There was a jet boat that showed up and put on a cool display of trying to extinguish the fire. He would get into position and gun it , sometimes a hit, sometimes a miss. About 45 minutes went by before a fireboat showed up. I think a couple more passes by the jetboat would have put it out, because these guys aimed the hose like a sailor that had drank a fifth of rum if you know what I mean.
Drama was over so I put her into gear and was heading toward the dam at the south end of the lake. I ran her hard because I know this lake by the back of my hand, no need to worry about hidden obstacles. There is an underpass for a road that is an idle zone. I took her down to idle and the boat didn't feel right. Vibration felt like it was coming from the bow!
I put it in neutral and went to put it back into gear. and more of the strange rumbling. Shut off the engine. Restarted and it seems it started in gear but no prop rotation. Knew the day was done.
Meanwhile my wife has gone full tilt birzirk. Never ever ever tell your wife to shut up in a situation like this, it's best to try and block it out and focus on what you need to do to improve your situation. Telling her to shut it will not improve your situation. We are drifting towards a row of moored boats in heavy breeze. Starboard side going to take the brunt. If the boats would have been backed into slips it would have been much easier to push off. But they weren't. How many outdrives and hulls am I going to have to replace. Why didn't I have two freaking boat hooks? Found an oar and a guy that asked us if we were broke down. Avoided the collisions, but it was close.
Took everything I had to not tell the guy "naaaah we like to drift and run into other boats while my wife has burned a hole through my skull with her eyes.
part 2 later
We had never been on a weekend. Thought since the week before was Labor day everyone was boated out. Wrong. In front of us at launch was a baja with through the hull exhaust. I thought to myself, great, going to have to listen to this guy's engine all day. They pulled out and we dropped her into the water. I had to go park somewhere I never knew existed because the lot was full. I heard the Baja in the background as I hurried down to the curtesy dock to get the heck out of the way. I jumped in the boat and fired her up. Through the fog that is concentrating on staying out and getting out of the way, i finally looked up as my wife was casting us off. I realized The Baja wasn't making noise anymore. Plumes of black, brown and orange smoke poured from the back of her and I decided that the no wake zone might best be ignored for the moment. Dropped the hammer and was on plane on an intercept course with the disabled boat. Someone was a little closer and plucked the guy from the water before we got there. I knew the other guy was safe because we parked close to each other and made our way down to the lake.
I have to admit that since everyone was okay that it was alright to chuckle a bit at their misfortune. The day would be quiter on the lake. We held our position about 1000 feet from the inferno. I left the engine at high idle to further charge the batteries.
The crowd that gathered had that part of the lake a virtual gawking session that no one was ashamed to witness. We all knew it can happen to us as well. There was a jet boat that showed up and put on a cool display of trying to extinguish the fire. He would get into position and gun it , sometimes a hit, sometimes a miss. About 45 minutes went by before a fireboat showed up. I think a couple more passes by the jetboat would have put it out, because these guys aimed the hose like a sailor that had drank a fifth of rum if you know what I mean.
Drama was over so I put her into gear and was heading toward the dam at the south end of the lake. I ran her hard because I know this lake by the back of my hand, no need to worry about hidden obstacles. There is an underpass for a road that is an idle zone. I took her down to idle and the boat didn't feel right. Vibration felt like it was coming from the bow!
I put it in neutral and went to put it back into gear. and more of the strange rumbling. Shut off the engine. Restarted and it seems it started in gear but no prop rotation. Knew the day was done.
Meanwhile my wife has gone full tilt birzirk. Never ever ever tell your wife to shut up in a situation like this, it's best to try and block it out and focus on what you need to do to improve your situation. Telling her to shut it will not improve your situation. We are drifting towards a row of moored boats in heavy breeze. Starboard side going to take the brunt. If the boats would have been backed into slips it would have been much easier to push off. But they weren't. How many outdrives and hulls am I going to have to replace. Why didn't I have two freaking boat hooks? Found an oar and a guy that asked us if we were broke down. Avoided the collisions, but it was close.
Took everything I had to not tell the guy "naaaah we like to drift and run into other boats while my wife has burned a hole through my skull with her eyes.
part 2 later
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