Long and short of it!

[Labman]

My neighbor called me this morning, and asked if I could come over. This in it's self is a little unusual. I go over, but upon arriving, I sense all is not well. My neighbor, who is generally quite candid and loud, is being more than a little sheepish.
Now on with the whole story:
July long weekend, neighbor and family is camping/fishing (16' Misty River 50hp. Merc.), at an area lake, 16yr. old son gets warning ticket for no Boaters card. Dad mouths off to me about Gov. interference and yadayada---
Two weeks ago neighbor is bragging to me about #1 16yr. old son getting card! Only one wrong, finished exam quickest and yadayada--
Seems Dad figured, now son has card he is a Boater, lets son and his cousin take boat out by themselves yesterday.
The story is that the throttle stuck in WOT, the boat slammed into a rocky shoreline, both boys thrown from boat. Of course the cousin was hurt the worst, teeth through lip, broken nose, concussion,broken wrist. Son has a few bruises, a black eye and not much else.
Neighbors BIL was not real impressed, neighbor now also has black eye.
Neighbor would like me to come back with my TIG to repair hull and hole in Merc. leg, too bad I can't just Duct tape the Safe Boaters card over it!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Long and short of it!

Lucky that wasn't a 90HP Merc. Ouch. I can't believe the boat is repairable.

 

[Labman]

Re: Long and short of it!

Went over last night, to atempt repairs. Spent about 3hrs with large hammer, trying to get the bow and keel to line up, then try to get the splits close enough to weld. the hull must have been pre-stressed, as everytime I get it where I need it to be, it moves. Motor will need a new leg, no amount of welding is going to fix this thing.
NO Insurance
Going back today to finish buffing and tigging some of last nights repair.

 

[Labman]

Re: Long and short of it!

Update;
Removed motor(now junk), and everything from boat. 3 of us took it off the trailer and turned it upside down, set it on concrete driveway, looks like a bananna or maybe a wide stern canoe, kneeled down to take a sight line along the hull, it has 3 twists from about 5' from the stern to the bow.
Boat Broke, I'm done, no wonder I couldn't get the gaps to close.

 

[ne7800]

Re: Long and short of it!

kids and boats don't mix unless the kid has been boating all there lives and is responsible i wen't boating when i was that age but had been in boats sence i was 5 and my dad was in the coast gaurd and always drilled boat saftey in to our heads

 

[mthieme]

Re: Long and short of it!

I'm wrestling with this now. My 9 YO grandson who lives with us is anxious to be bigger than his breeches. I've been teaching him a little at a time, but he's nowhere near ready to solo. I got a 14' McKee Craft this season for him to grow into. Like a Whaler, it's foam.
I grew up with boats. When I was 5, I was navigating our 31' sailboat. Of course dad was on board to supervise, but I have this advantage.

 

[INJUN]

Re: Long and short of it!

Logic would have them to stop the fuel from flowing to the engine.

 

[Splat]

Re: Long and short of it!

Me thinks the throttle didn't really stick

Just sounds too perfect, first time out and suddenly a massive failure? Don't think so

Bill

 

[cribber]

Re: Long and short of it!

Just gotta say oops... own it.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Long and short of it!

Both of my boats let the ignition turn to "off" even if the throttle is WOT.

They just screwed up. But your neighbor is a complete idiot.

 

[pipes]

Re: Long and short of it!

Throttle stuck wide open! Oh thats original!

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Long and short of it!

And why drive onto a rocky shoreline with a stuck throttle. Why not just turn... and go another way.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Long and short of it!

Yeah, I've never seen a boat where steering was a function of throttle. Ignition switches? Yeah, they still work too.

Of course, every time my throttle sticks, my immediate reaction is to head to the nearest rocky shore.

If I'm in a car when the throttle sticks, I try to look for large cliffs...

 

[j_martin]

Re: Long and short of it!

Yeah, I've never seen a boat where steering was a function of throttle. Ignition switches? Yeah, they still work too.

Of course, every time my throttle sticks, my immediate reaction is to head to the nearest rocky shore.

If I'm in a car when the throttle sticks, I try to look for large cliffs...

My teenage boy got after me about why insurance costs' so much. I said it's simple math and logic. You're 16. That means you're way long on testosteone and way short on experience.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Long and short of it!

Yeah, I've never seen a boat where steering was a function of throttle. Ignition switches? Yeah, they still work too.

Of course, every time my throttle sticks, my immediate reaction is to head to the nearest rocky shore.

If I'm in a car when the throttle sticks, I try to look for large cliffs...

LOL! When my car throttle sticks, I usually look for large trees, telephone poles, fire hydrants, etc!!!

 

[Labman]

Re: Long and short of it!

I am more apt to believe, that there was a dead short between the brain and throttle in this case, the kid wrecks everything he touches. The kids are all back in school now, perhaps things (quads,dirt bikes) will settle down now.