My first boat launch

[madurodave]

I grew up around boats. We fished and played on the water all summer, every year. So buying my first boat 5 years ago was no big deal. My 12 year old and I went and picked up our new fishing rig, a 14' Jon boat with a 1982 9.9 Johnson motor. He and I spent the better part of two weekends fixing her up. We were both very excited and couldn't wait to go catch some crappie.

We get up one early saturday morning and drive to Reelfoot lake. I take off the straps and back her down the ramp. Oppsss... I forgot the plug and we fill up the boat with water. Instead of putting in the plug and bailing, I jump in the truck and stop the gas pedal. When I did this, I bent the trailer right in half. My son is almost in tears as am I. I look at him seriously and said, no biggie Zach. Let's bail and go fishing. We tore up the trailer, not the end of the World!

Se we go catch some crappie and the whole time I am thinking to myself, how in the heck am I going to get this boat home (1.5 hrs away)? I had my company truck at the time, a long wheel base truck, so I get it all loaded and we finally make it home. But before leaving, we canabalized the tore up trailer. You would not believe some of the loks I got (well deserved). I felt like such an IDIOT!

Anyway, fast forward to 7 weeks ago. I bring home my 21' boat and decide to sell the jon boat (minus a trailer . Sold it for what I paid!! The buyer asks, "Why no trailer?" My boy just looked and me and started laughing so hard, he was almost crying. We both start laughing and this buyer is starting to find himself laughing and has no idea why.

We explain and had a big time in the driveway for the longest time, reliving this time with a total stranger. Needless to say, I check the plug at least 3 or 4 times!

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: My first boat launch

It was probably not funny at the time, but you and your son will be laughing about this for years to come.

Years ago I had an 18 Searay Bowrider and forgot the plug but that was not the funny part.
We are on a 725 acre lake and I don't realize the plug is out till we are half way across the lake.
Cant' figure out why we are having so much trouble getting up on plane.....then it dawns on me.
Frantically I yell "Everybody to the bow"
I get a blank stare from them and I repeat myself again with the word NOW at the end.
I nail the throttle and make a bee-line for the launch we end up banging up the prop a bit but all is well.
The kids still laugh and joke about it every time we go out.