2000 Stroker 300XS -Black Creek Lives Matter - Pat Paulsen for Pres.
Going out by myself on an early spring day. Back the boat down to the ramp. Unhook the bow. Hook one end of a rope to the boat, the other end to the trailer-except for some reason I hooked both ends to the boat. Back it down launch and off it floats. Wind blows it further and further away. Cold spring day so not going to swim for it. Only one other trailer at the ramp and luckily he was still in sight in the cove. Took me to my boat. We all got a laugh. Haven't done that again.
2000 520vx Ranger
250 PRO XS
SERIAL#2B115788/ 25P Fury 4/ 25P Fury 3 blade
After being out fishing for around 8 hours I came back in to load all by myself and as I had just tied off to the dock a local club TX was coming in to weigh. So I got into a hurry as to not hold them up. I was trying to back the trailer down to fast and it got crossed up so in pulling back up to fast I hit the edge of a concrete ramp walk way with the edge of my Dodge 1500 front tire.... BOOM...! there I sit with a blown front tire. now embarrassed and angry I pull back up into parking lot to change the tire. I get the jack out and again in a hurry I place it in the wrong spot. I get the flat tire off but the jack will not go high enough to get the fully inflated spare on. now I have a truck that is jacked up and no front tire on it. once the club guys were done a couple came over and helped me out and got my tire changed and I went back and got my boat. by the time i left I was the only truck left in the lot... Will never hurry again!!! you guys will just have to wait on me. hehe
2001 Triton TR176DC, Mercury 125hp, Lowrance HDS9 gen3 & HDS7 gen2
Forgetting to reconnect the lines to the remote oil tank after removing/refilling the tank. Blew an XR2 power head that way. The motor had a tank on top of it but apparently it wasn't pressurized unless the remote tank was hooked up. Headed from the SE section of Okeechobee to another location at about 60mph when the motor died. Turning the key only resulted in losing all the lights. When the motor finally cranked it sounded like a barrel full of bolts rattling. That's when I found the disconnected oil tank. Limped back to the ramp with the trolling motor (long 2+ hours) and off to the dealership in Clewiston. Luckily, Mercury covered it under warranty.
Less than a year later the replaced power head was damaged when a wrist pin snap ring wallowed out the piston groove and took out that cylinder. $1500 on that repair (no warranty on the replaced power head). What goes around comes around, I guess.
Pulled out of the ramp, making the mental checklist making sure everything is done. My friend asks me if I latched the winch (what a random thing to ask). Stop on the side of the road, no I sure didn't. Thank goodness for friends. Her question on facebook that day: what does a man think when he sees two women alone boating? Many answers were "HEAD FOR THE SHORE!"
Loading and unloading alone is good aerobic activity b/c I know my heart rate is a 150 worrying that something will go wrong!
GIRL (well okay old lady) POWER! Proud I have a boat and learning everyday!
Laughing at and thankful for the above lists.
I have a very bad habit of forgetting to take the motor stabilizer clips so I am able to back off the trailer but then can't steer the boat. Not the end of the world, but freaks me out every time I do it...lol!
On my small aluminum boat I forgot to disconnect the winch strap before pushing the boat off into the water and the winch handle whipped around and hit me smack dead center on the elbow. That really hurt.
Take your girlfriend fishing
Yea, the boat I now have has these. Fishing a tournament with my great friend who is 78, backed him in the water, he cranks up to pull the boat over to the bank but won't turn. He luckily drifts away from the boat behind him to the bank. I get in he says, "It won't turn" I go back and take off the stabilizer's off all is good. It's not the only time I've done this. I hate learning to have a new boat.
Rocket
Only 2 things I've ever done are leaving the TM down and getting a tidal wave of water over the bow and the other was not putting the truck in park and not setting the parking brake. When I loaded the boat, and bumped the front stop it was enough to jar it and get the truck and trailer to roll backwards into the lake....well almost into the lake. Jumped out just in time to save it. 31" rear tire, bumper and exhaust pipe were totally underwater.
I went to retrieve my boat after a full day on the delta, but didn't pay attention that I was doing so at LOW tide. Ramp was nothing but slippery seaweed and I dunked my Ford Ranger to the front wheels. Luckily another guy at the ramp was available and pulled me out. That was 25 years ago, but sometimes it feels like yesterday.
First time hauling my first boat the tongue wasn't locked down on the ball. Result; huge dent in my minivan tailgate. Lesson learned; feel for resistance while locking down and if in doubt look to see if the ball is secure.
Never underestimate the weight of a boat on an incline. My first boat was a 16' aluminum. Since I was still getting used to backing a trailer, I figured I would push the boat the rest of the way into the garage. More damage to said minivan.
Don't overfill your battery. That sulfuric acid stuff is nasty.
Always remember to swing the trailer jack up once all weight is on the ball. Makes for a smoother & quieter ride.
Always carry a spare hitch pin. Never know when you will forget to check the lock on your main pin and it falls off while on the road. I've got a long receiver and short safety chains, so the ball mount slid back and the chains just barely kept it from coming off the receiver. Had to unhitch, drive a couple miles home to get another pin.
Always have a bailer / bilge on the boat. My outboard T-boned a waterlogged wooden plank that was just beneath the surface. This caused a tsunami to form behind me and swamped my jon boat. All I had onboard was a hand towel.
Never wear boxers and go flat out in the chop. Trust me on this boys!!!
2000 Bass Cat Pantera Classic
Mercury 200 EFI (0G374590)
26P Trophy Plus / Garmin Force / Garmin EchoMAP / Dual Power Pole Pro Series II
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin
Left the trolling motor down during departure - maybe more than once.
Took my (then) 8yo daughter out for an afternoon on the water. Ended with a 40 minute slow ride back to the ramp via trolling motor due to the drive motor not starting, only to discover the kill switch is not in its full upright and engaged position....sheesh.
2018 18 TRX
Switching fuel tanks with the button on the dash. After running out of gas and getting towed in, finding out the fuel tank switch is in the bilge area. The button on the dash just switches fuel gage!!
I bought 2 boats. 2008 Lowe 180w and 2008 triton tr186.
Having more than 1 rod on the deck the first time the dog went out on the boat.....that was a long morning.