First ride of round 2. Wife surfing, me driving, no more than 10 gal. into our full fuel load. We had had been surfing port side all day, which I feel is important only because, in my old D-Drive, the fuel tank is straight across the entire width of the stern. The pick up is located at the starboard aft corner of the tank. With 600 in the trunk, 200 on the floor in front of the tank, 500 in VAB in the corner, 200 in VAB in the observer slot, the wake was as nice as it ever had been. 
...sputter sputter duhhhhhn.
"Sorry Baby, you gotta swim back."
"Why?"
"Boat won't start. Don't know why."
Some nice folks (local slalom gods) in their Nautique pulled out of their kiddie tube session to come and check on us. I thanked her and just requested that she go ahead and let the kids ride and once they were done and if we were still floating around, maybe could they come and check on us. In the mean time, I'll get to work. She rode the kids over to the beach and sent the fellas over to lend a tow. Super good guys. Rolled up with a proper rope ready to go. I barely had time to drain the ballast before they got there. It was a short ride over to the ramp so I almost reluctantly accepted his offer with a sigh and a, "Ya, I need a tow." As I tied up the line I had to ask, "How come you guys aren't over in the course?"
"Just being lazy. You're givin us something to do."
"Glad to be of service," I replied.
With the tow line holding steady, I decided to grab a cold one and enjoy the ride. Went for the cooler, stepped on my glasses, which I had taken off so that I wouldn't drop them in the lake while hooking up the tow line! Grrr! Tried to bend them back and TINK!, lens cracks. Straight to the trash, open cooler, grab beer. Sit my *** on the platform, drag my feet in the cool water and start sippin. Meanwhile, my crew is gigglin their happy asses off at Captain Grumpy. I had to laugh. As bad as that situation could be, it couldn't be any better. Well, minus the glasses. Them things were done anyways and I just picked up a nice new pair of RayBans today so that part worked out good already.
Anyways, Joe Slalom pulls us in for a perfect drop off right up to the dock. I pull the quick release on my knot, float by just close enough for me to hand them the line and throw a $20 in their boat.
"You didn't have to do that," he said.
"Neither did you. Thank you."
Got the boat on no worries. Stopped for ice cream on the way back. Had just enough time to get cleaned up and get to the ballgame. Row 1 & 2, right behind home plate with 12 friends. Ended up being a pretty good birthday.
So ya, the boat. It's only "not started" once. It ended up being a clog in the check valve at the tank pick up. It requires dis-assembling the entire rear interior panels just to get to it. I can do it with a screw gun in about five minutes but, with a boat load of crew and gear and a screw driver, its a bitch. I took the tow. Hopefully I'll be able to get it blown out tomorrow night.
Until then, looking for thoughts and opinions on tanks, pick ups, lines, fittings, filters, what not. Hotrod guys, bulletproof fuel system hardware? Links?
...sputter sputter duhhhhhn. "Sorry Baby, you gotta swim back."
"Why?"
"Boat won't start. Don't know why."
Some nice folks (local slalom gods) in their Nautique pulled out of their kiddie tube session to come and check on us. I thanked her and just requested that she go ahead and let the kids ride and once they were done and if we were still floating around, maybe could they come and check on us. In the mean time, I'll get to work. She rode the kids over to the beach and sent the fellas over to lend a tow. Super good guys. Rolled up with a proper rope ready to go. I barely had time to drain the ballast before they got there. It was a short ride over to the ramp so I almost reluctantly accepted his offer with a sigh and a, "Ya, I need a tow." As I tied up the line I had to ask, "How come you guys aren't over in the course?"
"Just being lazy. You're givin us something to do."
"Glad to be of service," I replied.
With the tow line holding steady, I decided to grab a cold one and enjoy the ride. Went for the cooler, stepped on my glasses, which I had taken off so that I wouldn't drop them in the lake while hooking up the tow line! Grrr! Tried to bend them back and TINK!, lens cracks. Straight to the trash, open cooler, grab beer. Sit my *** on the platform, drag my feet in the cool water and start sippin. Meanwhile, my crew is gigglin their happy asses off at Captain Grumpy. I had to laugh. As bad as that situation could be, it couldn't be any better. Well, minus the glasses. Them things were done anyways and I just picked up a nice new pair of RayBans today so that part worked out good already.
Anyways, Joe Slalom pulls us in for a perfect drop off right up to the dock. I pull the quick release on my knot, float by just close enough for me to hand them the line and throw a $20 in their boat.
"You didn't have to do that," he said.
"Neither did you. Thank you."
Got the boat on no worries. Stopped for ice cream on the way back. Had just enough time to get cleaned up and get to the ballgame. Row 1 & 2, right behind home plate with 12 friends. Ended up being a pretty good birthday.
So ya, the boat. It's only "not started" once. It ended up being a clog in the check valve at the tank pick up. It requires dis-assembling the entire rear interior panels just to get to it. I can do it with a screw gun in about five minutes but, with a boat load of crew and gear and a screw driver, its a bitch. I took the tow. Hopefully I'll be able to get it blown out tomorrow night.
Until then, looking for thoughts and opinions on tanks, pick ups, lines, fittings, filters, what not. Hotrod guys, bulletproof fuel system hardware? Links?
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