Stupid Things You've Done (or not done)

[hopps1945]

TING TING TING TING TING as the prop hit the concrete ramp. So, I managed to ding the prop literally within one minute of launching on the maiden voyage of our brand new boat.

Same kinda thing last year after we bought our boat. September, the weather was still nice. Had it out a few times but always launched on the right side of the dock. One of the people on the boat needed to use the restroom so I came in on the left side. No problem. Dropped them, backed out a bit and cranked it to the left. Well, I still wasn't quite used to the throttle and accidentally gunned it a bit, the boat came around nice but the prop clipped bottom. Luckily that was our last day out. It was an expensive start to our boating career!

[WakerideN]

X2, but then we wouldn't have fodder for future versions of this thread

ahaha.. my boat is kept inside 24x7 unless i am using it.. hence why I can leave the plug in. lol

[Duncan]

... I secured the wrench with my forearm ... my arm slipped ... and the tension pully spring launched the butt end of the wrench into my forehead .... . my 4yo gave me the deer in the headlights look and told me it wasnt bad ... huge track of blood .... My 4yo was being "brave for me" so I wouldn't be scared with all the blood.

I laughed out loud at this one Ewok. Great story

[Stingreye]

Well..... stupidest thing I have done was rushing (there's a theme) and grabbing the nearest container to drain the fuel/water separator......

32 oz Styrofoam cup

The gas disintegrated the cup as quickly as it touched it. Then I had flash backs of a grade school project of building the solar system. I spray painted the Styrofoam planets and it melted everything.

And add me to the list of forgetting the plug on my old bayliner.

[cpropes2005]

One time after driving for everyone else I got my board on and jumped in the water to take my set. Wife went to start the boat and nothing so I climb back in and start tearing things apart. I pulled everything out of storage so I could get to the batteries and checked/tightened all of the connections at the battery, I opened up the engine cover, checked the starter, etc. We were several miles up river late in the evening with no one around so after about 30 minutes I am starting to get nervous about how we are going to get back to the ramp. Finally I glance over at the driver’s seat and the throttle was in gear. Pulled it back to neutral and it fired right up.

[viking]

Isn't forgetting to put the drain plug in almost an initiation to boat ownership??
Hate to mention that I've come close more than once but the first was the "big whoops" moment.
My wife pulls the trailer out (after I back it down to the ramp and partially in the water) and I jump in the boat and back it off the trailer. Well one of the first times using our DD I had my three kids with me and just turned the radio on to chill and listen to music while we float and wait for "mom" to get back to the dock and pick her up. This is when I hear water running and calmly look over the side of the boat only to find a strong stream of water coming from the through hull! I think for a moment and then it hit me.......OH SH*%......the plug.
the drain on my DD is in the middle of the boat under the engine. I look up to tell my wife to back in so I can get on the trailer and put the plug in but by now she is a good 300yards away finding a parking spot and the next guy is launching.
So I pull open the motorbox door and looks like a fountain, motor idling, and she is filling fast. I'm thinking OH great, here I'm going to sink my new boat in front of the loading ramp with my precious cargo!! I kept the boat running figuring at worst cast scenerio I'll run it aground if I can't get the plug in. It took a few contortionist moves but I finally got the threads started and the bleeding stopped.
I've never been so nervous and then so thankful all in the matter of about 5 minutes.

[Joeprunc]

I lost my boat on the freeway. It merged to the middle lane and passed me doing 60 mph. Wasn't entirely my fault, the previous owners back yard trailer modification welds failed.
And no I did not have a change of shorts, it was a glorious day.

[kx250frider617]

This is something I McGyver'd. At the time, my uncle owned the tige and it was being stored in Lake Havasu. He paid me to go pick it up and drive it back home, but i decided to make a trip out of it and invited friends to come along for a few days. Anyway, we get out there and he forgot to mention that he hit a under water obstacle bending the rudder up into the hull. It was just slightly bent but the top edge was hitting the hull making it impossible to steer. I didn't want to throw away our trip so I grabbed two HUGE ratchet straps and attached both from the rudder, under the trailer, and to the hitch of my truck. I just started cranking on them as hard as possible and actually got the rudder bent into a usable position. We ended up finishing our trip with a bent rudder and expired registration, sticker left at home. We also, got a flat on the way home.

I bet you can imagine how it was working on the rudder in 120+ degree heat, but i was determined. The boat then got sent to tige and had the rudder replaced.

[bryce2320]

I've got another one. 3 weeks ago, I get my board out of the rack and hurry up to get in the water to take a set. Shortly after I get pulled up and start riding, i see everyone in the boat looking at my buddy and my ol lady killed the throttle. When I got my board out, I didnt strap my back up board back in and it popped out under way. Needless to say, my buddy had a good sized knot on his head from it hitting him, and my new vinyl had a new 1/2" to 3/4" gash. Shitty thing is is that it was the 2nd time to happen within 2 weeks of each other. I was pretty pissed at myself, and I doubt I forget to strap a board in again.

[houstonshark]

We've done the same thing more times than I can remember Bryce. What's cool is that the Seadek in the clamping board racks actually holds the boards quite well. We've gone for complete sets and not realized that we didn't clamp the board back in without losing one.

[jslayde1]

I lost my boat on the freeway. It merged to the middle lane and passed me doing 60 mph. Wasn't entirely my fault, the previous owners back yard trailer modification welds failed.
And no I did not have a change of shorts, it was a glorious day.

Mother of pearl - I would of had to change my shorts.....

[Duncan]

Ahh trailer accidents.

Ten years ago, I was towing a 22 foot sailboat (cat ketch sprit rig New Haven Sharpy day sailer with all teak interior) from Cincy to St Louis. The trailer was older and I never (NEVER NEVER) should have trusted it. By early evening, most of the trip was done, two hours outside of St Louis, and I hear a terrible shrieking sound. The rear view mirror shows smoke pouring off the right rear tire. Slowed and pulled over to find a bolt securing the axle had sheared, the axle and wheel slipped back with the wheel digging into fender and then part of the hull.

Called a tow/repair shop who came and picked me up, ran to his shop for a new wheel and hardware and patched it up. Plan was to tow it slowly back to his shop. Fatefully I asked, "what about the other side". To which the guy answered, it should be fine, it is a short trip and what are the odds? He seemed competent, so I believed him (dumb dumb dumb).

He leads and I pull out at about 45 mph with flashers going headed to the next exit. A short while later, a horrendous screeching of metal on metal, metal on asphalt, tearing of metal on fiberglass, and smoking rubber. The left side had sheared but more everything cut lose throwing the axle and tire back at 45 degrees, punching metal up through the hull, digging into the road, and eating the tire. I now had a giant turning brake on the left side resulting in the entire trailer quickly sliding out into the next lane and upcoming traffic.

In my rear mirror I see a massive semi hauling at full highway speed coming on fast. In that moment, I thought I might actually die. (pause for breath, I am still not quite over this ...).

So I started controlled braking and shifting the truck and trailer onto the shoulder but it was not enough clearance. I still had some speed (this all took only seconds), so I started to slide the truck into the ditch (of course it was a ditch and not flat). Truck slid down and curved a little back up and out, leaving the mangled trailer and savaged sail boat sitting still in the ditch and off the road.

Repair dude came back with wide eyes after watching the whole debacle in his mirrors. I reassured him it had been my decision and I did not place blame on him. We left the boat there for the night, he came back with a flat bed the next day. I never saw that boat again. The damage was so massive to the hull and trailer that it far eclipsed its value. I miss that boat.

And it took a looooong time to be able to tow a trailer without waves of anxiety.

[Joeprunc]

Duncan I know what you mean about towing anxiety, I am always on edge the entire time with anything in tow. Every time I drive by the spot I lost my boat I get goose bumps.

Next weekend will be the first time in two years that I will be towing my boat, and I get to do it solo.

[Duncan]

Duncan I know what you mean about towing anxiety, I am always on edge the entire time with anything in tow. Every time I drive by the spot I lost my boat I get goose bumps.

Next weekend will be the first time in two years that I will be towing my boat, and I get to do it solo.

Solo might be better--the first time I towed our RZ2 in 2009 I did so alone. My hands were sore after the 30 minute trip from gripping the wheel so tightly. My poor wife was very patient the next several times we towed; she just sat quietly with no radio (first season we tripped from St Louis to Lake Norfork, see story above). I swear, I should have gone to counseling for PTSD

Now we have a short multiple tows every weekend. I have a safety check done on the trailer every off season, keep the tires less then four years old, and replace all straps every other season. I can tow now without "anxiety" but it took awhile.

Good luck on your upcoming solo tow!

[Ruger761]

So far only things were:

Plug on a jet ski--good thing it would go fast enough i got all the water back out and brother got trailer into the water for me quick

Dinged one prop on a rock on our old boat.

Tube rope kinda explains itself there

Towing Im pretty good there until I approach the 18-22K mark on the trailer weight. Pulling an 18K backhoe up a hill at the lake, truck tires started spinning on blacktop at the top of the hill in low gear. Had to back it back down and unload it. Drive the back hoe up the hill and load it back up. Scared the sh*t outa me and burned the h*ll outa the brakes coming back down slowly.

Did snap a leaf spring on the Extreme trailer few weeks ago but didnt really shock me that much.