Stupid but avoidable mistakes.

[Iwndr]

I bet it is standard policy to remove the drain plug. It's been taught to me to remove it every time the boat comes out of the water. Reason is to drain whatever water may be in the bilge, look for any petroleum based leaks in the bilge (the water draining will have a sheen to it), to reduce the moisture that could be trapped and form mildew when you put the cover on the boat, and to avoid this kind of mess:



Here is the thread where that picture came from. It filled up with rainwater over the winter when the owner didn't check on the boat very regularly. Of course this is the extreme but it can happen. If he had removed the drain plug this wouldn't have happened.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...t=left+plug+in

pretty much the law now because of mussels........

[Iwndr]

that boat had to be almost full when he found it.... Ouch poor guy I remember when he posted that up. never really heard whatever happened to it. if it was restored or.......

[mls6722]

I watched two guys launching (or trying to) a 24 ft cabin cruiser. When I walked up, the stern was in the water and one guy was on the swim step leaning over the back, head underwater, attempting to remove the trailer tie downs. The bilge pumps were discharging full streams of water. I yelled to him that the plug was not installed. His reply was "yea, we just got it back from the dealer and I don't know what he did to it". I'm pretty sure he had no idea what a plug was. I walked over and told him to pull it out and then showed him where the plug goes. Not sure if he knew where his plug was. Remember when you are boating, that other boat might be operated by someone like this guy.

[IDBoating]

Yep, plug comes out on the ramp and goes back in on the ramp every single time. My wife and I remind each other and double check each other on this every time. It's part of our "back of the boat, manage the trailer straps" routine.

That photo is scary. If the constant humidity did THAT to the upholstery, just imagine what it did to the console electronics (which still "look" OK) and the engine (which is probably almost completely submerged). It's probably a total writeoff.

[IDBoating]

Remember when you are boating, that other boat might be operated by someone like this guy.

I often say "It doesn't take a brain to own a boat, just money." And there are a LOT of stupid people with money.

That quote is proven almost every day we're on the water by people who follow too close behind a surfer, cut too close/too fast near people's docks, turn too tight with tubers such that the rope goes slack and then slams taut again, etc. etc. etc.

[Iwndr]

Yep, plug comes out on the ramp and goes back in on the ramp every single time. My wife and I remind each other and double check each other on this every time. It's part of our "back of the boat, manage the trailer straps" routine.
.

The Wife and I follow the exact same routine

[luke]

The Wife and I follow the exact same routine

X3 knock on wood!!!!

[whiteflash watersports]

X4 for my wife and I

[Dave S]

After boating 30 years, I have seen and done a lot! The worst with my Tige' - first launch, this all happened in 30 seconds or less - I was in the boat, a friend was backing the trailer in, I was watching the guide post bumpers for them to go down in the water to determine depth to tell my driver to stop backing. Well, after what seemed to be that we back in really far, I looked at the truck and back tires were partially underwater, I told him to stop. Couldn't figure out why the guide posts were so high (that would only mean trailer wasn't deep enough, right?), a big wave came by and the bumpers floated off the posts and floated away. I did not know the bumpers moved up and down on the guide posts. Now, the boat was sitting there rocking back and forth between metal guide posts with no protective bumpers and I got a HUGE gouge in the side of my boat from the metal guide post scraping the side of the boat = $600 fix. After that, I zip tied the bumpers to the guide posts.

[Duncan]

Yep, plug comes out on the ramp and goes back in on the ramp every single time. My wife and I remind each other and double check each other on this every time. It's part of our "back of the boat, manage the trailer straps" routine.

Our standard ramp reminder is "Plug and Straps!" Funny enough to help us remember to shout it out

[Duncan]

Last season saw a post about keeping certain items on the boat.

That was a good thread. Having those suggested items probably helps avoid mistakes (or fix them once they happen).

Here was my list from that thread ...

Goggles/mask and a knife (I like a filet knife because of the slender tip).

Buy an air horn and keep it close to the driver -- you will need it.

Buy a box anchor (small if you do moderate windy lakes, medium of windy or river). [[I have since revised this, mostly using a mushroom anchor for breaks but still use box for longer stops]]

Upgrade your bilge pump for more capacity.

Replace impeller every two seasons.

Replace bow strap every three seasons or keep an extra close (maybe more if trailer stored outside). Use rear safety straps, if not present, install them. and change nylon every three seasons.

Replace trailer tires every 3-4 seasons no matter miles. Make sure always proper psi -- just a little pressure down makes a big difference in weight capacity and risks blowouts.

Always pick up a rider on the starboard/driver side (never ever port side).

Carry an extra plug in the boat.

Consider upgrading to an on-board battery tender/charger.

Teach your wife to back the trailer

Get a real first aid kit including a big 30 gram bag of Celox powder (and hope you never need it).

Research and buy wax, daily spray, vinyl cleaner, and vinyl conditioner. Get used to wiping everything down every time the boat comes in.

Use Sta-Bil ethanol treatment marine formula in every tank if you have to buy gas containing ethanol. It is much worse on a boat than a car because of moisture.