Planning first voyage

Rattlesnake Gal · 06-09-2010, 10:21 AM

Congratulations on your first voyage! Depending on how fast you are traveling, you should be fine. Just keep an eye to your watch.

I assume you do have working navigation lights, just in case? Darkness doesn't just fall and twilight is still very navigable, which could buy you a little more time.

Good luck and have fun!

RG

wendyg · 06-09-2010, 10:37 AM

Will definitely be keeping an eye on my watch and the skies. The kids are so exicted. Wished we could have goine out earlier, but we'll take what we can get! Can't wait!

Slickcraft · 06-09-2010, 10:40 AM

Hope you enjoy your first ride. I'll point out that most first time activities take longer than planned.

jrc · 06-09-2010, 12:02 PM

Sounds like a great ride, I'm always green with envy for a mid-week ride. Take a camera.

NoBozo · 06-09-2010, 01:58 PM

Small Things: BEFORE you launch the boat..Put The DRAIN PLUG in.

NB

OCDACTIVE · 06-09-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoBozo

BEFORE you launch the boat..Put The DRAIN PLUG in.

NB

So true... Show of hands how many people have ever done this? (mine is up)

Ok show of hands how many people have done this twice? (I would be not too many

)

wendyg · 06-09-2010, 02:50 PM

It's in the valet at MVYC so one would hope they would check that before dropping it in the water!

Kracken · 06-09-2010, 02:57 PM

I haven’t forgotten the plug…yet.

2 weeks ago I left the tie-downs on. The genius of that stunt was...I just put them on. I was being anal to actually put the straps on in the first place. I only moved the boat about 100 yards to the ramp.

Ropetow · 06-09-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

So true... Show of hands how many people have ever done this? (mine is up)

Ok show of hands how many people have done this twice? (I would be not too many

)

Yeah, I forgot the plug once or twice. Luckily it was on a 15-foot Whaler.

OCDACTIVE · 06-09-2010, 04:16 PM

This is a good story and just goes to show you even the most well planned excursions with an experienced captain can still go by the way side.

The easiest things are always the easiest forgotten.

Last year when I brought OCD to the lake for the very first time, I was so excited I was shaking. Being the way I am I knew that I may forget something so I had made a list (I have a list for everything LOL hence the name)... Anyway I go through the entire check list, remove safety straps, remove safety chain, check plugs, check gear etc etc. I was slowing myself down just so I wouldn't make an obvious error. I rechecked the list twice.

Finally when I am satisfied I back the boat in. My father jumps in the truck and I get on the tongue to slowly put her in. (thank god no one was around)

I get her rear end floating and the plan is to push her hard, jump on the bow, jump in, start her up and away I go. (I also had a 50ft safty line attached to the bow cleat before someone jumps on me)

Well I get the rear end floating and push hard, she doesn't move an inch. I try again, nothing... I figure she isn't in far enough, I have my dad back down further. The boat is floating at this point and the tires are touching the water and I am up to my knees soaking my pants. I push again and again.. Boat won't go......

I take a step back and think.. I pull my check list out and everything is perfect..

My dad jumps out and asks... Did you take off the winch line?........Oh MY!!! I fogot to unhook it from the trailer!!! It wasn't on the list!!!! LMAO.. To this day I always will remember that. Luckily it wasn't anything major but goes to show you the smallest thing can be over looked even when you are experienced.

So my advice is no matter how excited take a step back and make sure everything is 100%, better yet have a second pair of eyes helping.

OK go ahead and laugh at me..

Does anyone else want to share?

Just Sold · 06-09-2010, 05:00 PM

This happened to a family friend (Doc Bissell from Melrose, MA) many years ago. He was on in years then too. He loved to fish.
He had an late 50's early 60's International 4 door truck (looked like it had a lift kit in it) that he towed his boat with. He had it since new and in the early 80's he was backing the trailer in to launch his boat when the brakes on the truck failed.
Yup, the boat, trailer and truck went in the lake. He floated out of the truck and was pulled safely to shore. Shortly there after he had a new Chevy S10 Blazer to tow with but no one would let him launch the boat on his own any more. He had to go with someone who would launch the boat for him.

06-09-2010, 10:21 AM	#1
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	First Voyage Congratulations on your first voyage! Depending on how fast you are traveling, you should be fine. Just keep an eye to your watch. I assume you do have working navigation lights, just in case? Darkness doesn't just fall and twilight is still very navigable, which could buy you a little more time. Good luck and have fun! RG

06-09-2010, 01:58 PM	#5
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Don't Forget Small Things: BEFORE you launch the boat..Put The DRAIN PLUG in. NB

06-09-2010, 04:16 PM	#10
OCDACTIVE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fort Myers FL / Moultonboro Posts: 1,045 Thanks: 444 Thanked 574 Times in 178 Posts	hey wendy we were all new once! This is a good story and just goes to show you even the most well planned excursions with an experienced captain can still go by the way side. The easiest things are always the easiest forgotten. Last year when I brought OCD to the lake for the very first time, I was so excited I was shaking. Being the way I am I knew that I may forget something so I had made a list (I have a list for everything LOL hence the name)... Anyway I go through the entire check list, remove safety straps, remove safety chain, check plugs, check gear etc etc. I was slowing myself down just so I wouldn't make an obvious error. I rechecked the list twice. Finally when I am satisfied I back the boat in. My father jumps in the truck and I get on the tongue to slowly put her in. (thank god no one was around) I get her rear end floating and the plan is to push her hard, jump on the bow, jump in, start her up and away I go. (I also had a 50ft safty line attached to the bow cleat before someone jumps on me) Well I get the rear end floating and push hard, she doesn't move an inch. I try again, nothing... I figure she isn't in far enough, I have my dad back down further. The boat is floating at this point and the tires are touching the water and I am up to my knees soaking my pants. I push again and again.. Boat won't go...... I take a step back and think.. I pull my check list out and everything is perfect.. My dad jumps out and asks... Did you take off the winch line?........Oh MY!!! I fogot to unhook it from the trailer!!! It wasn't on the list!!!! LMAO.. To this day I always will remember that. Luckily it wasn't anything major but goes to show you the smallest thing can be over looked even when you are experienced. So my advice is no matter how excited take a step back and make sure everything is 100%, better yet have a second pair of eyes helping. OK go ahead and laugh at me.. Does anyone else want to share? __________________ Have you had your Vessel Inspected Yet?

06-09-2010, 05:00 PM	#11
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	This happened to a family friend (Doc Bissell from Melrose, MA) many years ago. He was on in years then too. He loved to fish. He had an late 50's early 60's International 4 door truck (looked like it had a lift kit in it) that he towed his boat with. He had it since new and in the early 80's he was backing the trailer in to launch his boat when the brakes on the truck failed. Yup, the boat, trailer and truck went in the lake. He floated out of the truck and was pulled safely to shore. Shortly there after he had a new Chevy S10 Blazer to tow with but no one would let him launch the boat on his own any more. He had to go with someone who would launch the boat for him. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

06-09-2010, 10:37 AM	#2
wendyg Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 32 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Will definitely be keeping an eye on my watch and the skies. The kids are so exicted. Wished we could have goine out earlier, but we'll take what we can get! Can't wait!

06-09-2010, 10:40 AM	#3
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,318 Thanks: 1,233 Thanked 2,103 Times in 960 Posts	Hope you enjoy your first ride. I'll point out that most first time activities take longer than planned.

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
Lucky1 (06-10-2010)

06-09-2010, 12:02 PM	#4
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Sounds like a great ride, I'm always green with envy for a mid-week ride. Take a camera.

06-09-2010, 02:50 PM	#7
wendyg Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 32 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's in the valet at MVYC so one would hope they would check that before dropping it in the water!

06-09-2010, 02:57 PM	#8
Kracken Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Alton Posts: 223 Thanks: 46 Thanked 130 Times in 50 Posts	I haven’t forgotten the plug…yet. 2 weeks ago I left the tie-downs on. The genius of that stunt was...I just put them on. I was being anal to actually put the straps on in the first place. I only moved the boat about 100 yards to the ramp.