Feeling Stupid, bad boating day !! - Page 2

Ribald · 27 May 2003, 12:17

Charles, my hand is up on that one

-<=[Tw18]=>- · 27 May 2003, 12:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Charles
Right, own up.....who has launched their rib forgetting to put the bung in. I have!

sorry didnt stop to chat yesterday sir, saw you racing around, looking all nice. Then as I was catching up, off around Noirmont you go!

But not done the bnung thing on a rib, but on my first trip out in the cadets new laser sailing dingy. There we are full sail downwind, trying are damnest to get everything from her. Only to ponder what everyone had be moaning about that the boat was a right pig and uncontrollable. Then it dawned that not only was my backside considerably wet, but the stern was under!

Hence the next question, "Andy, did you put the pung in?", "errr, nope!"

all in the name of fun though

Jelly · 27 May 2003, 12:31

Charles
I think every one has at some point or left the trunk down and forgotten about it!
Jelly

TIM · 27 May 2003, 12:41

Gulty as Charged

Had the Hysucat 2 weeks, second launching, It felt Like a pig after a while.......... Then it dawned on me

I felt like such a dumb f**k I am glad I am not the only one......

Pete7 · 27 May 2003, 21:55

Right then, who owns a 47 foot gin palace. Yes, you Sir at the back, how many props have you got ?

Well if you want the other one back I have some divers ready to go and have a look in the Mixon hole for you.

Herd this afternoon on channel 16, which started with a May Day but quickly ended up as a tow into Chi when the owner confirmed he wasn't sinking afterall.

For those of you up North {and with flat caps} the Mixon off Selsey Bill is a reef that stretches for miles off shore were you can see the seagulls standing up even at high water. There is an inshore channel that looks like the M25 at weekends and its well sign posted, guess one owner decided that he new better than the charts, sign posts and other traffic.

Pete

benjamin · 28 May 2003, 10:16

I love this thread!!!

It's starting to read like the 'confessional' section of Yachting Monthly, for those among you who read that august journal.

My own story is similar to Stuart, who started the thread, altho' he emerges with more credit than me!

Three weeks ago, first serious family outing - two children + me + my wife - lovely run up Beaulieu River, followed by hop over to Cowes for late lunch. I decide to fill up with fuel in Cowes (2 x removable tanks) before whacking back across to Hamble and home for supper.

Halfway across, engine starts refusing to give more than 1500 revs. She runs for 1 min at normal operating speed, then chokes and wheezes into a near cut-out. A brief inspection of the fuel connector, tank breather etc. reveals nothing wrong. She will run (very rough) at +/- 1500 rpm, and so we limp towards home at 5 knts. Thoroughly alarmed, with 2 anxious children and one even more anxious wife aboard, and in my complete lack of outboard experience, I call Seastart. They send an engineer, who doesn't come aboard but kindly escorts us into Hamble and back to base.

Next day, I arrange to meet the same engineer at the boat to check out carbs for water, seperators, fuel lines etc.

Within 20 seconds of inspecting tank installation, he very politely indicates that the second fuel tank is lying across the fuel line, and could this be the cause of the problem?

HOW DID I FEEL????.....DID I WANT TO HIDE!!!!

Anyway, no harm appears to have been done, and all has run sweetly on subsequent trips. A £30 call out fee will be the price of this salutory lesson in seamanship and independence!

Bill S · 23 October 2003, 08:58

I managed to do a stupid a few years ago - old Rib with old o/b - me in boat, mate in water holding boat steady, (2 - 3 ft deep), cowl off, making adjustments.
Darn thing roared into life - I fell onto flywheel and thought I had got an electric shock, cos it was just a big bang on the hand - jumped forward and killed engine. My mate (by some miracle the prop missed him) grabbed the boat and pulled us back in. He says 'You are bleeding' - look down and find half the nail and tip of ring finger gone (chewed off by flywheel). Not to be recommended! Sold that outfit and bought a new one (which won't start in gear) - nail and fingertip grew back eventually, but there is enough of a reminder to make me manually check whether in/out of gear now.
Moral - we remember the hard lessons!

Anyone else want to 'fess up to stupidity?

Charles · 23 October 2003, 09:02

I am willing to bet that anyone who has ever frequently launched a rib from a trailer has forgotten to put the bung in at some stage - I certainly have on more than one occassion

simmons0 · 23 October 2003, 14:13

ive got a one way valve just behind where the bung goes in

.

Good job too.....

Jelly · 23 October 2003, 15:36

Becareful of those oneway valves there have been a few cases of them getting stuck. I can think of one cocky sod on a sailing reggatta who said he didn't need to put his boat to bed for the night etc.
It was very satisfying seeing the come upance of him spending an hour bailing out!
Rgds
James

whitingiom · 23 October 2003, 19:21

Went on a safety boat course recently (no names to protect the obviously guilty).

First rib wouldn't start - instructor pulled and pulled...threw hands up and said 'you have a go'!

I pumped the bulb, loosened the vent on the tank and she started second pull........

Second rib brought down the slip.....instructor tries again.....

Ten minutes swearing later.....'you have a go'

Jumped in, pulled cord....absolutely no compression, spark or anything.....

Thought for a mo...looked at control box, flicked cut out switch and off she went...........

Excuse ' I've only just done my instructor course and the boat was key start!'

Happy Boating

Oh yeah - I did forget to see that the second engine was locked down and as I took off from the slip it did lift out of the water! Can't be perfect every day - and I have electric trim on both my boats (poor excuse)!

chrisallse · 23 October 2003, 21:03

I remember years ago, went fishing of Hove. launched at day break, flat calm all day and i mean flat. turned out to be the hottest day of the year not a cloud in the sky....by mid day we were suffering from heat stroke, headed back to find the beach found it covered in about 3,000,000 people. by this time we were desperate and just wanted to beach the boat and get the hell out of the sun.....at last we managed to get through the swimmers and head for a tiny clear patch of beach....stood at the bow waiting to jump out and pull in the boat....brother in law said jump.....so i did.......into about 10 feet of water....thats some steep beach.......looked a total plonker.... half the beach falling about with laughter......in total pain from the blisters.....spent the next week trying to sleep in intense pain.....and i STILL like boats............Sick or What!!!!

EdwardH · 24 October 2003, 04:14

Thanks for these threads guys...

I have done

kill switch

bungs out

and

tie downs tied to trailer

on several occasions and once, all three on the same launch.

Great to hear I am not the only one...

keep it up...

Bill S · 24 October 2003, 08:14

Gives me a nice warm feeling inside, knowing I'm not alone here....

Bungs - (Why are my feet wet?) Been there, done that!

Kill cord - Start you #####! Start! .....#### it! Whats this cord tangled in now? - Oops! These days gets checked if it doesnt fire on first two turns of key!

Was a partner in crime when we flipped a SIB once ( I was on a donut and could see it coming, but could'nt do anything about it)- does that count?

Did'nt put locking pin back on one side of trailer board - then took it draggies up the road for a few miles (What is that noise?) Still using that board - just both ends have different shapes!

OK, thats enuff for now....feel better somehow!

xr770a · 31 October 2003, 19:52

Yep that driver who flipped my Bomabrd was me cheers Bill !

We all learn.....eventually !

Biggles · 31 October 2003, 21:06

I put the Number Plate Board on upside down on my trailer.

Which meant numbers upside down and when I indicated right the left indicator went on. DOH.

Funny thing is no one flashed or waved at me.

Louise · 31 October 2003, 21:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Biggles
Funny thing is no one flashed or waved at me.

They did - you just didn't see them after they swerved into the ditch to avoid you!

Daniel · 01 November 2003, 18:17

Okay, here is my bad boating day!

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3231

simmons0 · 03 November 2003, 22:07

Well i have just come back from a holiday wiht the boat on lake Windermere. Sick and tired of driving round and round in circles all day at full whack however all my friends up there without boats seemed capable of doing it for years to come.

However on the first launch i fufilled most of the usualls....

Bung out.
Light board on.
Kayak straped to boat. Kayak also strapped to trailer...

We were in a bit of a rush....im not really that bad.

Mark Halliday · 30 December 2003, 13:13

Just found this thread and had to add my 10p worth.

Many years ago, during my days on a sailing club committee, I was trying to persuade the bunch of Lt Commader RN (Rtd) on said committee that we could do with a rescue boat that could keep up with someting faster that the West Weight Scows that they sailed.

I borrowed a brand new 5m from BWM with a pair of 35s on the back for a Open we were holding.

Well, the performance had to be checked, so the wife and I trundled down Chi Harbour and out past the beacon and then I opened it up. The thing really flew, litterally, over a couple of waves.

So What happened next?

(Clue - BWM did told me that the engines were NOT bolted on yet but the clamps were tight, but please check them now and again.)