www.iFourWinns.com

In the old boat, I'd leave it in the Driver's cup holder. Very easy to catch as you are backing down the ramp. The new one's on a lanyard attached to the oil drain hose, so not quite as obvious. I'm just waiting, maybe I'll post one of "those" bonehead stories by the end of this summer.

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Man ..... been there .... done that!

The Piscataqua River, which makes up Portsmouth harbor, is a freighter terminal area, all the way up for about three miles. Our launch point is about a mile past the last freighter docks. Just as you get past downtown Portsmouth proper, there is a high stationary bridge for I-95 (high enough that all the freighters can go under it). Just upriver after the bridge, the river turns to the left, so there is a high cliff-like bank facing you as you head for the bridge.

Well, it's late (as usual) and DARK. However, I know the area and no worries......

As we start to get near the bridge, I see a very bright spot light ..... coming from the shore/cliffs on the other side of the bridge .... the idiots are pointing it right at us and it is now dificult to see ..... ^#%@%@#^ fools!

Well, you know the rest.... I think ... hmmm .... maybe there's something to this, other than some fool kids messing around. I hit our light and just about piss my pants (is that a technical term for a major adrenaline release?).

We have passed the docked freighters at the docks, even pulled close to get a feeling of how big they are ...... HOWEVER .... that's nothing like being in the middle of the river .... with the bow of one bearing down on you ....

The scarry thing is ...... with that thing coming from upriver, it was in the same place that would have just been dark hill/cliff side ..... so nobody even had a clue it was there.

_________________
Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

It seems like these things would have better lighting on them at night since this appears to almost be a common problem for you river runners.

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I like to have the camera close at hand, for family or scenery shots. Of course, this means that it must be out of the case and within arm's reach. However, not in a spot where it may launch to the deck or someplace else. The space between the helm seat and the gunnel side is convenient and keeps the camera in-place ..... mostly.

Running along, out in the open Atlantic, boat full of family .....

The engine just dies ... as if the ignition was switched off. Launch a standing passenger into the companionway door, as we suddenly come off plane.

Oh oh ....... What now .....?

I figured it out pretty quick, the camera had dislodged the ignition saftery lanyard from the saftery switch, but there were a few adrenaline assisted heartbeats .....

_________________
Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Thanks to all of you for some great stories and reading!

My biggest bonehead move so far happened last September on our first trip out in our new boat.

Prior to going out that Saturday I had purchased 3 new batteries for the boat. 2 starter batteries and 1 deep cycle and I had them all 3 in the boat with us. I had noticed earlier that our existing batteries we a little weak. I installed the two starter batteries in their trays, and secured the deep cycle in the cabin. The trays in the engine bay weren't big enough to hold the deep cycle battery. So off we went for a glorious day of boating on the lake! And a grand day we had, too! So as the day wound down and the sun began to drop we decided to pack it up and head to the boat ramp. Confident, I hopped back to the perko switch and switched back to battery 1 for starting, as I had switched earlier to battery 2 for the days fun. As you can probably guess the motor barely turned over. So I hopped back to the perko and switched over to "all" and still, the motor barely turned over. So I grabbed the deep cycle and removed battery 1 and connected the deep cycle. I jumped back up to the helm and to my surprise got NO response at the ignition switch! What the ....

So, frustrated and embarrased I continued to try to diagnose the problem, all the while wifey is starting to get anxious about the upcoming darkness. I'm retracing my steps and yelling at myself, all to no avail. I couldn't get the boat started! It wouldn't even turn over. I had three dead batteries!

Well it was coming time to make a decision fast because it was going to be night soon enough so I flag down a guy and his wife in a 20' Stingray who graciously agree to give us a tow back to the ramp. We get there and say our "Thank you's" and we get the boat loaded up and move out towards home. The next day I climb back in the boat to find the problem. Not 5 minutes later I discover that I had never reconnected the negative lead coming from the motor/starter! It had dropped down some in the bilge out of sight and I totally forgot about unconnecting it when I had the crisis! So, worst case I think I had 1 dead battery and not enough common boat sense to make ALL my reconnections!

_________________
Jon & Rhonda

'88 235 Sundowner
5.7L OMC Cobra
'01 F150 4.2L

Heh, three boys in an ancient, heavy, wooden row boat wondering how deep the water is. So we shove an oar down to see if it hits bottom. It did. A mud bottom. Oar didn't come back up. Three boys took turns swimming behind the boat, pushing it back home. Longest mile you're ever gonna swim...

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Some thought I was a bonehead when I upgraded from the stock 150G/hour bilge pump to two 2000G/Hour bilge pumps. They were convinced when I tested the new pumps by purposefully dropping my boat in the water without the drain plug. My back up pump didn't even kick on as the main pump was enough to handle intake from the missing plug, which to me said I wasn't that much of a bonehead. Well, that and the fact I dropped the boat in the water using the boat lift, so I could quickly haul it out just in case.

_________________
2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

And, of course, we have all seen this scenario....

http://www.computerpranks.com/viewimage.cfm?i=2435

_________________
Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

Check out these bone heads attempting to load their boat onto their trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N70orvg_0_c&feature=related

_________________


Peter

2005 four winns sundowner
8.1L VP 375hp
http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/4winns/

I think all of us have at least once launched our boats without the plug in at some time or another, but most of us realize before it gets to this !!

_________________
Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Here's one I'll own up to - had the boat on the trailer in the yard next to the garage for some upgrades and pre-launch clean up. It was one of those days where I was in and out of the boat a bunch. At first I was using the swim ladder, then started to step up on the trailer and swing a leg over to board. Much quicker. Anyway, finished the upgrades, installed the drain plug, and hooked up the trailer. Manuvering out of the side yard area can be a bit tricky, involving pulling to the left, backing up a bit, then cutting a tight right to avoid a utility pole. With my boat at that time only one season old, you know I was being very careful about that pole when backing up. But there was some resistance when backing up. My first thought was that I forgot to plug in the trailer lights and the trailer brakes weren't disengaging. Checked that, checked the pin was in place, and tried again. Still felt some resistance. I thought ok, maybe a tree root or something is blocking a trailer tire. I get out and walk back to find the swim ladder down and dug into a nice little trench.

What a bonehead. I completely forgot that the swim ladder was still down. It was bent back some, but with a bit of persuasion still folded, so I went ahead and launched. Eventually I took it apart, and got it re-aligned with the help of a monster sized vice, a small anvil, and a big big hammer. Even found some white rubberized paint and gave it a touch up. Ah well, another item for my pre-launch mental checklist!

_________________
2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Ah, the joys of percussive therapy administered with a BFH.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista