www.iFourWinns.com

Biggest Bone Head Move. Does purchasing a new boat without selling the old one first count? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

_________________

Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

LOL! That's funny. I have done that a couple of times. Not the smartest thing in the world, but hey, we dump thousands of dollars into the water and call it fun so who are we to judge.

_________________


"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

[quote="pet575"]

So, I kill the motor and yell to my dad, "OK, pull it back out." He does, gets out of the truck with a confused look on his face and I say, "The motor tested out just fine-I'll pull off the transom straps and then we can go." [quote]

Nice cover up, ever think of running for public office?

_________________


"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

I am a 2 boat owner as we speak. Had a few bites on old one, but no takers yet. Have another buyer coming next week to look at it.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I did that one last year. I thought of trading in, but was going to sell to a friend instead. He backed out, so I tried to sell it the honest way. The market was good for that size/price boat (1992 18' Maxum I/O). It was listed (Craigs List) for less than 48 hours, and sold for $5600. Not too bad considering I paid $6000 for it 6 years before!

_________________
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.

Hmmm, so many bonehead moves to choose from:

1. Didn't replace the seemingly new looking tires on our 8 year old single axle trailer before driving three hours to the ocean: The first tire delaminated a bit, and although we were now a little late, my wife gave me credit for having the foresight to buy a spare before the big trip. It was an easy process in a gas station parking lot. Well- the tires must have come off the the assembly line within a couple minutes of each other, because the second one exploded (and I do mean exploded) about ten minutes later. This one was on the side of a busy highway, in the dark, with no shoulder. Oh, and on the drivers side! I was able to swap the first flat (which still had air, but no tread), and we pulled it at 10mph to a boat dealership. Luckily the dealership owner was nice when he showed up the next morning with my old Horizon parked in between his big $$$ offshore fishing boats. I now have three new tires...

2. And the next day; not paying out enough line when anchoring in the ocean. We backed in, just like all the other boats, but had only anchored in a lake before, so the anchor didn't set properly. We proceeded to have a wonderful time, but I noticed that while everyone elses boat was 10-15 feet off the beach, ours was sideways and right up on it. I wasn't too worried; I walked down the beach a little ways to ask our neighbor if he had any helpful suggestions. We exchanged small talk for a couple minutes when I got around to asking if I should do something differently. He said,"well, yeah, the tide is going out, so you might be stuck there for eight hours." I said, "you mean I need to move it in the next couple hours?" He said, "no in the next couple minutes". Luckily, we were able to get back into the water, but I'm sure it provided tons of entertainment for everyone up and down the beach. Dumb rookies!

3. And proving that no good deed goes unpunished: I volunteered to help clean up Jordan Lake, which is our main place to go. There is tons of trash where the Haw River feeds into the lake, and a bunch of people came out to help bag it and carry it out. Most folks were in kayaks, with a couple jon boats, so my 20' seemed like a trash barge. Everytime we'd pull into the clean up zone, folks would come out of the woods with all kinds of junk for me to haul to the dock. My Dad and I would fill the boat up until there was just enough room for us left. Everything was great until the last run- I tried to reverse away from the bank and destroyed my new prop, and took a decent sized chunk out of the skeg. Wonder if the prop repair bill is tax deductible?

This one is really bone headed...... I mean really...

So we are out at night, like the second time we have been out at night.... we are heading from a small river off the bay (kawkalin river) to the big river (saginaw river) to get to the launch we were at. Its like a mile U turn out in the bay to make the trip, get out to deep enough water and get over the to the saginaw. So we get to the saginaw river, in the shipping channel and I am nervous about hitting buoys.. so I am watching the chart plotter constantly. Now there are several draw bridges, from the mouth to the launch.... and it was one of those paticularly dark nights, no moon or something... anyway, we are about halfway to the launch comming up to a draw bridge, and there is this blinding spotlight seemingly coming from the top of the bridge, shining left and right and right at us. I was starteing to get pissed, this light was blinding, I was thinking I am going to turn my puny little spot light on and "return" the favor......I no sooner had that thought then out of the darkness of the night, comes a HUGE freighter hull , black of course. Just as the bow came out of the darkness the freighter horn blasts HUUUUMMMMMMMM.... like a super loud fog horn!!! Not exaclty sure how close we were but way to close to comfort for me. I almost beached the damn boat getting out of the way, and had to stop and regain my composure after it was all over....

Needless to say, my wife and I have laughed about is since many times, but talk about scare the sh*t out of yourself......

I think I need a radar!!

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

What are you talking about, I am laughing my ass off right now. Not that I have any room to talk but that is hilarious!!!

_________________


"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

a few from me.

1. Where I park my Sundowner at home, the leg overhangs a 4ft retaining wall, so I can lower it almost all the way down for flushing and storage. Fortunately our driveway is 'ashphalt' ( for you 'mericans) and when you drive off with the leg down it doesnt scratch the thing too much...

2. When tied off at the boat ramp jetty waiting for you wife to get the car, make sure that ropes from stray submerged lobster/crab pots haven't drifted onto your prop. When they wind up around the prop on starting, the metal cage of the trap will cause the engine to stop, and this will usually happen at a time when your boat is drifting somewhere you dont want it to.
When this happens though, you have an excuse for telling your (PITA) father in law that;
"no,he cant borrow the oars to lend to the other guy on the jetty who's boat was just untied and pushed away by some tourists who wanted a photo without it in the way..." because your using them yourself frantically to keep your own boat away the rocks... (true story)

3. At Cabarita, on the Parramatta river, there are some large rocks that are only about 50ft away from the pump out facility i was using. Unusually, they are not marked with any lights or warning posts, I guess this is because at high tide they are still a foot or two above water level. Once a year though, when we get those huge spring tides, they are about a 2foot under water. I can recommend that you do not drift near them at this time. The boat went 'bang', I looked over the sides and could see the bottom, which was 1m under the prop according to the depth guage. The damage was much less than I expected, and after giving the mobile f/glass repairer about $300, you cant see where the damage was.


4. When letting your wife throw out the anchor, make sure she does not wrap the chain around the anchor - making it into a big ball - and thus being easier for her to manage. It tends not to hold well. And you dont notice until you see the boat drifting among the hundred or so boats moored around Clontarf, near The Spit in Sydney. Watching your boat play pinball with the vast expanse of expensive boats is frightening. Watching the owner of the Fourwinns paddling out (ie chasing it) on the tiny inflatable boat in the middle of Winter is priceless.
At least it missed them all.

_________________

OH these are great. We will have to do a consensus poll after another couple weeks to vot on whose was the best. Everytime I read these I laugh out loud and my wife has to constantly ask me what I am laughing at!

_________________


"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Another boring plug story. We were camping at Lake Jocassee SC. Dropped the boat in at the dock, wife took the truck/trailer over to the camp site. I putted the boat across the bay to a little beach where I could anchor, run up the hill. 45 minutes later grabbed all our stuff and walked back down to the beach. Wife was sitting on the sun deck and I was handing all the gear for the day. I jumped in and immediately was in ankle deep of water. I knew EXACTLY what I had done at that moment. NO plug! The skis were floating in the ski well. The water was up over the starter. (I think it actually sucked in enough water and equalized). Ran back up the hill to the truck, got the plug, ran back down. Started the bilge but didn't start the engine. Waited, waited, and waited. Finally got a small bucket and started bailing from the ski well. Yes, friends got some good action shots of me doing that.. and will not let me forget. Finally got the H2O low enough to start the engine. No problems after that... EXCEPT about a month later I started blowing a 15 amp fuse as soon as I turned the key. I almost got stranded because of this but managed to get her home. I removed the starter intending on getting a new one. Too much money for a "Marine" starter at $387. Instead I ordered just a new solenoid for $40 from MarinePowerService.com, installed and haven’t had a problem since.

Long story, but you should have seen the look on my face when I jumped in that boat and had water up to my ankles...

_________________
2004 180 4.3GL

The whole plug thing has me so paranoid, that when I do take it out, I set the wrench and the plug on the SP while it drains and put it right back in. During storage I put in a plastic bag and tie it to the steering wheel.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Close enough. I'm a lawyer.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

LOL. Did you at least get the freighter name???

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Since I am the only "witness" to this bonehead move i'm not sure if it counts....

Last Labour Day weekend, We spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the boat. The following day I was to meet up with Flying Sushi at Potter's Beach in the Thousands Islands. I had supper and decided I would trailer the boat to Gananoque Ontario so it would just be a hop skip and a jump to meet Koji in the morning. I sent my wife ahead to the launch with the truck and trailer then went down to my dock. I pushed myself off the dock and drove ahead as I normally do but the mid fender rolled onto the dock and promptly was skewered by the dock cleat. I panicked reached over the windshield and promptly kneeled on the throttle. Yes I am short... The H260 does not have a mid cleat so the fender was tied to the bimini poles. When I hit the throttle the front bimini pole attachment let go and the recoil hit me square in the ribs knocking the wind out of me! The boat also twisted clockwise and was headed right towards my neighbours steel pipe dock with really sharp corners. I got it into reverse but it was too late... I took a silver dollar shaped piece out of my hull and put an 18" scratch in the gel coat. Man was I pissed! The wife had the trailer in the water when I arrived and I just drove right up on without waiting for her to back in deeper and took her home to inspect the complete damage. I managed to scrounge a bimini attachment from my buddy and gave the boat a quick wash and finally went in to bed around midnight. The next day with Koji was an excellent afternoon and he didn't rub it in too bad!

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive