www.iFourWinns.com

Well, I have heard umpteen times from seasoned boaters that it eventually happens to all boaters, but I was determined to not let it happen to me, and it never did...until last weekend. Yep , sure enough, I left the plug out. Only realized/remembered I hadn't put in plug as I pulled into the trailer lot from the launch ramp after leaving my capable wife, 2 friends and my 2 daughters in the boat, which was now beginning to take on water. I quickly put the truck in park and yelled to wife to turn on bilge and quickly get to the dock. I swam into the frigid water and after the engine was shut off rapidly screwed in the plug. Disaster was averted. I was embarrassed but relieved. No one panicked. I guess I could have (should have?) backed the trailer back down and had her just pulled the boat back out, but I think that would Actually have taken longer.

Would like to say it wont happen again but it probably will as often as we launch/retrieve/trailer.

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2005 Horizon 250

nice quick thinking!

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"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Oh man, that almost happened to me last weekend. Was at the ramp waiting in line to put in, took off the tie-downs, tied on the bumpers and docklines, got back in my truck, started to back-up and saw my boat ignition key in my console. Stopped, took the key, hopped up in the boat to put it in the ignition....and saw my hullplug sitting on the dash of my boat

Would have been a very bad day...

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I have a system when preping my boat at home that the plug is installed and the key is already in the ignition. that way I never worry when at the ramp

now this only works when at home cause when I have to test drive a jet ski or boat from my second job I have had to pull forward to recheck the plug.

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Yup --- been there --- now here is the good part -- if you boat a really really long time, like some of us have, you will even do it a SECOND time --LOL

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

its kinda hard for me cause the wife must ask me at least 5 times from getting into the truck...."Did you put the plug in?, Did you remember the GPSs, Did you remember the Key?......"
and this year alone we have made 30 trips to the ramp, so we are talking 150 reminders from her minimum


She does this because when we started boating at one point or another each item was forgotten

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

I do the same thing. I only live a mile from the ramp, so I "usually" have everything ready in my driveway. This particular day was a spur of the moment decision to hit the water.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

its always those quick last second hurry up decisions that can screw up a routine

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

I usually have a system as well, but this was different from our norm. I usually put in the plug when i take off the tie downs and take out when i put on the tie-downs. This time we stayed overnight at the state park cottages that are a few hundred yards from the ramp, so on saturday evening i did take out the plug after pulling out of the water, but didnt put on the tie downs because we were just headed to the parking space at the cottage, and we were just going to be going back out on the water sunday morning. I figured - no need for tie downs right? Well - sunday morning i did remember that I had didn't have to take off the tie downs and thought I could just drop the boat in the water ....
The plug didn't enter my mind.
I am an idiot.

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2005 Horizon 250

Wow, kudos for being able to think clearly enough to take the fastest route.

My practice is, the boat isn't launched until two people have seen the plug in with their own eyes.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Owned boats for 31 years....I've done it on every boat I've owned........it happens!

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"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

Different things for us moored boaters in the water the whole time...did I trim up the drive for low tide...did I shut off the VHF radio and the depthfinder....did I take the boat keys LOL.....

I also have a habit of testing the auto bilge switch every so often to make sure it works. I can see the boat from my house and after a heavy rain I look out the window with binoculars to check out how it's sitting in the water....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II