I do have a friend from Ohio who towed his X to florida for a romantic vacation with his significant other - and he forgot the boom.
What's the worst thing you've forgotten?
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Jack O'Brien
- Captain
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:28 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida, 2000X, Gostosa III
Forgotten
Don't remember if it was the worst thing or not. First time we went to launch by ourselves the motor would not start. Couldn't figure out why so called the local Suzuki dealer. His first question was: Do you have the safety release key installed? DUUUHHH. (That's the one you clip to yourself so the motor shuts off when you fall out.)
I do have a friend from Ohio who towed his X to florida for a romantic vacation with his significant other - and he forgot the boom.
I do have a friend from Ohio who towed his X to florida for a romantic vacation with his significant other - and he forgot the boom.
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
- Posts: 2166
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
About the worst I've done is taken a case of Coronoa without a bottle opener.
I leave the key in the ignition when the boat's on the trailer parked at home. When I'm on the road I usually stow it inside the boat and lock the sliding hatch; have a key to that on the same keychain as the truck.
I figure if someone has the stones to steal the trailer with the boat on it, the fact there's no key in the boat ignition isn't going to slow them down a bit. Also, I figure when a particular action inconveniences me more than it does a potential thief, it's not worth it.
When the boat's in the slip, I've probably forgotten the key four or five times, however, being quite familiar with the way my mind works (or in this case, doesn't work) there's a spare key inside the cabin, and a key to the hatch in a strategic hiding place. I tried a combo lock, but I kept forgetting the combo. I don't believe a determined thief will bother looking for a hidden key when a set of bolt cutters or even a good swift kick will have him inside in about five seconds.
As far as forgetting other stuff, my philosophy is if you never take it off the boat you can't forget it. Tools and other such stuff which might be used elsewhere is at least understandable, though my boat's pretty well stocked with those as well. I totally don't get why anyone would take the boom off the boat.
I leave the key in the ignition when the boat's on the trailer parked at home. When I'm on the road I usually stow it inside the boat and lock the sliding hatch; have a key to that on the same keychain as the truck.
I figure if someone has the stones to steal the trailer with the boat on it, the fact there's no key in the boat ignition isn't going to slow them down a bit. Also, I figure when a particular action inconveniences me more than it does a potential thief, it's not worth it.
When the boat's in the slip, I've probably forgotten the key four or five times, however, being quite familiar with the way my mind works (or in this case, doesn't work) there's a spare key inside the cabin, and a key to the hatch in a strategic hiding place. I tried a combo lock, but I kept forgetting the combo. I don't believe a determined thief will bother looking for a hidden key when a set of bolt cutters or even a good swift kick will have him inside in about five seconds.
As far as forgetting other stuff, my philosophy is if you never take it off the boat you can't forget it. Tools and other such stuff which might be used elsewhere is at least understandable, though my boat's pretty well stocked with those as well. I totally don't get why anyone would take the boom off the boat.
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ralphk
- Engineer
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:13 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Whitby, Ontario
If I may, I'll share a couple of forget to do's.
No splintering fibreglass below, just a few Seinfeld-like experiences.
I've kept my X in a slip for two years. As a habit, I undo the steering linkage and hook it up to the fixed post, before tiliting the Honda out of the water. That way the engine is fixed and I rationalize that it takes all stress off the steering should it try to tilt over (or if kids are tempted to play) On this occasion, I did all my prelaunch checks and carefully backed out of the slip, with the outboard fixed perfectly inline. NO STEERING ASSISTED BY THE OUTBOARD.
Helm control is reduced about 50% with only the rudders active, so the next couple of minutes were quite interesting. The good news - no damage and I've learned a new maneuver - leaping over the captain's seat onto the little stern platform. I had immediately decided that my usual procedure, bending over the captain's seat and fiddling with linkage with outstretched arms and face turning red was just too slow and risky!
Story #2:
We were part of a flotilla of several hundred boats watching the Toronto international air show several years ago. As the afternoon progressed the area got very crowded and people started to anchor quite close. Picture a hot Labor Day afternoon, and before too long people are jumping in the lake to escape the 3 H's - heat, haze, humidity. My 10 year-old daughter, who's a bit of a risk taker was having a grand time with her little buddy, diving off the pulpit and racing around to the stern and up the swim ladder.
"For Safety" I decided to flip up the captain's seat and neatly coil up the gas hose because it could be tripping hazard.
I was afraid that the little darlin's could stumble and perhaps cause a precious beverage to spill.
Fast Forward - Air Show's over.
Kids (and adults) are toweled off and it's time to go home. Captain's seat goes down and we're underway. On this day, the water traffic could be compared trying to exit out of an NFL football stadium parking lot. We're squeezed between a beautiful Beneteau and a cigar boat when the Honda conks out. I probably cranked the engine 6 or 7 times before figuring out the problem. You guessed, it the safety concious skipper forgot to re-attach the gas line!
No splintering fibreglass below, just a few Seinfeld-like experiences.
I've kept my X in a slip for two years. As a habit, I undo the steering linkage and hook it up to the fixed post, before tiliting the Honda out of the water. That way the engine is fixed and I rationalize that it takes all stress off the steering should it try to tilt over (or if kids are tempted to play) On this occasion, I did all my prelaunch checks and carefully backed out of the slip, with the outboard fixed perfectly inline. NO STEERING ASSISTED BY THE OUTBOARD.
Helm control is reduced about 50% with only the rudders active, so the next couple of minutes were quite interesting. The good news - no damage and I've learned a new maneuver - leaping over the captain's seat onto the little stern platform. I had immediately decided that my usual procedure, bending over the captain's seat and fiddling with linkage with outstretched arms and face turning red was just too slow and risky!Story #2:
We were part of a flotilla of several hundred boats watching the Toronto international air show several years ago. As the afternoon progressed the area got very crowded and people started to anchor quite close. Picture a hot Labor Day afternoon, and before too long people are jumping in the lake to escape the 3 H's - heat, haze, humidity. My 10 year-old daughter, who's a bit of a risk taker was having a grand time with her little buddy, diving off the pulpit and racing around to the stern and up the swim ladder.
"For Safety" I decided to flip up the captain's seat and neatly coil up the gas hose because it could be tripping hazard.
I was afraid that the little darlin's could stumble and perhaps cause a precious beverage to spill. Fast Forward - Air Show's over.
Kids (and adults) are toweled off and it's time to go home. Captain's seat goes down and we're underway. On this day, the water traffic could be compared trying to exit out of an NFL football stadium parking lot. We're squeezed between a beautiful Beneteau and a cigar boat when the Honda conks out. I probably cranked the engine 6 or 7 times before figuring out the problem. You guessed, it the safety concious skipper forgot to re-attach the gas line!
Launched the boat this summer in Cayuga Lake and got a slip at Allen H Treman marina. Went into Ithaca and had dinner at a nice Chinese restaurant. Got back to the boat to discover my wife's purse was missing. Spent the rest of the evening and night checking the restrooms and calling rest stops we stopped at on the way up that day- no luck. Called the CC company and reported the card lost.
Next morning we drove up the the Chinese restaurant to find they had the purse (wife left it in the restroom) and 2 egg rolls we left behind(we left before the doggy bag came back).
Continued the vacation with no CC and had a great time on less than $200 cash (the beauty way to go). One of our most inexpensive vacations yet!.
Greg
Next morning we drove up the the Chinese restaurant to find they had the purse (wife left it in the restroom) and 2 egg rolls we left behind(we left before the doggy bag came back).
Continued the vacation with no CC and had a great time on less than $200 cash (the beauty way to go). One of our most inexpensive vacations yet!.
Greg
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Jeff S
- First Officer
- Posts: 371
- Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 2:13 pm
- Location: Cherry Point, NC 2000 26X Tohatsu 50
Well, at least I am not alone reading all these posts.
I have forgotten:
-The engine keys- now they stay in my truck.
-The fuel hose- it stays in the back of my truck now.
- I left the ignition on overnight once- batts died. Of course the switch was in the "All" position. Had to pull started motor in the morning. Fortunately I manage the battery position now and I turn the ignition off as well.
-The worst though is forgetting to put a ring ding in the clevis pin holding the forestay in place. My first tack I noticed the whole mast falling towards me. I was lucky enough to have left the mast crutch in place. It still crunched the slider a bit and it was really fun trying to pull the sails out of the water. This was my first trip out on the boat- wife was pretty impressed with me.
Chip has a good philosophy about keeping things on the boat. The less chance I give myself to forget something the better. I also do more checks as well- like all the crucial attachments on the rig.
Jeff S
I have forgotten:
-The engine keys- now they stay in my truck.
-The fuel hose- it stays in the back of my truck now.
- I left the ignition on overnight once- batts died. Of course the switch was in the "All" position. Had to pull started motor in the morning. Fortunately I manage the battery position now and I turn the ignition off as well.
-The worst though is forgetting to put a ring ding in the clevis pin holding the forestay in place. My first tack I noticed the whole mast falling towards me. I was lucky enough to have left the mast crutch in place. It still crunched the slider a bit and it was really fun trying to pull the sails out of the water. This was my first trip out on the boat- wife was pretty impressed with me.
Chip has a good philosophy about keeping things on the boat. The less chance I give myself to forget something the better. I also do more checks as well- like all the crucial attachments on the rig.
Jeff S
Noisy Motor
I was launching my 26X for the first time. A small crowd had gathered to watch. The boat was shining and really looked good. One of the onlookers was on the dock asking me questions about the boat. Of course while I was trying to get everything ready to launch I was talking to him at the same time. As I was trying to back out of the dock, I found I was going no where. One of the guys on the dock yelled to me, "Don't you think you should put the motor in the water?"
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Randy Smith
- First Officer
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:31 am
- Location: "Breezy" 26X Boardman,Or
Fergets
One Labor Day, two families, four kids, my parents---had the beer cooler, left the picnic cooler 25 minutes away at home. Thank God for the tavern near by to purchase chicken to go.
I was out an about fishing and listening to the Beavers in another tight game(errrrrgh) and the little out of oil alarm went off.....fricken idiot!! I scowered the boat in a sweat, no oil....near dark and I had no plans to sail....thank God for a 10 mph wind and I was up river on the Columbia....sailed her home, even to the dock.........luck and a little skill saved this dummy.........always check for two stroke oil......
Done the saftey key thing too many times.....it is really the most embarrassing......you ever have someone walk by and casually say, "saftey switch"? as you struggle starting the motor? Hate that, 100% of the time they have been right..........
Randy
I was out an about fishing and listening to the Beavers in another tight game(errrrrgh) and the little out of oil alarm went off.....fricken idiot!! I scowered the boat in a sweat, no oil....near dark and I had no plans to sail....thank God for a 10 mph wind and I was up river on the Columbia....sailed her home, even to the dock.........luck and a little skill saved this dummy.........always check for two stroke oil......
Done the saftey key thing too many times.....it is really the most embarrassing......you ever have someone walk by and casually say, "saftey switch"? as you struggle starting the motor? Hate that, 100% of the time they have been right..........
Randy-
Catigale
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10421
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:59 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
- Contact:
OUch - havent done that one yet....but did the opposite end.One of the guys on the dock yelled to me, "Don't you think you should put the motor in the water?"
One of first times launching left the motor down - pulled up ramp
SSSCCCCCCRRRRREEEEECCCHHH!!!!
...and of course the Senior Citizen manning the docks announces to the whole rest of the world
"They forgot to pull up their motor......"
On the bright side, you will only ever do this once......
