Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

[ryanr623]

Seems like every year everything goes perfect.... except that ONE day, where everything goes wrong. It's like all the problems happen at once. Then after that day the rest of the year is perfect. Really weird.

For instance, one day i was backing my boat into the water and it rolled off the trailer, onto the ramp and slid into the water. I was checking for damage on the back as i notice the a$s end getting lower. Quickly jump in the truck and get it out. Forgot to put the plug in. Luckily never reached anywhere close to the engine (Good engine placement regal!). Inspected the boat, some chips in the gel coat and no cracks. So we go out. Halfway to the island it gets REALLY rough. So rough my cupholders fly out of the doghouse. A couple minutes later my registration flies out of the boat when my girlfriend is opening the glove box while at speed. idiot. I decide to call it a day. Coming home, hit a sandbar. No real damage to the prop but still. Get her out of the water and 20 gallons come out. Hole in the drive bellows. Unbelievable. I assume from hitting the sandbar. Worst day ever.

After it was fixed, a perfect day on the water.

Only good thing is now i know that my drive is in excellent shape (mechanic inspected it) and i have new belows and gimbal bearing.

Share your worst days boating!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Well so far nothing to bad has happened to me. I once (twice) forgot to put the outdrive up when retrieving.

I think I may have just developed a tear in one of my bellows as well. Last time out I turned the bilge pump on and watched a gallon of water come out. I never take on any water. Of course we were all swimming alot so there could have been a good amount of water introduced from 5 people getting in and out soaking wet repeatedly.

My most horrible day was this...
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=493660

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Well so far nothing to bad has happened to me. I once (twice) forgot to put the outdrive up when retrieving.

I think I may have just developed a tear in one of my bellows as well. Last time out I turned the bilge pump on and watched a gallon of water come out. I never take on any water. Of course we were all swimming alot so there could have been a good amount of water introduced from 5 people getting in and out soaking wet repeatedly.

My most horrible day was this...
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=493660

How long were you out for? If the drive was down and the hole is on the underside of the bellow it could have compressed the hole shut. That being said, 5 people getting in and out of the boat constantly could create a gallon of water. For me though, after the new bellows, about a tablespoon comes out, and we swim quite a bit.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

How long were you out for? If the drive was down and the hole is on the underside of the bellow it could have compressed the hole shut. That being said, 5 people getting in and out of the boat constantly could create a gallon of water. For me though, after the new bellows, about a tablespoon comes out, and we swim quite a bit.

I think it's the bellows.. We were anchored shallow enough that I had the outdrive all the way up in the trailer position. A thorough inspection is needed of the bellows and all engine hoses before my next outing If I'm lucky its a leaking hose that's easy (and cheap) to replace. If it's the bellows I will want to pull the drive and find out how much more I need to fix. Plus I will finally buy the alignment tool and learn how to do that job too.

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

I think it's the bellows.. We were anchored shallow enough that I had the outdrive all the way up in the trailer position. A thorough inspection is needed of the bellows and all engine hoses before my next outing If I'm lucky its a leaking hose that's easy (and cheap) to replace. If it's the bellows I will want to pull the drive and find out how much more I need to fix. Plus I will finally buy the alignment tool and learn how to do that job too.

Sounds like drive the bellows. Just got done with replacing the drive belows in mine. A little grease was washed away from the gimbal bearing so i decided to get a new one to be safe. I had a mechanic do it on the side.... $490 parts and labor. BONE dry now!

 

[jasperboy]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Ours is the one day we have to call sea tow. Either an impeller issue, battery issue, etc... Other than that we have a great season on the boat.

 

[spudshaft]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Not really all that bad, but I ran aground with my family + mother in law + family dog and had to call seatow. Not fun at the time but funny now.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

"worst day of 2010" -- last summer --
A buddy and I decide to take our girlfriends out on the boat last summer. On the way there -- flat with no spare had to call a friend to deliver a spare. 100 bucks in new trailer tires at lowes. Couldn't get the old tire off. Had to r get someone else to bring a sledge hammer. Launched the boat, won't plane. could do 6-7 MPH. Loaded back up and the bow rub railing just FELL right off. On the wya home lost a bearing then a wheel and had to get trailer and boat towed. Turns out studs got ground down and they don't make the hubs for our trailer anymore. had to weld the studs back in place and seal the rear bearing by making a lip with a center punch and using permatex.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

"worst day of 2010" -- last summer --
A buddy and I decide to take our girlfriends out on the boat last summer. On the way there -- flat with no spare had to call a friend to deliver a spare. 100 bucks in new trailer tires at lowes. Couldn't get the old tire off. Had to r get someone else to bring a sledge hammer. Launched the boat, won't plane. could do 6-7 MPH. Loaded back up and the bow rub railing just FELL right off. On the wya home lost a bearing then a wheel and had to get trailer and boat towed. Turns out studs got ground down and they don't make the hubs for our trailer anymore. had to weld the studs back in place and seal the rear bearing by making a lip with a center punch and using permatex.

I hope you eventually replaced the axle.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Yep.. It's a HUGE pain and close to 400 bucks.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Yep.. It was a HUGE pain and close to 400 bucks.

Damn! I got a whole new axle complete with hubs and everything from Tractor Supply for like $130!! My buddy got one custom made with SureLube hubs for $250!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

Thankfully, my "worst days" seem to be limited to totally blowing a docking at the marina or launch ramp. Usually with a healthy audience. That will happen maybe once a season or so even after decades of experience.

Last worst day on the water was two summers ago when I assumed the tool coming at my quarter knew that I had the right of way. Wrong. When I took it he assumed I was purposely cutting him off versus proceeding with a cautious lookout. Next thing I know he's circling around to cut us off to "prove" a point. Moron. They boat among us. I pass this guy's slip regularly and have been sorely temped to tuck a boat safety course registration sheet under his windshield wiper. (Actually - my first impulse was to don some gear and go for a late evening swim......but cooler, more sensible heads prevailed...)

Great lesson for me though. Assume no-one out there knows anything and proceed accordingly.

As for your bellows, ryan - I wonder if the shock of the stern hitting the pavement might have jostled your drive hard enough to tear the rubber. That to me would be a more likely answer than running aground on sand with the drive down. Anyway, glad you got her back ship shape!

 

[zopperman]

Re: Does anyone else have ONE horrible boating day a year?

EZ, 130?!?!?!?!?!? Wow. I'm jealous... this was at trailer supply something or other. some "local" place 40 miles away