I committed the unthinkable

[Andrew Leigh]

Hi all,<br /><br />despite my detailed pre-launch inspection and checks I forgot the PLUG.<br /><br />Fortunately there is no "no wake" zone where I launch. As the boat left the trailer I applied full throttle an was going to do a big U turn and come back to the jetty to moor.<br /><br />As I turned hard to starboard I saw water wash to the port side of the boat and quickly realised that I was up to the floorboards. I immediately headed back to the slipway shouting for my friend to not remove the trailer from the water so that I could get the boat back on. He did not hear me so I "beached" the boat gently on the concrete slipway with the motor down to assist in keeping the boat as high out the water as possible.<br /><br />I put the plug in and the boat was just able to float, back onto the trailer, drained the hull and went on to have a pleasant day out .<br /><br />I was just so thankful that the boat did not sink.<br /><br />Don't think i'll do that again .<br /><br />Cheers<br />Andrew

 

[QC]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

. . . they say, "it's not if, but when" . . .

 

[roscoe]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Once is enough.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

ooops

 

[Fishin' Jeff]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Doh!<br /><br />Glad that's never happened to me before

 

[Bondo]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Ayuh,......... Been There,.............. Done That............<br /><br />Luckily,...... It was Somebodyelse's Boat.........

 

[OBJ]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

If yer a boater and have never forgotten to put the plug in......then you ain't boatin' enough... Just like Bondo...been there, done that.....but it was my boat!<br /><br />Granddaughter says...."Pappy....why is the floor so wet?" DOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

 

[Ron G]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Been there too,Im glad i dont have to worry about it any more,i leave mine in and when i pull the motor toter off i look to make sure its still in.

 

[KaGee]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Though it's been a long while, I confess, I have done it too.<br /><br />There's only 2 kinds of boaters... those who have, and those who are gonna!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Yep, I can raise my hand on that deal.<br />Was at Dale Hollow one Saturday in December.<br />Launched boat and pulled it around to the slip I had rented and noticed it sitting a little low in the back.<br />Thought, hmmmmmmmm, what could be wrong and then I see the plug in the transom well where I always kept it.<br />Grabbed plug, dove in and put it in.<br />Turned bilge on and went to my room to warm up.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

I've avoided that gremelin so far. (knock on wood) It's stories like these that keep me aware of it. <br /><br />We keep the plug on a small chain and loop it over the iginition key... If it's there when I start the motor, time to pull the trailer back up the ramp! <br /><br />I DID forget to remove the transom straps once. That'll sink you faster than running sans-plug.<br /><br /><br />spots

 

[Chief101]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

I omit the plug several times a year, therefore I put enough floatation under the floorboards that the only problem would be the reputation I have, if I cared, that is.

 

[QC]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Feels like a major jinx to talk about it, but I'm with CN Spots and maybe Jeff the Fisherman Not yet. I have watched as my buddy took "The Dive" as we were launching simultaneously. He's standing on the gunnel taking his shirt off and I look at him puzzled as he shows me the plug in his hand . . . Doh!<br /><br />I also don't leave it in as I have towed for 4 hours in a huge rainstorm and that results in the opposite problem . . . gotta go out in the rain and take the plug out . . . <br /><br />Knock on keyboard (tap, tap, tap)

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

These help me.<br /><br />Before launching, the first thing I do at the ramp is put the plug in. The last thing I do before I launch is to make sure I did the first thing. <br /><br />Keep a spare plug in the glove box at all times.<br /><br />I forget once in awhile. I just smile and tell the people at the ramp "Just rinsing the bilge."

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

My "new" boat has a brass screw in type and it stays in all the time.<br />When not in use, it's in the garage and ifn I get caught in rainstorm on way home, the auto bilge kicks in and pumps it out.

 

[QC]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Originally posted by SBN:<br />ifn I get caught in rainstorm on way home, the auto bilge kicks in and pumps it out.

I now live to see a boat on a trailer, going down the highway, with water coming out the bilge pump outlet

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Originally posted by QC:<br />

Originally posted by SBN:<br />ifn I get caught in rainstorm on way home, the auto bilge kicks in and pumps it out.

I now live to see a boat on a trailer, going down the highway, with water coming out the bilge pump outlet

Ifn you see a Gambler pulled by a Dodge truck, just look ifn it's a raining.

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Glad you got it sorted and no major damage done.<br /><br />Can you imagine if you'd done that in a Coastguard boat at the height of summer at one of the busiest ramps in the tourist area? Don't ask how I know

 

[bootle]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

Everyone will forget the plug at least once in their boating life, consider it a badge of honor

 

[QC]

Re: I committed the unthinkable

LMAO @ Stan <br /><br />I don't think I would call that experience a badge . . .