Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

[Big Sarge]

Ok, so today I was down at our docks (we live in town homes). I notice my neighbors boat is filled with water I think "uh-oh" and go and check it out I think the battery is dead and go flip the switch on just to make sure the guy didn't have a battery that the bildge couldn't surpass but no it was on so I pull up his cover and notice he has a manual bildge pump for a boat he keeps in the ocean 24/7 and his son forgot to go check on the boat. I know there has been alot more idiots but I just wanted to see what you guys have encountered over your years of seeing boats.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

The funnest thing Ive seen (and some of you may have tried this) is a out door umbrella used as a bikini top on a boat. For some reason its just wrong.

 

[Big Sarge]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

it's so womany

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

A buddy of mine, who didn't know any better, wired his cranking battery up to his 2 - 12v deep cycle batteries to make up for the 36v needed for his trolling motor. A couple of weeks ago I got a call from him, and he was slowly drifting with the current towards Newburgh Dam on the Ohio River. Luckily I got there before he hit the backwater! He completely drained his cranking battery because he had them all tied in sequence instead of installing another 12v deep cycle battery. He had been trolling since sunrise around Cannelton Lock and Dam, and it was 3 o'clock in the P.M.

If he would have only asked me!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

Good job he keeps his phone charged.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

The most idiotic thing was a new boater with a brand new 30'er boat setting the mortar style fireworks off the rear deck. It didn't last long as the DNR guys were there to remove the drunken operator. The boat got towed to the marina where it was removed from the water the next morning. The man was banned from using the lake, lost his operators license, and paying a very large fine.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

The funnest thing Ive seen (and some of you may have tried this) is a out door umbrella used as a bikini top on a boat. For some reason its just wrong.

One of the families the raft up wit us from time to time have a couple of them..............there the smaller ones that attach ti a beach chair.......................yes they bring the chairs too.............It gets real interesting when the wind starts to pick up......................Mary Poppins comes to mind................

 

[SooLineRob]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

Seeing as 2008 is my first season boating, my funny story drawer is kinda empty ... BUT:

On our very first solo boating trip, we headed back to the ramp to recover. The boat ramp was a single lane ramp with courtesy dock; while one boat is recovered, another can dock and go get the vehicle/trailer. When the ramp is clear, the docked vessel then recovers, and the next boat docks to get their vehicle, and so on. A family of four (dad, mom, two youngsters) were first in the "congo line" headed for the ramp, followed by a pontoon, then us, then another 18 footer. Instead of docking, this guy orbits the ramp until it's clear of the boat currently being recovered.

Once the ramp is open, the proud poppa docks his boat in the ramp lane, leaves his family in the boat, and goes to get the truck/trailer. He returns, and we watch him back the trailer UNDER the docked boat to recover. He had a bit of trouble backing the trailer under the moored boat, and whacked his hull with the trailer bunks at least once, in addition to smacking his trailer fenders into the submerged bumpers along side the dock. Once he gets the trailer UNDER the boat, he has his wife power-load the boat, screws around stowing stuff, and proceeds to pull the boat from the water with wife and kids in the boat; we watched him pull into the prep area with his wife and kids still in the boat, and the two kids walking around inside the boat while he's driving up to the prep area ... I couldn't help but think of a million things that COULD HAVE gone wrong with this method, with little people involved.

This may be more of a "stupid human trick" story, but I couldn't help thinking "idiot" while watching this unfold before my eyes.

And for the record, thanks to EVERYONE here at iBoats, I occupy the ramp for 4 minutes (or less!) during launch and recovery. Reading the forums prepared myself and my wife for efficiency at the ramp ... we're "really" ready to launch/recover BEFORE we take our place in the ramp line. NEWBIES LIKE ME, KEEP READING!

 

[bekosh]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

A couple of weeks ago I saw this.

Shortly after the boat took off with them still sitting there.
Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Of course the ONLY reason I took this photo was to document the unsafe boating.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

A couple of weeks ago I saw this.

Shortly after the boat took off with them still sitting there.
Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Of course the ONLY reason I took this photo was to document the unsafe boating.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I'll need copies of that pic to post around the marina in case any one here gets the same idea...............

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

My brother-in-law. I took his kid fishing, and Dad had to come along. Turns out he hates boats, hates fishing, and hates just about everything else. Kept asking if the boat was going to sink. Ridiculed his kid when the boy caught a 4" long sunny. Parked his lard butt on the front seat of my old trihull and made snide comments the whole time we were on the water.

That's the most idiotic thing I've ever seen on a boat.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

I'm sorry I missed everything after looking at that pic. What was I going to say?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

I think QC posted a pic of a whaletale on a houseboat at one point.......

Oh yeah, now that puppy hops right up on plane, and will tow a skier with the best of them......

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

My brother-in-law. I took his kid fishing, and Dad had to come along. Turns out he hates boats, hates fishing, and hates just about everything else. Kept asking if the boat was going to sink. Ridiculed his kid when the boy caught a 4" long sunny. Parked his lard butt on the front seat of my old trihull and made snide comments the whole time we were on the water.

That's the most idiotic thing I've ever seen on a boat.

You should have taught BIL that the anchor rope is supposed to be wrapped around the ankle before tossing it overboard.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

Heck, to up my reply, half the things QC post are the most idiotic things I have seen (not talking about anything of his, just the craigslist and ebay ads he finds, and posts).

I think there was some sort of speed boat that had bilge pumps mounted to the outside of the transom as "livewell pumps," then a whale tail on a sailboat kicker...... For some reason, he seems to find the funniest boat ads.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

And for the record, thanks to EVERYONE here at iBoats, I occupy the ramp for 4 minutes (or less!) during launch and recovery. Reading the forums prepared myself and my wife for efficiency at the ramp ... we're "really" ready to launch/recover BEFORE we take our place in the ramp line. NEWBIES LIKE ME, KEEP READING!

Ditto to SooLineRob's remark. If it weren't for this website, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to even think about buying a boat. You guys not only helped me get into the right boat, but gave me the confidence I needed to try and do all the difficult things (at least difficult the first few times) that trailer boaters need to do, and made me aware of many of the hazards that can befall even the most seasoned boater.

Oh, and the boating safety course I took from the U.S. Power Squadron was a huge benefit. It was also recommended by this forum, and I highly recommend it to all other newbies. I also recommend the course to veteran boaters who have never taken a boating safety course.

Thanks iBoats!

 

[JB]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

I have to ask why this thread and the stories in it aren't in the "Stupid Human Tricks" forum. That it what it is for.

Sarge??

 

[Big Sarge]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

I have to ask why this thread and the stories in it aren't in the "Stupid Human Tricks" forum. That it what it is for.

Sarge??

ehh, I am pretty new here and being a dumb 15 year old and half way reading things I managed to miss it...

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

uh oh,,,,,,,a dock boy in the making reminds me back when the forum was just getting wet with Sail Booty

 

[Big Sarge]

Re: Post the most idiotic thing you have ever seen on a boat.

haha I tried to get a job at a marnia this summer.. they wouldn't hire me because I was either too young or I am not legal to do some of the work they needed.