The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

[jtexas]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

1. This is in Stupid Human Tricks but I like it so much here it is again...hot summer day, small lake in N. La. (Wallace Lake), 6hp 'rude on a rented 14ft flatbottom aluminum jon, good bass fishing, plenty of water mocs, and every other tree has a red wasp nest big as a watermelon. My fishing partner decided he needed one a those, so he soaked his shirt in gasoline, draped it over a wasp nest and torched it with a lighter. When the gas burned off he knocked it into the lake with a paddle; all the wasps were dead & his shirt was still intact! I'd of took my chances with the water mocassins if we'd ended up with a fire in the boat & a cloud of angry red wasps around our heads.<br /><br />2. At age 82, Dad was real proud of his "new" first boat, a 20-yr-old bass boat. Wanted to take me catfishing at night on Cross Lake. I grabbed a couple rods & hopped on a plane to Shreveport. We started fishing about an hour before sundown. Perfect day not a cloud in the sky. He had rewired the stern light himself & true to his own do-it-yourself style, instead of wiring the base, he just ran wires straight from the socket out the end of the standard. At sundown he hit the switch & jammed the light standard down into the base, stripping the insulation & shorting out the circuit. Luckily instead of bundling the wires to the harness, he just strung 'em along the bottom of the boat, otherwise when the insulation started melting it could have smoked every circuit on the boat. I saw the smoke & immediately turned off the switch & emptied my drinking water bottle onto the smoking wires.<br /><br />If that wasn't dumb enough, he starts rummaging around for his electrical tape & a roll of spare wire he kept on board. Smartest thing he did was invite me - his plan was to attempt the same dang mistake again only this time, out on the water at dusk. Of course I insisted we go back to the dock. Five minutes after we got back a surprise thunderstorm blew over, I mean a real gully-washer, high winds & driving rain. He never noticed the smoking wires - I seriously think he might have died on the water that day, leaving me with nothing but a burned out hull! He's still with us but now the boat is mine. I take him fishing now and then.<br /><br />3. a dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb thing I did, but maybe not as dumb as leaving the prop on the kitchen table, or installing a complete sheet of gasket, or intentionally sinking my only source of propulsion!

 

[Houniac]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Probably having the guys I just used swap a power head out. I'll know well enough next week

 

[jimmbo]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

I think the dumbest thing I ever did was buy a boat. Second dumbest thing was buy another. Third was, well you get the picture. <br /><br />PS I'm now on boat #5

 

[montanaman]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

I took my nine year old fishing with me last summer in our new boat. I was testing a new prop so we were stopping and going checking top speed and what not. I kinda noticed after a couple of take offs that I was getting more and more cavitation but didn't think much about it. After a few runs we decided to turn on the trolling motor and drop some lines in. I noticed that we seemed to be a little low in the water but still nothing registed in my brain, all I was thinking about was hooking a big walleye. After a few minutes my daughter, who was fishing off the back deck asked "dad, why is there water coming up from the floor?". I instantly turned the bilge pump on and started thinking about what could be the cause of this because I knew that I had put the plug in. I decided to check the plug to see if somehow it had come out. By this time the boat was sitting very low in the water and I had manuevered into shollow water so she wouldn't sink completely. I then reached over the transom and felt for the plug, it was there. At this point I thought there was something very wrong and I was racking my brain to figure it out. As I was sitting there very disappointed that my 3 month old boat was about to sink my fingers felt something that made the light bulb go on, there was another hole. My plug was secure , the only problem was that is was secure in the livewell drain hole not the boat drain hole. After placing the plug in the correct hole and a huge sigh of releif my daughter politely asked "so, are we gonna tell mom?"

 

[orca]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

G,day way back in time when I used to race outboards, I was testing a new prop that I barrowed from a mate, first corner I backed off the throttle, turned into the corner, hit the gas and Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee, 9000RPM, yep, I had'nt put the split pin in to the prop nut. $1,500.00 aus dollars later...........

 

[boatdemon]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Many years ago as a 15-16 year old kid, my dad gave me my first boat. It was an old 1965 evinrude boat with a 150hp i/o and electric shift outdrive. I spent many a day cussing that thing out on the water. It taught me alot about life and boats. I found it best to make mistakes on boats that one can aford to loose.<br /><br />1. Hooked up the steering in reverse, made for a wild ride when I turned the wheel left at the ramp as I applied lots of power from my newly rebuilt motor and the boat turned right and ran straight up on the boat ramp.<br /><br />2. First time I put the thing in the water, could not figure out why is did not want to come off the trailer, I had untied the thing from the winch, oops, forgot the tiedown rachet straps on the transom.<br /><br />3. Had a cracked head on the motor, found one in servicable condition in a salvage yard, spent a months allowance having it reworked, and somehow thought it would be a good idea to just used the same ole rusty valve springs instead of spending a few dollars on new ones (these also from the junkyard). Long story short, valve spring broke sending the push rod down through the block and around the crank.<br /><br />4. Somehow thought the leak in the transom was not that bid of a deal as long as the bilge pump could keep up! Boy was I wrong.<br /><br />5. Once while disassembling the sterndrive for maintenance, decided to use my dad's impact wrench to remove the bolts holding the drive. Warning, if you do this, always make sure the wrench is spinning in the counterclock wise direction first. Twisted off hardened bolts of this type in aluminum castins are a b!tch. <br /><br />6. I did not know it then, but the sterndrive tilt motor can not be used to trim the boat on these old sterndrives. If you try it you buy new gears.<br /><br />7. Not realizing why the gears went out in number 6, I tried it again the next trip out after the new gears were installed, you guessed it, I figured it out this time.<br /><br />Finally, got rid of this one and sold it to my next door neighbor in relatively good running condition. He promptly took it offshore and sunk it, luckily he was picked up by some offshore workers. I warned him that it was a ski boat not for use offshore fishing, he did not listen.

 

[boatsalotjay]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Yeah, I found that if its really hard to get the boat off of the trailer that you should quit while ahead. Last fall with the lake low I decided to take my newest boat out for a test run. Well, when we got there we found it wasn't as easy to get the boat off as we thought. After quite a bit of rocking and a warning from a guy that we weren't going to be able to get it back on we finally got 'er off. Needless to say it wasn't very fun to get it back on, and power loading is illegal here. (nobody else was around thank goodness) I won't be doing that again.

 

[kiwiguy]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Had a play with the kids "fun boat". 6 foot glass, runs a mod 25hp evinrude. added 25:1 av-gas and synthetic race oil. Was going so fast my wrinkles dissapeared, (wife thought I should do it more often), Up around 4,000rpm and "BANG" blew the head,carbplate and carb's straight out the cover, they hit the windscreen of a guys boat about 10 feet away and smashed it to hell.<br />Motto of the story: Don't play with the kids toys......

 

[rodbolt]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

boatdemon<br />yep I tried 1,2 and 6 <br /> does not work

 

[gonefishie]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

I was at the lake one day and out of nowhere a huge storm blew in so everybody included myself headed for the ramp and get the boat out. The ramp was very crowded with lots of peoples lining up to back their trailer down. My turn came, quickly back down, loaded the trailer, jumped off the boat and hoped in the truck and went up the ramp. As I was going up the ramp I noticed this guy was starring at me with a funny look and thought to myself what this fool looking at? Put the truck in park, hoped out to prepare the rig for the trip home and immediately heard the sound of my motor still running. Needless to say, during the hurry up operation I forgot to shut off the motor and tilt it up. Luckily, the ramp was steep and I had it tilted enough while power loading so the lower unit didn't drag on the concrete. Boy I felt so stupid and realized why the guy was starring at me. The motor didn't overheat since it only ran without water for about 30-40 second.

 

[smidsters]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

ok i have everyone beat,<br /><br />was in italy and rented a boat, inboard small 20 footer, needed to get gas so i pull up to the marina and the guy only speaks italian. I gesture with my hands to the gas tank inlet and show him that i need gas. he goes for the gas hose and starts filling her up, i smell diesel and look up at him thinking some big fishing boat just got gas but i was the only boat at the dock. tried to talk to him but could not get through. he tops off go to pull out and the biggest smoke cloud erupted from the boat. needless to say it was a big mess. watched the owner of the rental boat kick the pump guys but because it turns out they did not like each other and the guy did it in purpose.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

How bout boat AND motor.... <br /><br />

 

[nightstalker]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Had an older 9.9 Johnny that I used for a kicker on my 17' CC. After tuning it up and replacing the impeller, I throw it on the back and off I go with the big mill purring. Out in the bay, I decide to give the kicker a try. She fires right up on the first pull and I slam her into geer and give her the gas. She jumps straight up the transom and overboard she goes. I could live with the fact that I didn't tighten her up enough on the transom but not with the fact that I attached both ends of the safety chain to the boat and neither to the engine.<br />Stalker

 

[prolinews]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

I live on a lake and have a private ramp . It's about 150 ft uphill to the house .I usally pull it up the hill chock the tires pull the plug so rain water can drain out . the boat is too friggin big to fit in the boat house. Had my wife help me back the truck up had the usual problems . any how the trailer didnt hook up right, started backing down the ramp .Watched a 2500 pd rocket take off (who needs safety chains) the boat plowed through the neighbors fence down his ramp into the lake trailer and all. Yeah it was fun getting out .The only damage was the fence and trailer fender. my wife lost a bunch of cool points.

 

[Frankhanhart]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Took my canoe to sea (Mediteranian) and tried some surfing with it. 5 times perfect the 6th time upended and spend the rest of the day picking sea-urchins out of my ..two half globes OK?

 

[jim dozier]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Thankfully I was only peripherally involved in this one but I was a witness. While I was in school I used to work weekends at a local marine store running the counter and the gas docks. If I was busy on the counter the gas was self service. A guy motors in to the fuel dock with a ~60 sailboat that he is delivering to someone on the west coast via the Panama Canal. He has just picked it up from the seller and getting ready to head for California. Its a really nice boat. He wants to fill his fuel tanks with diesel for the long voyage. He puts the diesel hose in a filler neck and stuffs a tennis ball in the handle so he can go adjust some lines. All of a sudden I hear screaming from the docks and there is a geyser of fuel spewing into the harbor. I hit the auto shut off and run out to chastise the guy for not watching the overflow. Then I see that he has put the diesel into the lubricating oil reservoir (this boat has fillers for diesel, lubrication, potable water, and waste). He has now contaminated the marina and the slick is visible and spreading and he has contaminated 50 gallons of SAE30W clean engine oil. The first to arrive is the fire department, then the police, then the coast guard, then the fish and wildlife. I think he got a ticket from 2 out of the 4. He was there for 4 hours doing paperwork and he had to pay extra for a waste oil company to come pump out the lube tank on a Sunday. Then he had to buy 50 gallons of SAE 30W and to finish he had to get some diesel for his sailboat. I never saw him again, hope he's OK. Fuel isn't self service there anymore .

 

[PaulKim]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Well, I think I've found myself in good company. Got my first 75HP Merc back in August / Oct 04, idle was high. Adjusted it, it purred like a kitten. Took it out a few times, but wouldn't start, turn up idle. Ran great. Out on the water a few days later, won't start, started adjusting idle again, well later I found out this idle was really the Spark Stop. Forgot to add now I have a new motor Wallet is alot lighter

 

[jollymon]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Last spring I was getting my boat (25' pontoon) ready to put on the dock. I look down at the fuel tank (Poly tank) and it looks like it is half empty. I can't check the gauge, because the batteries are still in the basement charging, and besides it is never accurate. I thought I topped it off before the winter, but never gave it alot of thougt.<br /><br />I do not want to launch with out a full tank, so I run to the local pumps with my 11 gallon tank on wheels. <br /><br />I start to fill the tank, and it is going real slow. then it stops taking fuel. I look down in the tank, and still see the fuel line half way down the tank. I try again, just flows out the fill. I run a wire down the vent its clear. <br /><br /> So I then I figure, maybe the fill line is clogged. I go to remove the fill line at the tank, as gas blows all over the place!!!<br /><br />The tank and the fill line were full. The line I was looking at in the tank, was were the fuel had stained the tank.<br /><br />what a mess!!!

 

[calm like a bomb]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

My dumbest(so far)would be putting the final touches on a 3 carb rebuild (70 hp Johnson).<br /> I'm so proud I can hardly contain myself..all I have to do now is idle her down a pinch and I'll be in business.I'm so proud..<br /> Still have the flush ears on her..running about 1100 RPM..we are getting there now!!After getting the adjustment down to about 800 RPM..where I need it..OK..lets lock her down here and go fishin'!!..one thing though..when making your FINAL adjustment..make sure to barely graze the top of your hand against the spinning flywheel ever so lightly..like a butterfly landing..that will keep it down to ten stitches!!OUCH..DUH!! Grab dirty shoprag for bandage..cut off engine..cut off water..cuss..wrap hand with cleaner rag..go to ER and let the good Doctor rob you.Have the 1.5 inch scar to prove it.It could have been worse!Lesson learned the hard way..as always.

 

[reka12]

Re: The DUMBEST thing you've ever done to a boat or motor??

Talked my wife into two used jet skiis. Perfect since we now lived close to a lake. We had some friends that lived on the lake and on the first day of owning the skiis we decided to go visit. Of course they have this nice wide sandy beach in front of the sea wall and of course, the mountain dew commercial had been on recently and of course I said to my wife "Watch this!". Well, as I hit the beach at probably 30 mph, at the same time a wave from a ski boat also hit the beach, the jet ski did not slow down at all until it hit the sea wall. The bow of the ski hit the lip of the wall and stopped. I flipped out of the ski over the handle bars and into the yard. Well, thankfully no injuries except the pride and the "boy that was so stupid that I am not going to even tell you how stupid it was" looks I got from my smarter half. $1,100 dollars later I realized that Mountain Dew commercials about young men grounding their jets skiis while jumping off was not meant for 43 year old men on their first time out...