"Tragedy to Triumph!"

Had to help my sister move into her new house this weekend, but planned to fish a few hours both Saturday and Sunday morning. A recap of each day:

Saturday

Met iFly at Wappoo Saturday morning and set out. Did a little trolling and ended up anchoring at a dock that looked very promising. Fished the dock for about an hour and were able to boat one small but feisty trout. Decided to make a move and head to the Cooper. Fished some grass lines for a while and were moving further down the river when the motor starts to sputter. Long story short, I underestimated how much fuel I had and ran out. Luckily, were we only a few hundred yards from Sea Breeze marina, so we coasted in and docked-up. I was able to fill a five-gallon bucket with gas, and they just happened to have a dusty ol’ jug of 2-stroke engine oil laying around. Problem solved.

Get back to the dock, back the truck down, maneuver the boat onto the trailer, and hook on the winch strap. Pull the parking brake and begin my way up the ramp, where I hear the worst sound one can imagine in such a situation. Turn around to see the front half of the boat sitting on concrete. The culprit appears to have been the winch not locking properly, which caused the strap to pop. ifly and I manage to shimmy the boat back into the water and get the boat back on the trailer. iFly rigs the safety chain and I re-tether the winch strap to the hook and connect it to the boat. The winch appears to lock this time, so all is well. Note of caution: ALWAYS APPLY THE SAFETY CHAIN BEFORE PULLING THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER. I used to perform this step AFTER pulling the boat out of the water, but never again. Common sense to most, but not for idiots like myself. Hopefully my mishap will save someone else the time and embarassment down the down the road.

Thank you, sincerely, iFly, for fishing with me and your assistance back at the landing. He supplied me with some important intel (while we were actually on the water) and is a pleasure to hang out with. Even if I’ve r

quote:
Even if I've run out of gas BOTH TIMES he and I have been out...

I ain’t sure I’d except an invitation to fish with you. If I do, I’ll bring a jug of gas :smiley::smiley:

We’ve all been there. Lessons learned the hard way, like safety chains, are lessons not soon forgot:smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

“Stuff” happens some times, but running out of gas is a lesson I learned once, and never again. Like CL said, I’d love to fish with ya, but if I do, I’m bringing a can of gas :slight_smile:
Re: trout, I suggest you move often, less than 10 min with no fish especially this time of year. Your results will improve dramatically.


2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com

Y’all are both ABSOLUTELY correct. The only times I’ve ever run out just happen to have been with him aboard. Completely embarassing and preventable, and I obviously take full responsibility. I usually keep a 5-gallon container of pre-mixed on the boat and actually had it in the bed of my truck.

And y’all have my word, it’ll NEVER happen again. EVER.


“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

dang man hope the bottom of the boat didnt fair too badly

I was wondering about that too, road rash can be ugly.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

quote:
Originally posted by sniper7

dang man hope the bottom of the boat didnt fair too badly


Didn’t appear too bad from what I can see. I’ll do a more thorough search when I have the time.

My main objective in this thread is providing information in hopes that it helps someone else. There are a lotta folks who’ll post about the good days, but who won’t mention their mishaps and mistakes on the bad days. I’m of the opinion you often learn more from the negative than the positive, so I include it all…


“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

Me and you both. I do stupid stuff on a regular basis. I try not to repeat them more than twice. Then the old saying kicks in…experience teaches us to recognize a mistake, after we’ve made it again :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

you need skinnee’s checklist

-wishes Macdaddy would come home

quote:
Originally posted by PeaPod

you need skinnee’s checklist

-wishes Macdaddy would come home


Dude, don’t blow Sasquatch’s head up any more than it already is. With all due respect that is, Mr. Pod.


“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

Bart, if you think that I haven’t had worse fishing days… At least the boat stayed right side up and we avoided the emergency room. All memories from days gone by.

That boat slid off the skids like buttered toast. I was walking towards the parking spaces and heard people shouting. All I could do is spin around and wave my arms stop!!! It took 2.5 seconds.

Wappoo ramp is steep and covered with slime. I have pushed boats off flats before (in my youth) and had ZERO hope of moving this boat one half inch. I think the combination of Bart being a fairly new boater and a hell of a big fellow led him to believe the boat might move. IT DID! Barts big ass and my old tired ass slid that boat back in the water like it was on rollers. I’m very optimistic as to the amount of hull damage. I think (guessing) it will be fairly minimum. And I’m not optimistic about boat damage by nature. :wink:

I don’t think Bart was out of gas and have outlined a way to test that theory. Hopefully Bart will buy a plastic 6 gal portable tank to be able to switch to it when the boat “runs out of gas” again. I think there is some other fuel problem. One way or other, the question will be answered if the portable tank is available.

bart, no disrespect meant. i’m sorry about that. i simply meat that a checklist might help. with my iq and education, i’m not coming from a superior position. i’ve done what you did and much worse.

-wishes Macdaddy would come home

quote:
Originally posted by PeaPod

bart, no disrespect meant. i’m sorry about that. i simply meat that a checklist might help. with my iq and education, i’m not coming from a superior position. i’ve done what you did and much worse.

-wishes Macdaddy would come home


I hope you’re kidding, Pod! Skinnee’s one of my buddies, and I like to think I’m learning to tell when you’re being serious vs. sarcastic. I take absolutely NO offense at anything you’ve ever said to me. Good day, sir. :sunglasses:


“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

Expensive trout, but worth it!


http://www.sustainablefishing.org/

www.joinrfa.com

Luke 8:22-25

Well, it was a bad day but no one was hurt and you learned something ! Happens to everyone at some point.

2013 Tidewater 180CC
115 Yamaha

Yep, everybody came home, nobody got hurt, the boat ain’t broke too bad, and you caught some fish :sunglasses: Learned something too. Sounds like a pretty good day to me:smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

Yep, everybody came home, nobody got hurt, the boat ain’t broke too bad, and you caught some fish :sunglasses: Learned something too. Sounds like a pretty good day to me:smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper


Age/experience = proper perspective. :sunglasses:


“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

Perspective is everything Scott. No matter how bad things are, they can always get worse :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper