Note to self, always start dinghy engine before casting off.

[dougweibel]

My wife always insists on loading all the kit into the dingy and she just made me look like a genius instead of an idiot. We had anchored and wanted to go explore. She insisted on going back to the boat, as soon as we cast off and she took her mental inventory, to get the 1 gal gas can we carry even though I had just topped up the integral tank. Of course exploring ended up taking a long time and although we would have (just) made it back to our boat a couple hailed us from across the anchorage and we changed direction to go chat. 30 yards from their boat the outboard dies. While she is chatting with the couple I pulled out the gas can, refilled the outboard tank and fired it right back up. Thanks honey!

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

Very true.

An experience mariner would not rely on an engine.

People row across the ocean, even some, against the prevailing wind, in much larger boats than the dingy the OP described.

People who use engines are weak. They lack the physical capability to swing an oar properly, even just for a minute or two.

Lol. Am I to understand that you think I'm weak??
If so.......well I don't care much about whaf you think.
Bareboat charter dingys have cheap plastic oars.
Cheap every thing.

[Dave_S]

Not sure about this one, but a lesson in it anyway.

A guy single handed goes to check out the entryway to an atoll in the middle of nowhere. Comes back ties the tender on, climbs aboard, lifts the anchor and starts heading for the entry. He notices the tender come lose. Shuts everything down and swims for the tender. A gust of wind comes and pushes the tender, then another, and another. All of a sudden he realised the boat had also blown away and he was by himself a long way from help and realising maybe he would not reach either boat.

He did swim back to the boat and motor back for the tender but it could have been much worse.

[Wild Cherry]

Think or thwim ...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Not sure about this one, but a lesson in it anyway.

A guy single handed goes to check out the entryway to an atoll in the middle of nowhere. Comes back ties the tender on, climbs aboard, lifts the anchor and starts heading for the entry. He notices the tender come lose. Shuts everything down and swims for the tender. A gust of wind comes and pushes the tender, then another, and another. All of a sudden he realised the boat had also blown away and he was by himself a long way from help and realising maybe he would not reach either boat.

He did swim back to the boat and motor back for the tender but it could have been much worse.

Silly Booga.. have swum after my dinghy.. but my boat was anchored at the time.
Wind kept it away from me so swam back started the engine, upped anchor and went after it.. re-anchored the other side of the bay then swam ashore to get it off the beach.
Intensive training in knots followed for crew..

[Robert Tilbury]

lift off the motor cowl and unplug the kill switch its just a wire that goes to earth ,, learn where it is ,,,,,
Easy fix

[Nani Kai]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

Very true.

An experience mariner would not rely on an engine.

People row across the ocean, even some, against the prevailing wind, in much larger boats than the dingy the OP described.

People who use engines are weak. They lack the physical capability to swing an oar properly, even just for a minute or two.

I'm sure they do. I'm not bad at rowing myself. I also have a single Hawaiian outrigger canoe I paddle when I'm not using my wife's kayak. The point in discussion was how does one manage a situation where they have chartered a boat whose dinghy has useless plastic oar shaped "things" and no oar locks if the provided engine won't start and how does one act when assisting a sailboat from a power boat. Don't have to Primitive Man to be a mariner.

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by Flagman101

Lol. Am I to understand that you think I'm weak??

I'm sorry, I should have said "weaker" It is a relative term anyway.

If you row your dingy everywhere you go, you would be stronger than if you use a motor.

You would also save time, because you would live longer.

[goat]

Here's one that got me. New Honda 2.3hp 4 stroke. Would run for a few minutes then die. Blisters on my pull cord hand. Made up a few words that made me blush. Finally got it started with the fuel cap open and realized it wasn't venting. When I played with the cap I found that the 'on' and 'off' positions were both off. With the switch halfway it works just fine.


goat

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

I'm sorry, I should have said "weaker" It is a relative term anyway.

If you row your dingy everywhere you go, you would be stronger than if you use a motor.

You would also save time, because you would live longer.

Oh boy.
I guess you did not get that the dingy is not my property.
Even if bareboat dingy have oars in them, they lack the braces and the seat to be able to row properly. So it is impossible to row both side at the same time. This makes it impossible to go straight.

As for my health, please do not concern yourself as I am in very good physical health. I might not row the dingy but I do more exercise in a week then most North American.

Please try and see the humour in my post and not the technical aspect as this ruins the fun.
Beam winds.

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by goat

Here's one that got me. New Honda 2.3hp 4 stroke. Would run for a few minutes then die. Blisters on my pull cord hand. Made up a few words that made me blush. Finally got it started with the fuel cap open and realized it wasn't venting. When I played with the cap I found that the 'on' and 'off' positions were both off. With the switch halfway it works just fine.
Attachment 165161

goat

A friend of mine, actually an ocean crossing rower, bought a Girby 27. She has a brand new Honda 9.9 4 cycles engine on it.
We put the beast in the water and try and start the engine. Would not start.
The fuel tank was full, the vent open. Both nothing. She actually hurt her back.
I jump in trying to figure out what is wrong.
I felt that even if the fuel tank was full, no fuel was getting to the engine. Finally found the selector switch with a not so clear pictogram that indicates that you can select internal tank, external or off.
It was on the off position.
She was cursing like a sailor when I explained what the problem was.

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by Flagman101

Oh boy.
I guess you did not get that the dingy is not my property.

Thanks for the reply, and I am really intending constructive comments although my form of humor is often misinterpreted.

Even if bareboat dingy have oars in them, they lack the braces and the seat to be able to row properly. So it is impossible to row both side at the same time. This makes it impossible to go straight.

For me the topic reads as: "note to self, do not own/rent/operate dingy that lacks adequate propulsion"

I consider the mistake already made long before casting off. A motor gives 0 points toward adequate propulsion, as it can actually stop working at any moment without warning.

If the dingy has no upwind sailing ability, it better have good oars. For a dingy that is too big to scull on one oar, it should probably have two sets.

Please try and see the humour in my post and not the technical aspect as this ruins the fun.
Beam winds.

I do see the humor and I thank you for it. Despite my views, you managed to succeed.

[LoudMusic]

This is actually on many boating tests. Start the engine before you go to the trouble of tying lines. If it doesn't start there's no use in undoing those lovely cleat hitches.

[Robert Tilbury]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Bay locks..
Its more technique than brute force and ignorance.

agree "BAY LOCK`S"

[Mistress Sirena]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

Thanks for the reply, and I am really intending constructive comments although my form of humor is often misinterpreted.

For me the topic reads as: "note to self, do not own/rent/operate dingy that lacks adequate propulsion"

I consider the mistake already made long before casting off. A motor gives 0 points toward adequate propulsion, as it can actually stop working at any moment without warning.

If the dingy has no upwind sailing ability, it better have good oars. For a dingy that is too big to scull on one oar, it should probably have two sets.


I do see the humor and I thank you for it. Despite my views, you managed to succeed.

Maybe some kind of head injury then that would explain it.