The day I joined the Turtle Club

[crazyoldboatguy]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Wouldn't help. They are the same woman. Of course I haven't dropped mine in the drink yet. Oh wait, I did dump her in a stream from a canoe twenty years ago. That was her last time in a canoe.

We had rented a canoe and were headed down a beautiful spring run here in Florida. Branches overhung the water and each time we came to one she'd grab it stopping the canoe and slowly work her way under it. I struggled to keep the current from turning us side ways. About the third branch we went over. When I came up she was literally hanging from the branch. I told her to put her feet down and she realized she was standing in water that didn't come up to her knees.

Round these parts those branches are called
"sweeps" ..... & for good reason!

[Rustic Charm]

Well, that was a long read but I couldn't stop reading

Dave, you must be about the only person in Australia that takes the vhf radio license so seriously.

[yachttie]

Pommy Dave, that is such a well told story. I normally couldn't read such a long prose but I couldn't help myself. I have cried laughing for the last 15 minutes.

[PommyDave]

Dear Rustic Charm. You could well be right, my friend, but as a senior ham who holds an Advanced license (the original AOCP, complete with CW) I have a lot to lose if I am jumped on for doing the wrong thing. It took me years to get my license, and I therefore value it.
Conversely, I have heard of rogue amateurs (licensed hams) and unlicensed radio pirates who flouted the law outrageously for years before the authorities did anything to them. Such is life, eh?
Just listen to any of the UHF CB repeaters as an example of foul language and misuse.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

With the VHf licence you may well be able to self study and sit the multi choice exam. Much cheaper than doing a full course, and it should be easy if you have a Ham background.
.

I second this.

I attended the course run at the local sea rescue and I wasted my money. Seriously they taught us nothing, and they took two days to do so. Felt like a fool for paying for the so called training. The book and the links from SP were all that I really needed.


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[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by GILow

I second this.

I attended the course run at the local sea rescue and I wasted my money. Seriously they taught us nothing, and they took two days to do so. Felt like a fool for paying for the so called training. The book and the links from SP were all that I really needed.


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The course has value for those with no radio exposure and that struggle to learn from books.

Most people that visit CF have the learning skills and motivation to self study it successfully.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

The course has value for those with no radio exposure and that struggle to learn from books.

Most people that visit CF have the learning skills and motivation to self study it successfully.

Or, in fairness, the course is taught better elsewhere. Honestly, if I had no radio exposure prior to the course I would have been thoroughly doomed. The guy at the front just rambled on with a couple of anecdotes and answered any questions put to him about course material with other anecdotes.

The whole experience was weird, and totally at odds with the level of professionalism I have experienced from the sea rescue guys before and since.

M

[Fore and Aft]

The only thing you did wrong was stop at Maccas for a feed! That has got to be worse for your health than a little swim.

Cheers

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

The only thing you did wrong was stop at Maccas for a feed! That has got to be worse for your health than a little swim.

Cheers

Hey they fatten kids, can't be all bad

(That's ironary just to be clear)

[PommyDave]

We had to have some food, and quickly. Cafe at the marina was closed. She ate a wrap, I had a quarter pounder. We normally stay well clear of Golden arches these days.

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[cwyckham]

Haha, thank you for posting. It makes me feel better about my own antics.

I have more than a few "stupid skipper tricks" stories as well. I should start writing them all down!

[PommyDave]

I reckon you should, Chris. It's always good to know there are others out there who have made mist takes (!!) as well. It just helps if you can live to tell the tale, eh?

[edelweis]

I have a slighly different story still very ammusing.

Some 30 yrs ago i built a wooden 26 ft "snekker",a norwegian boat type.
The boat had a single cylinder 5/9 Saab semi diesel motor.
The build took all my spare time over a period of two yrs,definatly not popular with my wife. when finished she refused to come on the boat with me for the next 2 yrs.
Finaly i convinced her to come on a trip one Sunday.
I am mechanicly adept,i rebuit the engine myself before installing it.
Early in the morning i went to the harbour and ombord,i checked everything,oil,diesel,water and started the motor-everything perfekt.
i carried on cleaning the boat,it had to be PERFECT today

10.00 my wifw arrived and came onbord,we where going to visit some freinds an hours trip further down the fjord.my wife loked lovely,White jeans,white blouse and jumper. i started the motor, we left the harbour my wife siting on one side of the cockpit and looking quite happy.

After comming out in clear water i decided too do somthing which Iknow should not be done and the consequences. I took the top of the motor case and pulled the oil dipstikk. We had an immediate "blowout", we where both covered in black oil,10 seconds later came the explosion,my wife is norwegian but i heard some language that even I some are english had not heard before!

I wanted to return to the harbour so vi could go home and clean up but my wife demanded to carry on to our freinds, less embarisment there.She was later driven home.I took the boat home.

This was my biggest boat blunder ever especialy as it goes against everything i know about engines.i shall never know why i did it.

Today we are still married and i have a sailboat and we have enjoyed some nice holidays on it beleive it or not.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, edelweis.