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Neo · 07-05-2012, 07:14

I've finally got one of those fancy new smart phones courtesy of a unplanned dip at the dock. Last week while single handing my new, larger boat into a slip for the first time, I over estimated the length of my arms. So with my feet on the dock and my hands on the rail, and nothing in between but Salem Harbor, I had an infinitely long 3 seconds to ponder my fate. All I could come up with was, "Oh Sh#t". Not very creative. But once I pulled myself out of the cold water I realized I broke rule number one from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and a handy rule when boating, "DON'T PANIC".

If I had stopped for just one second I would have seen that I could have slowly walk around the slip to the bow to grab a line.

Well anyway, I am a first time owner of a Pearson 31 and a new smart phone.

Cheers

**zeehag** · 07-05-2012, 07:38

swimming is goood for ye---just try to keep out of the way of boats, even your own... congrats on your boat purchase and delivery and have fun with smartfone... smooth sailing!!!!

**Doodles** · 07-05-2012, 07:47

At our marina you would now be a candidate for the annual Golden Snorkel Award.

scook1 · 07-05-2012, 07:56

We have all been there before. But it doesn't stop us from having a good laugh at the poor soul who is treading water just off the dock!

Spencer

**HopCar** · 07-05-2012, 08:04

As I recall there was also something in the Hitch Hikers Guide about always having a towel.

**anjou** · 07-05-2012, 08:06

I got back to the apartment one night after a dirty day so I got through the door and stripped all clothes off and put them straight in the machine. After about 4 mins it suddenly dawned on me I had broken the routine and left my phone in my jeans pocket.
I had to wait a minute for the door lock to release and some water came out. I then retreived the phone and took the back off, took out the battery and sim, then spent all night drying it out with a hair dryer.

it took a further 2 weeks for the display to get back to normal but it worked fine.

**zeehag** · 07-05-2012, 08:07

a true liveaboard will always have a towel hanging on the rail--might even be dry---just sayin...

after fresh water, place smart fone into a bag of uncooked rice for as long as it takes to dry out--it works, i watched as a friends fone tried a swimming lesson ....

captainKJ · 07-05-2012, 08:25

Packaged silicon works very good. They sell at camera shops for when they shop lenses and cameras.

SailingwithSoul · 07-05-2012, 08:25

Also happened to me the other week. It was late in the evening, after work. I went down to Sailor's Soul check the bilges and test out some new LED lights. I stepped off the boat onto a raised box on the docks. The box gave way and down I went

Luckily the wind blew my ship toward me and I managed to grab the side with one hand on the way down. As I was hanging there, waist deep, I suddenly see my dress shoes pop out of the water in front of me. I put them onto the dock and pulled myself up. I ruined my smartphone and shoes that night. Once the salt water gets into the circuits, they corrode very quickly. Now I carry a small sandwich bag in my car just for the phone. What can one say, except Live, learn and try not to do it again?

S/V_Surya · 07-05-2012, 08:52

I got my new phone when my dog jumped from the dock to the boat and missed. I had a ladder that I was able to climb down to get him but my phone in my pants pocket went in when I grabbed him.

sweetsailing · 07-05-2012, 08:53

Taking a dip at the dock is something like running aground. Most sailors will experience both events at some point in time. It's just a little easier if the water is warmer. I fell off the dock in April in Minnesota one year. There was still ice on portions of the lake. After that, I now have a great appreciation for cold water and the effects of hypothermia.

**senormechanico** · 07-05-2012, 08:56

The only chance of saving electronics which has been immersed in salt water is remove the battery ASAP and dunk all of it in FRESH water.
Slosh it around, rinse thoroughly, the longer the better.
Dry thoroughly. Setting in the sun for a few days works nicely.
Even at that, there's a pretty slim chance of survival.

**Ocean Girl** · 07-05-2012, 10:47

If you fall in the water, make it good. Arms flailing, eyes wide, and the 'Oooh Noooo!' loud enough to draw attention of the boats two piers down.

I was getting ready for a hurricane, jumping on and off my boat, a Bristol 29.9 ( no lifelines). Anyways, the darn water hose was lying on deck and rolled out from under my bare feet. My feet were kicking like an olympic swimmer before the water even touched me, you would too if you knew how many people pumped overboard in that marina!

**CaptForce** · 07-05-2012, 14:08

Recently, we tied to the free dock at the Jacksonville Landing during a weekend. At 2:30 am we were awakening by some banging on our hull. I was quick to investigate, but heard someone call out, "Get out of there! Put up your hands!". This slowed me way down, Was someone really asking me to come out with my hands up? I cautiously peeked out the portlight and saw a man calling into the water for someone to hold up his hands. Sure enough, there was one of several men, who had been over served at the bar, hanging on one on my spring lines in the strong current! With my sober help and better leverage from my deck we hoisted him out. He was a non swimmer, and barely walking, but very grateful as he made his way toward home without his shoes. Ah, excitment at the downtown public docks!

**minaret** · 07-05-2012, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodles

At our marina you would now be a candidate for the annual Golden Snorkel Award.

At our boatyard the long standing rule is that he who falls in must buy beer for all those who witness it. It is a rule which has been religiously adhered to for many years.