Maiden Voyage

[Poche]

After months of working on the engine systems I was ready to go for a harbor engine cruise/test. The boat had been sitting for awhile.
I untied the starboard lines after running the engine and checking fuel, oil pressure and temperature.
I was quite a bit nervous because I hadn't operated a boat for a long time.
I put it in reverse and started backing slowly out and the boat stopped like I hit a sandbar.
WTF...did something build up under the boat over the time of sitting? Did the monthly diver not notice or clean that deep? Did the prop start spinning on the shaft?
Then I walked up to the bow and noticed I failed to untie the port bow line.
Idiot moment.

[mike d.]

Not hardly! SHs ! Don't fret about it ! Just don't forget ! We all do/did (blank) stuff !

[MV Wanderlust]

It happens. At least you didn’t rip the dock clear loose. Saw that happen once. Sounded like a gunshot and the SnapBack was dangerous.

[Calif.Ted]

I've even heard of people forgetting to unplug the shorepower !!!

[Jim Cate]

Ummm... (should I even admit to this???)

Some years ago I backed out of a marina berth, having carefully freed all the dock lines. Every thing was goin' well until the old Zodiac acted like a giant snubber, catapulting us back into the berth. Seems the painter was properly attached to a stern cleat, but the after dock line on the dink was still attached firmly to the dock. It's one way to get a bigger dinghy, but not advised. Actually pulled the bow d-ring off the hypalon most of the way. Another session with the SC-2000 glue and some patching material fixed it up...

Not my finest hour, and naturally with a lot of witnesses.

Jim

[Poche]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Ummm... (should I even admit to this???)

Not my finest hour, and naturally with a lot of witnesses.

Jim

I was lucky....only you guys and me know and we're somewhat anonymous to each other.

[Reefmagnet]

Interesting point about witnesses Jim. Why are there never any around when things go chest beatingly perfect, yet they appear out of the woodwork in vast numbers as soon as things go to hell in a handbasket. What's the deal with that??

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

I've even heard of people forgetting to unplug the shorepower !!!

Ha, no way! How could anyone ever forget the.....errrr.......ahem, oh nevermind

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Ha, no way! How could anyone ever forget the.....errrr.......ahem, oh nevermind

That's a constant fear of mine. Last week I shortened the shore power lead significantly so it's just long enough, and I take a turn around the stern line on its way to the boat. The plan being that I can't start mucking about with the stern line without remembering to disconnect. So far it's working...

[gamayun]

I have zero excuse because I dock stern in and have to pass the power cable to get back aboard the boat after tossing the lines. I can tell ya that after doing it twice now, I was much quicker to recognize the signs/sounds the second time it happened and could then unwind the process, so to speak, much more quickly and before any damage could occur. There is something to be said for experience, but I really like the idea of taking a turn around the stern line. That's rather brilliant actually.