Forgot my keys

[terah]

Flew out to the boat today. As my flight finished boarding and they closed the door I switched off from work mode and started thinking about boat jobs. First one was to check the key I'd left at the marina (which the marina had told me didn't work) against my own key. Oh. Crap.

[LoudMusic]

Dad and I used to get all the way to the lake with the 15' trailer boat only to realize while launching that we left the rudder in the garage.

[SV Siren]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

Dad and I used to get all the way to the lake with the 15' trailer boat only to realize while launching that we left the rudder in the garage.

Kinda funny, I am sure in the moment not so much. My dad when I was a kid was launching our Catalina 22 at the ramp, and had installed the rudder, but forgot to secure the rudder in the pintles. Well, needless to say the rudder un-installed itself in 7' of murky water, and my dad had to dive to retrieve it, he was not happy, and everyone at the boat launch was watching and waiting for us to move so they could launch... There is always a crowd when things go south.

[Fiveslide]

I took my son out to the boat one day with no keys. I hotwired it because he is a 4 year old non verbal child with a temper and would have hated going back to the house for the keys... My boat is only 150 meters from my house but it was worth it.

[Mirage35]

Did that last week. Two and a half hour drive to the boat, realized as I arrived that I didn't have the boat key.


Fortunately there is a spare hidden outside the boat (not as risky as it may sound: I know where it is and it still took me five minutes to find it).


And then, an hour later, I realized that there's another boat key on the ring with my car keys, specifically done to save myself from this problem and then forgotten.

[406Columbia]

Gentlemen,

Cipher locks are your friend or even a small supra lock box.

[a64pilot]

Apparently if you have a Yanmar key that looks like a barrel, there is only one key, they are all the same.
I keep a couple of spares myself.

[Calif.Ted]

Asked new owner of powerboat next to me why he wasn't going out.
"I can't start the starboard engine because my girlfriend threw the key overboard" and held up a key with a big label PORT ENGINE. I started his port engine with the starboard key and told him "Almost all Yanmars use the same key, you can get 1 at the shipyard for $12 or 6 at the hardware store for $10, better get 6 in case she returns".

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by SV Siren

There is always a crowd when things go south.

Ain't that the truth.. bigger the problem, bigger the crowd..


Try just about sinking a boat at the ramp, and see what happens-

[Mirage35]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Gentlemen,

Cipher locks are your friend or even a small supra lock box.

List of things I know I should do but don't get around to - maybe number 376 ...

[Jammer]

I don't lock my boat.

[landsend]

I always keep a spare key "hidden" on the boat. Has come in useful a couple of times.

[SVTwilight]

BTDT-

Equally annoying is knocking the fuel cap overboard when fueling. The bead chains they use for leashes never more than a season.

Then a nice swim in the pristine water that surrounds every fuel dock. :-)

It is a contest to see who can knock it over more often, me or the dog.

And yeah, I’m smart enough to usually put it in my pocket, but why can’t there be a better way to secure these?

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by SV Siren

Kinda funny, I am sure in the moment not so much. My dad when I was a kid was launching our Catalina 22 at the ramp, and had installed the rudder, but forgot to secure the rudder in the pintles. Well, needless to say the rudder un-installed itself in 7' of murky water, and my dad had to dive to retrieve it, he was not happy, and everyone at the boat launch was watching and waiting for us to move so they could launch... There is always a crowd when things go south.

I can relate. Mine popped out in 20 knot winds on the Sacramento River. TG it floated!

[terah]

As I arrived at the marina, wondering if I was going to be able to break in, I got a text from a local I'd asked to change the gas hoses:

Him: That's me replaced your hoses now.
Me: !?! How did you get in?
Him: The key at the marina didn't work so I broke in. Hope that's OK.
Me:

Then I realised I'd also left my laptop charger...