It's bound to happen!
 

Launched the newly acquired V-20 for the first time Saturday at high tide and high nervousness. Normally there isn't any other boats using the little out of the way neighbor hood ramp, but of course as soon as we dipped the trailer into the water, two trucks with boats pulled up and backed into line. Luckily the boat slipped off. It fired up and I made it back to my dock. We promptly cruised out to the Intercoastal and ran aground. It wasn't serious though and soon we were headed for Clearwater bay at high speed.
I left in the water overnight and awoke at 3:00 in the morning sweating bullets worrying if I could get it back on the trailer correctly and if the old Jeep with 140,000 miles would pull it up the steep ramp.
At high tide on Sunday, I took it for a run into the Intercoastal and spotted a Dolphin. I ran aground again trying to get a closer look. After getting back into the lane, I opened up the throttle and the wind caught my Bimini top which was lying in front of the consol and it hit me in the face. Never did find my hat. I returned quietly to the ramp as my friend manuvered the trailer into the water. The moment of truth was here. Just as I lined up, a truck with a huge boat pulled in to use the ramp. If that wasn't bad enough, 7 people out for stroll decided toodle to the ramp and watch. I had this gigantic audience watching a guy with bloodshot eyes and shaky hands move up to the trailer. I told them it was the first time.The boat hit just right and with a little throttle she climbed onto the trailer. The old Jeep didn't even strain and we were out to lots of applause.
We backed it into the driveway and I went inside and crawled under my bed for the rest of the day.

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

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LOOK FOR THIS IN "Off Topic"

*Real Boater Test Taken from the BoatUS website
« on: Mar 29th, 2007, 9:08pm » *Quote *Modify *

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Are You A Real Boater?
Boating Quiz #1

Have You Ever...
1. Fallen off your boat
2. Fallen off a dock
3. Been rocked off a porto-potty
4. Forgotten to put the plug in
5. Spun a prop
6. Taken off with the anchor down
7. Gotten lost on the water
8. Run out of gas
9. Gotten stuck on a sand bar
10. Let your car stay broken so you could spend money to have your boat fixed
11. Paid too much for a boat
12. Not been able to put a part back together that you disassembled to fix
13. Been stuck in the rain
14. Dropped a watch or piece of ***elry overboard

Scoring: If you have said yes to 10 or more - you are a REAL boater.
7-10 First Mate.
4-6 Cabin Boy.
0-3 Swabbie.

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

Yes Seas, you will see that ol Blue is a REAL boater! ;D

No, really what's bound to happen is to leave the plug out! You don't forget after you about sink one either!

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

Boat ramp watching is one of my favorive things to do.

Glad you got out on the V, the best way to learn is to do......you will be a pro in no time, but I suggest you get a depth finder.

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

I almost spit all over the puter when you said the Bimi came up and hit you!! ;)

I have done 7 of the things on that list, including leaving the plug out, running a ground.

You will get it, it will take some time but you wil be a pro in no time!!

And like Randle, I love watching the ramp, you see some real funny crap there!!

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

Seasand, glad you gotter wet. As far as the face goes, well there are plastic surgeons out there for ya. ;D ;D

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

Damm, I almost forgot. Seasand, Where are the PICS. !!

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

Nothin broke, everything worked, and nobody wounded seriously; I'd call it a great trip

Congrats ;D

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

CONGRATS!!!!!

I hope my first splash in a week or two is as good.
TH

Re: It's bound to happen!
 

I agree ... for a first splash, sounds like huge success!! 8) ... slidin' around the boating learnin' curve sometimes is painful...to the wallet or the FACE :o ...