It's bound to happen!

[seasand77]

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.