Thread: Weekend Fun & Not so Fun.

Had a former Co Worker contact me, wanted to see my boat up close and personal, and get a crash course in Salmon fishing.

Thought he was kind of nuts to drive 2.5 hours to my place to go, then another 1.5 to Muskegon, but ok. Even told him it has not been productive fishing.

So we get to Muskegon, launch, teach him how to set lines. He must have really wanted to learn, because when they were all set, he said "Can we pull them all up, and let me do it again?" Sure, so he did it 5 or 6 times.

Riggers, Divers, spoons, meat rigs, etc. He did not catch anything, Heck, after the first time i didn't do anything, and when we left, he pulled all rods. Was kind of weird, to me after fishing so long by myself.

Anyway, back at the Dock, a weekend warrior family was launching, and the boat drifts away form the dock with the daughter in the boat, floating away, and she does not know how to start the boat........

She ties a rope, takes off her clothes (Except Swim Suit) gets ready to jump in and someone in a bass boat was able to motor over and help.

In the mean time, I'm thinking, "Glad that's not me.........."

That was my mistake of the day...........

Cranking the boat onto the trailer, and look under the bow eye, it is not touching just yet, its about 5 clicks away from being in the proper position for travel, and after 2 of the 5 clicks.........

SNAP, Whoosh, SLAP, BBBSZZZZZZZZZZZZZBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTT

The snap was the Boat Winch Strap failing at the hook, the WHOOSH was the strap from the back lash, the SLAP was the strap, smacking against the metal shield from back lash, the BBBSZZZZZZZZZZZZZBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTT was the boat rolling off the rollers. (Roller Trailer) as the boat rolls off the rollers out towards the harbor.........

Co worker was thinking, "WTF? Is that normal, Hey Aaron your eyes are pretty big........, why is your boat going fishing without you?

Yelled at the Co worker GRAB THAT BOAT, and he was able to snag the rope I use for launching, and retrieving while alone, off the bow of the boat as it was floating past him.

Went to grab the spare winch strap that I keep in the boat for towing others if ever needed, and I realized, I don't have WRENCHES, with me.

SO, Trailer had to get backed in deeper, got the safety chain hooked up, and pulled it out sloooooooooolllllllyyyyyyyyyy.

Got it out, and Co worker was like, "Ill Push it" GGRRRUUNNNNNT,,,,, comes back to the front, how far did I move it? I busted up laughing............. Took BOTH of us to push it up, ratchet down in back, used the extra strap as best could, clipped to eye, and tied to trailer tongue, and a ratchet strap I had/keep in the boat if ever needed.

Got it home, found that it required 14 MM wrenches to swap out the whole strap. Quick trip to Ace Hardware, got two American made Craftsman Wrenches, both 14MM, both are in the truck now FOREVER if my boat is going to be hooked to my truck.
Getting the strap, and another extra just in case to put in the truck, or maybe in the boat again in case some one needs a tow ever, (Like ME) for the $10.00, its not a bad investment.

Like I said, fishing with me is an ADVENTURE, not for the weak of heart.......lol

The worst was the wind that pushed it sideways, after its escape., and subsequent retrieve, from the rope, and trying to miss other boats at the launch, which we did, and i got a few scratches on the Port side Bow in the front. I will see if I can buff them out later.


That was my weekend......... OH, went to "Il Divo" last night with Mrs OE. I'm in her good graces for a few weeks, or at least well into Hunting season.......


OE