Henderson Monday 10/12..Fire On Board...

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10-12-2021, 08:03 PM
prefers shiners

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Henderson Monday 10/12..Fire On Board...

Made my second trip out since July.... the trip last Thursday only one sac, 3 catfish and one gar....single pole and spider rig shiners....Monday weather was perfect, started around 7 AM....rode around trying to spot some fish but nada....saw about 20 egrets ling the banks on both sides so tried a roadrunner for about 15 min....nada....so I crossed the lake with my trolling motor running wide open and when I got to the other side the trolling motor wires just behind the plug burst into flames about 6" high....ran to the back of the boat to turn off the master switch to the TM all the while thinking how close am I to dry land....got back to the front and grabbed the fire extinguisher from the storage locker....by this time the fire was all out so I didn't have to use it....the wire was completely burned in two (plug not shown in picture)...good thing I didn't need any help as I bet there was not more than 4 boats on the whole lake...this was around 8:30....too early to call it quits besides I had 3 bags of shiners....so I went to one of my favorite stumps and tied up...saw tons of fish on the bottom but no bites after an hour....got a call from one of my buddies and he and his friend were on a spot I told him he may catch some...I went there but just drifting or anchored down didn't cut it...I quit at 11:30 with an empty live well....they wound up with 43 between them...and, it ain't over yet....I always put my tailgate down before backing my trailer down so I can hop off the boat on it...as I was backing the trailer I noticed my new "Drotto" was floppy (bolt too loose) so I pulled up and went to back the trailer up in the shade so I could tighten the bolt...turned too tight and the tailgate hit the winch stand and lifted up one side of the trailer....trailer is OK but I put a nice dent in the top of the tailgate....now the good news, went to my boat guy today and he cut out the plug and hard wired the trolling motor....he said all the pros are doing this now because of plug problems...and the beat goes on...

Attachment 410529 Attachment 410530
10-12-2021, 08:11 PM
BuckeyeCrappie

Man a tough day. Glad it was just mechanical stuff if that’s any consolation.
10-12-2021, 09:24 PM
Huntjwm

Sorry for the problems but love the attitude Mr. Bruce.

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10-13-2021, 06:48 AM
PawPaw Gene

Glad all is OK. You're one heck of a friend, giving your spot to a fishing buddy and he catches all the fish. Happy to call you friend.
PPG
10-13-2021, 08:20 AM
DockShootinJack

Rough day for sure. I used direct burial rated splices. Heat shrink placed over top. I have melted a plug before, but not that bad
10-13-2021, 08:49 AM
Skippa Chippa

I'm in the same boat with ya. Broken belts on trailer tire, bad bearing on opposite side, water in plastic gas tank, wheel bearings on side X side and to top it all off yesterday evening I was unloading corn barrels I busted a hydrolic line that squirting fluid back in my face. When is the bad luck gonna quit, I'm almost afraid to touch anything cause it might BREAK.
10-13-2021, 08:58 AM
DockShootinJack

Nothing like a face full of hydraulic fluid to make a fellas day complete
10-13-2021, 09:16 AM
fishervet

Glad you good uncle…next time my plug goes out I will hard wire mine too…

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10-13-2021, 09:45 AM
cajun

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishervet

Glad you good uncle…next time my plug goes out I will hard wire mine too…

Avoid a dangerous situation now. Pull the plug; clean the terminals with a wire brush and the inside connectors with a bore brush then apply Super Lube Anti-Corrosion & Connector Gel to the terminals. Do this once a year and you're good to go.
10-13-2021, 12:30 PM
shadow

Wow! Never burnt a plug, probably because I always direct wire mine. BUT I have burnt the wires up INSIDE the head of a trolling motor! AND I have put a dent in my tailgate just like you have there!
10-13-2021, 12:34 PM
DockShootinJack

I got into the winch handle with the tailgate. Had to replace the winch. This new boat is pretty short tongue. I did forgwt and leave the tailgate down.
10-13-2021, 01:24 PM
prefers shiners

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishervet

Glad you good uncle…next time my plug goes out I will hard wire mine too…

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In the meantime, make sure your fire extinguisher is good....and handy...
10-13-2021, 01:28 PM
prefers shiners

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I got into the winch handle with the tailgate. Had to replace the winch. This new boat is pretty short tongue. I did forgwt and leave the tailgate down.

I should have been paying more attention as I had destroyed a winch the same way few years back.....
10-13-2021, 01:35 PM
prefers shiners

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippa Chippa

I'm in the same boat with ya. Broken belts on trailer tire, bad bearing on opposite side, water in plastic gas tank, wheel bearings on side X side and to top it all off yesterday evening I was unloading corn barrels I busted a hydrolic line that squirting fluid back in my face. When is the bad luck gonna quit, I'm almost afraid to touch anything cause it might BREAK.

Man, you need a break real soon.....look up, cooler weather is almost here.....
10-13-2021, 02:01 PM
yankar

Your story sounds like one of mine. Just change some names of what went wrong. We have all been there. Glad everything came out ok in the end. My boy ran out of gas and put troll on high for 1 .5mi. Could see smoke coming out of battery compartment. Lucky no fire. Melted wires .But no gas either!! Would wait at least a week to buy a lotto ticket

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10-13-2021, 08:08 PM
"D"

Man, sounds like me. All i had today was a flat on my 5th wheel. Was fixing to go from Fredericksburg to Waco and I noticed it on my last pass look over. Fortunately was 2 blocks from a tire shop. Get back out there old buddy. The tailgate would have made my stomach ache for a while, but I've been through the trolling motor event before.
10-13-2021, 11:09 PM
escout

Circuit breaker!! It should save you from a fire. Good you had the smarts to jump for the fire extinguisher. Might only have a few seconds to get it. Good idea for all of us to rehearse situations such as this and come up with a plan of action.
10-17-2021, 09:25 AM
Micropterus salmoides

Glad all went good accordingly after it all went not so much so...there was something in that day that was a blessing, I’m sure of it.
Take care Mr Gene.

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