Boat launch fiasco.

Well I have to say this year it was me. I told the kid to put the plug in. Half way out on the lake I stopped to calibrate the new terrova. My mom asks why my floors so wet. Well I just assumed the boy plugged the right hole but nope, he plugged the livewell drain lol. I had to fly back in and cut in front of a few guys to quick get my boat out. I heard the guys in line laughing at me, moral of the story is I should never assume the kid knows. Only made a ass out of me. But life will go on. We didn’t sink and we are now on walleye number 4

All’s well that ends well.
I would say good luck fishing but sounds like you have it dialed in.
Have fun out there today.

Man, been there. Except it was me that messed up the plug situation. One or thrice… on my own boat… lol

I’ve only forgotten once and I could reach it leaning over the back so nobody had to know That reminds me though, I should fix my bilge pump someday…

Reef W wrote:

I could reach it leaning over the back

This ^^^^

Reef W wrote:

I’ve only forgotten once

Doing it multiple times, means one gets better at reaching over the back.

That’s why I have a pontoon.

I left the dock without the plug in……once. I never forget to check anymore.

It’ll happen to all of us eventually. Never got the mentality of being angry at a boat ramp at someone’s misfortunes or new comings .

The lesson to be learned is don’t split the pre-launch duties. Either have the kid do it all while you sit and watch or do it all yourself.

Lesson learned for both or you. Now have some fun.

That type of stuff happens to all of us. Plug, leaving safety straps on, etc. All routine stuff but easy to miss one component.

Last year I burned thru way more gas in high winds than I thought I would and ran out, Resort owner came and helped me out. 5 year old was with me and he and my wife still joke about it with me. I tell my son that yeah I did mess up and every mistake he sees dad make he needs to learn from and hopefully do better.

Dutchboy wrote:

The lesson to be learned is don’t split the pre-launch duties. Either have the kid do it all while you sit and watch or do it all yourself.

Lesson learned for both or you. Now have some fun.

Agreed. Boat owners should have a launching routine and having another person “help” usually doesn’t help anything at all. Part of my routine now if I have another person with me is to politely tell them that I have a routine and have it all handled myself.

Yeah, just reach back there and put it in. I have had that happen one time. Water was almost up to the console when I realized it.

Did that last fall. I thought “No problem I’ll just pump it out with the bilge pump”. Three weeks later I finally had all the water out. Should have put it back on the trailer.

SR

Those are what we call a learning experience, for both the teacher and teachee hahaha.

I have a routine. This is the first time ever I’ve had him do my part. Crap happens. , just was posting to laugh at my self. I can’t reach my plug unless I go half in the water. Otherwise I would have tried that. My initial though was my livewell line broke

I have still not learned to check all the boxes myself when it comes to hooking trailers launching boats etc. even with kids wife and guys who you would think know better. Too many plugs left out straps not unhooked couplers not attached correctly 5th wheel couplers not pinned correctly. I have made enough errors myself learned from school of hard knocks. My insurance and toys/equip. So my responsibility and insurance so I make it a practice to check everything before taking off. And still I screw up but have two 1000 gpm bilge pumps and have had to use them at times

As I get older, I find it best to double check myself. Especially if someone interrupts my routine. Which is my biggest peeve with some AIS inspectors (aquatic invasive species) who want to interrupt a person, when that person is preparing their boat to be launched.

Easy fix at least! I always have to triple check myself. Even if i know i did it i always recheck. Especially when putting the straps back on.

First thing I do is put the plug in before touching anything else . I Try not to be rude to those AIS inspectors but routines routine.

self draining boat plugs are out there, not sure how good or bad they are…

just a thought

Stuff happens. I saw a boat sitting low on the dock once at a campground. Guy forgot to put the plug in and it sank. Was quite the ordeal to get out.

I have an auto bilge on my boat that has saved me a time or two when launching. Why is a bunch of water being pumped out the boat barely in the water

Mike Schulz wrote:

self draining boat plugs are out there, not sure how good or bad they are…

just a thought

Just a question for you;
Does a self draining type of plug meet the legal requirement that drain plugs must be removed? If the plug must be removed what has one gained?
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/preventspread_watercraft.html#:~:text=KNOW%20THE%20LAW%3A%20You%20may,with%20drain%20plug%20in%20place.

Mike Schulz wrote:

self draining boat plugs are out there, not sure how good or bad they are…

just a thought

Still wouldn’t help if it’s not in the right hole

that’s for damn sure!!!!

I thought some were approved by the DNR…

Bearcat89 wrote:

Still wouldn’t help if it’s not in the right hole

That’s what she said…

Mike Schulz wrote:

I thought some were approved by the DNR…

I believe the ones by digger are approved.

lol If one own’s a boat, this has likely happened to them, so you’re not alone. I know I’ve had an occasion or two.

right on both counts CaptainMuskey!!!

I forgot to put my plug in one time. We were pulling cranks on Otter tail. About 3 fish in I looked down and the floor had water rising. Bilge pump wasn’t working so I got the boat on plane and drove around till I couldn’t see anymore water coming out. Reached in through the cut out and got the plug in.

Another time we were in my dad’s bass boat one year and no plug. I didn’t want to go back in so I reached around the back and had to have him hold onto my feet while my upper body was under water.