Newb made horrible newb mistake!

[Glocker]

Ughhhhh! I feel like such a tard. I'm new to boat ownership and yesterday was only my second time ever launching and recovering a boat.

I was very proud of my self for how well I got the boat in the water and then on the dock in the morning. Again in the early evening I was feeling good with how well I got the boat on the dock, got the trailer on the ramp, and then got the boat on the trailer.

And then I pulled up off the ramp and my truck sounded and felt weird. I thought I was breaking traction on the wet ramp. Then I realized my stupid mistake. I didn't raise the outdrive, of course. I ground down the skeg pretty good and put a good bend in it. Damn it, I feel like such a idiot!

My plan is to buy a hammer and dolly set, and slowly work the bend out of the skeg. I then have to grind the junk off the sides of the skeg where it drug. Then I'll probably spring for a skeg guard.

Did I mention I feel like a complete idiot? Arghhhh!

I've got photos but I don't want to post them up on Facebook to be able to put them up on here.

On the good side of boat ownership; I had the impeller replaced and all the fluids changed. The boat ran great yesterday and my wife really enjoyed it. She even drove it for a couple minutes! And with the help of a friend I got the boat rewired for a stereo and installed a Bluetooth reciever in it on Saturday.

 

[Glocker]

Here are the results of my stupidity...

 

[Little Ducky]

Please get a second opinion on how to bend back.

You might have to heat it up so it just doesn't break off when you try to bend it back.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sometimes we learn best by making mistakes. No worries - it's been done before... and will be done again! On the plus side - the skeg did it's job and protected the prop.

Skip the skeg guard - they can sometimes cause worse issues. Just straighten the skeg out, smooth it with a file and go boating. It won't affect your performance in any way.

Tip... You should find your minimum safe operating range for on/off a trailer. While the trailer is hooked up to the truck, and on level ground, turn the key to "on" and lower the drive till it is about two inches off the ground. Note where that is on your gauge. When driving on or off the trailer, always make your drive is to that point. Whether you are on level ground, or the ramp, the distance is the same since the rig is parallel to the road/ramp.

 

[RollerCoastr]

That's not actually a "newb" mistake! The name for people who haven't done that is "inexperienced".

You're making progress, but you'll also need to launch with the plug out, get smacked by the winch handle, arrive to the ramp with dead batteries and travel at least 10 miles dragging your swim ladder through the water.

 

[bracketracer]

Bah, I've done it. NBD

 

[Golfman25]

Congratulations. Your are now fully initiated.

 

[CliffA]

If that is the only 'stupid' mistake you make during your boating career you will be way ahead of most of us on this forum including me....I have made my share and more over the years....you have to 'pay your dues' and learn from the mistakes....

cliff

 

[Glocker]

That's not actually a "newb" mistake! The name for people who haven't done that is "inexperienced".

You're making progress, but you'll also need to launch with the plug out, get smacked by the winch handle, arrive to the ramp with dead batteries and travel at least 10 miles dragging your swim ladder through the water.

Oh my damn! LOL
On the test drive of the boat, I popped the engine cover to look at the recent work the owner had done as he piloted us out of the marina. What I said to him was, "Dude. Your boat is sinking." Yep! No plug!

I've left the ladder down in the water now twice!

I smacked my hand with the winch handle once, when I was helping buddy get the boat out of the water to put the plug in. It hurt!

 

[Joint Custody]

That's not actually a "newb" mistake! The name for people who haven't done that is "inexperienced".

You're making progress, but you'll also need to launch with the plug out, get smacked by the winch handle, arrive to the ramp with dead batteries and travel at least 10 miles dragging your swim ladder through the water.

And fenders out and at least one rope dragging in the water.

 

[Creekwood]

When you power the boat up on the trailer (if that is allowed at your ramp), you should raise the drive a bit. It helps lift the bow and can help you get the boat up to the stop a bit easier. And it gives you some clearance if you happen to forget to raise it to trailer setting next time.

The worst thing about newb trailer boating is feeling pressured to work fast with non-helpful "experienced" dorks looking impatient waiting to launch after you. We've all been there. Make sure you remember how you feel, and when you are the experienced one, help out the newbies.

I also made a checklist of things to remember. It had three parts. One was things to do in the driveway at home (and things to bring), the second was a pre-launch list, and the last one was a pulling the boat out list. I kept it in the glove box for years.

 

[b_arrington]

That's not actually a "newb" mistake! The name for people who haven't done that is "inexperienced".

You're making progress, but you'll also need to launch with the plug out, get smacked by the winch handle, arrive to the ramp with dead batteries and travel at least 10 miles dragging your swim ladder through the water.

Leaving the plug out hurts. Had to replace at starter after I did that the first time I launched my old Larson.

Oh, and wrapping a dock line around your prop is good times too. At least I had 30 years of boating experience before doing that one.

 

[Bob from Kamp Kozy]

That's not actually a "newb" mistake! The name for people who haven't done that is "inexperienced".

You're making progress, but you'll also need to launch with the plug out, get smacked by the winch handle, arrive to the ramp with dead batteries and travel at least 10 miles dragging your swim ladder through the water.

It is like you know me. Apparently I am very experienced! :>)

 

[yobub]

Happens all the time. My son did this to our runabout this summer. Mybboat partners son did it to our boat last summer.

I take it to a prop shop to get fixed right. Unless you really do it right it looks like you smashed up your skeg and didn't notice or didn't care.

$150 if I remember correctly, repaired skeg, new paint, good as new.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Been there, done that too. And wrapped a line around both props on a 330 Dancer. This required spending about 35 minutes in the water. At night. In October. Without a wetsuit. With a steak knife in my teeth and a Maglite between my thighs.

And wrapped a blanket (not mine!) around both props.

I could go on and on, but I've confessed enough for tonight. Stay Tuned!

 

[LG111]

Bummer! You’ll need to heat that skeg and use a grip to bend back. Or a heavy block on one side with a rubber mallet. Just don’t over heat as the temp will travel up to the prop shaft seal and damage it. Get a heat gun and have someone measure the heat at the hub while you work the hot skeg.

 

[Ike]

Welcome to the club. Today I hauled my 1972 SRV 190 out for the year. Got it to the ramp ok, Put the drive up, had problems getting it on the trailer because of really low water and finally got it out, took it to the storage area, parked it, got it all settled, wheels blocked, junk out of the boat, etc. Everything went fine until I lowered the drive into position for storage. It went about half way down and stopped. Wouldn't budge. This dummy had raised the bow too high so the boat would drain, and the drive hit the ground. Doesn't appeared to be any visible damage, but now it won't move. Blew a fuse or something worse. Worst part, I knew that this would happen because I did it once before several years ago. So as I said, welcome to the club. The only saving grace is I have until April to figure out what's wrong.

 

[Glocker]

This is the method I'm going to try to bend the skeg back:

I may buy a torch and use a touch of heat too. I've got a hammer and dolly set ready to go.

 

[Kwik]

I dont think you are a proper trailered boater until you drag your skeg, forget the drain plug, wrap a rope on the prop, get all the way home with fenders attached, forget to drop the ship to shore antenna and smack it off tree limbs or power lines, etc.

I will say that i will never have any brand bilge pump than I have now. The boat was in the water 10 minutes before I came back from parking the truck when the wife told me the bilge hadnt stopped since she pulled off the trailer. You have never seen an old guy run to a boat, go below, change shorts and jump off the swim deck so fast. But, 10 seconds later the pump caught up. That is an amazing pump!

 

[colo-pr]

I started reading and when noticed your profile picture and nickname and made me think, "of course...a Glockie" lol

Sorry, I am a Glock hater so be prepared.

Sorry man for your lost, if you change that crappy Glock for a real gun like a 1911 things are gonna get better