I drove to TN last Saturday to help launch a Hunter 260. Weather was dismal with rain and gusts up to 25 knots blowing in toward the marina. I was asked what I would be launching with. I told him my CRV Honda certainly could not do it. The owner arranged for a tractor to pull the trailer over to the launch ramp as there were overhead wires just above the ramp. Raising the mast was difficult even with the mast raise system as I goofed forgetting to let the furler/forestay hanging off to the side. Finally got the mast up but had to be careful due to wet deck.
Owner had thrown out bumpers to the side forgetting that was a no no I always had warned would get caught by the guide ons. It happened and you should have seen the two of us trying to get those guides out of the way scurring like rats. Finally, the tractor launched us with engine running. (The motor had recently been removed for servicing and reinstalled and of course the cables had been reinstalled without checking the throw of each.) I went into reverse with full throttle but alas no reverse. We were floating headed into the concrete ramp. Like Laurel and Hardy running around, we both jumped into the warm water of 40 F. Finally a pontoon boat came to our rescue and secured the boat to the pontoon. As the boat was going into the slip, owner had not pulled in the lines and one fouled the prop of the pontoon motor. We were adrift heading back into the marina. Finally got the line untangled from prop and into the slip. I was still wet with water coming or flowing out of me like Niagra Falls. Once tied off I went to change clothes as I thourghly had enjoyed my annual lake bath. I was in my car waiting to follow the owner as I was staying the night with him when he went by seeing his boot come out of the window and allowing lake water out. I sat and laughed my behind off thinking I am an expert at this.
Owner had thrown out bumpers to the side forgetting that was a no no I always had warned would get caught by the guide ons. It happened and you should have seen the two of us trying to get those guides out of the way scurring like rats. Finally, the tractor launched us with engine running. (The motor had recently been removed for servicing and reinstalled and of course the cables had been reinstalled without checking the throw of each.) I went into reverse with full throttle but alas no reverse. We were floating headed into the concrete ramp. Like Laurel and Hardy running around, we both jumped into the warm water of 40 F. Finally a pontoon boat came to our rescue and secured the boat to the pontoon. As the boat was going into the slip, owner had not pulled in the lines and one fouled the prop of the pontoon motor. We were adrift heading back into the marina. Finally got the line untangled from prop and into the slip. I was still wet with water coming or flowing out of me like Niagra Falls. Once tied off I went to change clothes as I thourghly had enjoyed my annual lake bath. I was in my car waiting to follow the owner as I was staying the night with him when he went by seeing his boot come out of the window and allowing lake water out. I sat and laughed my behind off thinking I am an expert at this.
