I am sooo DUMB!

TimCup · May 23, 2009

Boy, there's just no hiding from that mistake, huh?

I backed away from the dock last week with a spring line still attached... amazing how long it took me to find out why the boat was backing to starboard while I was backing to port!

On the flip side, I did get to sail...

One of the best things I ever did was get the 4-pack of locks and keys- both trailers and both boats use the same key, and I have a spare key in each car JUST IN CASE:dance:

cup

by the way, are your lifelines removed, or just when the pic was taken? I must have missed the safety lesson with regard to "cushioning the stanchion

. By the way, that lake looks like all our FLA lakes, too...

kendall · May 23, 2009

TimCup said:
One of the best things I ever did was get the 4-pack of locks and keys- both trailers and both boats use the same key, and I have a spare key in each car JUST IN CASE:dance:

I've always hated to have a bunch of change or keys in my pocket, and a few years ago I had a locksmith re-key my two trucks (work truck,offroad play truck) to match my car, then picked up keyed alike or combination locks for everything. Went from over a dozen keys to only four, as long as I had my keys I was good to go. Having only 4 keys made it cheap to keep spare sets around for emergencies.

Ken.

Don12364 · May 23, 2009

Spare Key - Good insurance!!

We are all getting older and a bit forgetful so I have a spare key hidden on board.
It is so simple to stick it up under somewhere and hold it in place with self adhesive tape.
Then I have a spare car key concealed on the car - and a house key hidden about the outside of the house.
Very handy for myself or my family or crew who do not carry boat keys or keys for my car.

One advantage of all this is it appears to act as insurance because we never forget our keys - perverse!

sailaway78 · May 23, 2009

Notice no one laughed

Most are pretty honest on this board. So no one laughed at you, or called you a dumb a^& because of your fo pa. Is because each and every one of us have had those moments, when the only response is duhhhhhh. I would laugh at you, but since I have also done things much dumber, I can't.

Benny · May 23, 2009

Anticipating the possibility of such a blunder I have always used a combination lock. The switch key is always kept inside the boat. Now when the day comes that I forget the combination it is just as well as I should not be sailing. Now I also always carry an LED pocket flashlight in my house key chain as one night we were in a transient slip at a marina and it got cold and windy and it was so dark that I could not see the numbers on the tumblers. With a lighter flame blowing off after a couple of seconds and the lighter metal burning my hand I finally set the combo just as it started to rain. Never again.

Barry B. · May 23, 2009

Been there Done that, luckily I kept my boat at a full service marina and borrowed a set of bolt cutters and bought new locks. It was definitely worth it, it was perfect sailing weather on the Chesapeake bay that day.

higgs · May 24, 2009

I have done that when I used to keep the boat 90 minutes from the house. I know keep my cabin key on my normal keychain.

NC-C320 · May 24, 2009

Me Too

When we moved my son's Catalina 22 from NC to MD on its trailer, we were concerned that someone might steal his boat once it was at the new marina yard, so we decided to put a good lock on the hitch. I put this lock on the trailer hitch for the 250 mile trip to MD. We arrived in the dark, hungry and tired. When I went to uncouple the trailer...no key. Key was back home. Forturnately, there was a live aboard on a really nice, large boat that came by, saw our situation, and removed the lock with his on-board bolt cutter. So much for security. p.s. our concerns for security were valid...months later, someone stole the outboard engine (also locked to mount), but the boat was left. Later, we moved boat to another marina and put it into a slip with the replacement engine...no further problems.

BrianW · May 24, 2009

Re: Me Too

Like Benny, I have a combination lock on my boat just to guard against loosing a key. Very early one morning, I wanted to be under sail before sunrise. But, unlike Benny, I did not have a flashlight, matches or any light and couldn't see the numbers on my combination lock. I had to wait at the dock until after sunrise just so I could see the lock to open it. So Dave... you won't even get a snicker from me! BrianW

caguy · May 24, 2009

Brian, can't tell you how many times I had to use my cell phone as an emergency light. Then I found this pretty cool light at Frys Electronics. It has three settings Bright, dim and blink. I figure if I ever go overboard at night it may come in handy there too. It has a night visibility of 1 mile. Here is the dummy part I picked it out of the bin because the tag said $0.99. When I got it home I looked at the tag closer and the top of the 0 was not close. It turned out to be a deformed 6. I check my receipt and sure enough it was 6.99. I problably would not have bought it at that price (I'm considered cheap by those who know me), but after using it so many times since I will probably pick up a red one next time I'm in Fry's.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...n&rlz=1T4TSHB_enUS313US313&sa=N&start=18&um=1

Stu Jackson · May 24, 2009

Why not just leave a small flashlight

in the coaming compartment in your cockpit?

caguy · May 24, 2009

I can't leave anything in the cockpit or it disappears.

Rich Stidger · May 24, 2009

Another combination lock trick

I also have a combo lock on my boat hatch and a small LED light on my key chain.

However when I go ashore to visit a harbor, I often leave my keys on board since I have no need for them and if they are on board they can't drop in the water, get lost, etc. Thus no key chain light.

Although I also have a LED cockpit light, one trick I learned is to always set my combo lock to all zeros. Then in pitch black I can count the clicks to each number and open the lock. But I don't let anyone talk to me while I'm clicking and counting or I can lose track.

I've never claimed I could walk and chew gum either....

Jim Kolstoe · May 25, 2009

A little trick I figured out for unlocking dial combination locks in low light is to remember that the only two numbers that have only a single digit are "0' and "5." If you have enough light to make out the number of digits in the numbers on the dial, you don't have to be able to read them, you just have to go slow and count carefully, making sure you don't lose track.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

JustDucky · May 26, 2009

I have a small LED flashlight hanging in the stern locker.

joshw5144 · May 26, 2009

Was out with my wife and 2 kids over last week and when we went up to the restaurant for dinner I locked up the boat. As soon as I clicked the lock shut I remembered where I left the keys. Inside. Luckily I had left the forward hatch open and someone could go below and grab the keys. I will NEVER do that again. Now when I take the washboards out I lock the lock to it so I need keys to open the lock before I can lock up the boat. Lesson learnt.

Ctskip · May 26, 2009

I went to a combination lock just for that reason. I have either my cell phone or my key chain with light on it. We all learn in good time.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

I am sooo DUMB!

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NC-C320

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