Disrupted Routines

[arew~SX230]

1. call marina to have boat put in.
2. Remove cover, store in forward under seat.
3. Turn on blower on way to swim platform
4. Put in cleanout plugs
5. Start engines

Yesterday, forgot to call marina, called enroute. So now we are running late. Take off the cover, hit the blower switch, nothing, last outing was not sure they would be able to pull the boat so I left the bilge on, (and might have accidentally turned on the nav lights). Dead battery, no problem keep a spare and jumpers on boat, fire up engines, get every one on board, idle away from the launch dock, round the corner, throttle up, engines rev boat goes no where. Forgot to put clean out plugs in!!!!

Moral of the story, any time one thing goes wrong you need to pay extra attention to the rest of your routine or bad things can and will happen.

I am so going to supplement the bilge system with a float switch unit wired straight to the battery!!

I mean it this time!

For really real

 

[Scott E]

Labor Day weekend stopped to talk with relatives before launching, we use their boat launch.... Had to wave the wife back to shore quick to put the drain plug in.....

 

[jawsf16]

Labor Day weekend Friday night. Youngest daughter fell playing with neighbor kids and broke her arm. Disrupted my entire lake weekend!

 

[arew~SX230]

Labor Day weekend Friday night. Youngest daughter fell playing with neighbor kids and broke her arm. Disrupted my entire lake weekend!

That sucks! At least it didn't wreck her whole summer. Daughter fractured get ankle last June skim boarding, older son gave his self an avulsion fracture of his hip this July at FB practice, he might get cleared tomorrow.

 

[Eric Ballard]

I had a buddy help me by backing the boat on the ramp into the water while I was in the boat. I trust him so I thought nothing of it. I won't do this ever again, it messed up my routine and I forgot several things in the truck and just felt like I missed other stuff I usually do.

Moral of the story is have a routine and stick to it no matter who wants to help or be VERY careful like the OP mentioned!

 

[Scottintexas]

@arew~SX230 broken routines can lead to problems, forgot the drain plug (always my job), did the kids get the transom straps, double checking the truck hitch,

You may want to consider one of these jump packs, less room and cleaner than the cables, plus you don't need anyone else to jump you, they work great, mine is a Rockford brand

 

[Joe Hellaby]

I don't mean to disagree... but everybody is different. This is my first season with a boat, but I never have any sort of routine. I've launched a tons of different lakes and launches, night time and day time, used different tow vehicles, different types of crew (older adults, young kids, college age, etc), sometimes slipped for a long weekend, etc.
Personally by keeping everything so different keeps my on my toes, I'm the type that always ends up getting too complacent with my routines and will carelessly forget things.
My big thing is constantly double check everything. Plugs, keys, straps, claenouts, fluids, etc. And do physically see or do every step myself, I never count on a buddy or family member telling me the plugs are in, not without doing it myself
Routines are my enemy

 

[Julian]

Routines are my enemy

I keep saying I'm going to type, print and laminate my checklist for covering the boat when we return to the slip, as missing a step is a pain in the ass!

1. Get cover and poles/ropes out of ski locker
2. While there grab bow lines and shorepower cable and toss into bow
3. Close windshield (forget this one all the f'ing time!)
4. Install poles
5. Remove plugs
6. Put cover on the bow (attach bow lines and thread power cord through)
7. Double check the following are off the boat: PHONES, shoes, wallet, XM radio, keys, cooler, bags, GARBAGE
8. Turn off all accessories and ensure AMP switch is off (batteries on)
9. Lines and fenders out of boat?
10. Tower racks empty?
11. Wet tubes/ropes/life jackets out?
12. Roll cover back to stern and attach port side clips/velcro and stern clips
13. Exit boat and attach starboard velcro clips and cinch down.
14. Start Airdock blower
15. Attach fenders and lines loosely
16. Stop blower and adjust lines and fenders.

Hopefully at this point I haven't realized any of the following---

• "F#$% my phone is in the boat"
• "S#$% the lines are in the boat"
• "Did you get the F'ing garbage?"
• "Where are my g-damn sandals?"
• "I thought you were getting the XM Onyx radio?"
• "Don't tell me my wallet is in the glove box!"
• "D'oh.....the fenders...."
• "AHHHH...the wet tube is in the stern storage!!!"

Now I just need to print and laminate the above! LOL

 

[itsdgm]

I don't mean to disagree... but everybody is different. This is my first season with a boat, but I never have any sort of routine. I've launched a tons of different lakes and launches, night time and day time, used different tow vehicles, different types of crew (older adults, young kids, college age, etc), sometimes slipped for a long weekend, etc.
Personally by keeping everything so different keeps my on my toes, I'm the type that always ends up getting too complacent with my routines and will carelessly forget things.
My big thing is constantly double check everything. Plugs, keys, straps, claenouts, fluids, etc. And do physically see or do every step myself, I never count on a buddy or family member telling me the plugs are in, not without doing it myself
Routines are my enemy

I agree, everybody does approach this differently. Some people catch things that aren't on a list simply by observation and not following a strict routine thus preventing an obvious oversight missed by most. So, if it's working for you @Joe Hellaby, stick to your routine BTW, That's what I do too.

 

[ratchetdu]

We had a laminated list the first season, and still look at tit occasionally, but it was all routine now... We have launch list in the glove box of the truck we checked beginning of day, and before leaving the house as there were trailer notes on it too. Then there is a second list kept in the cleanup box with the wipe down towels and spray bottles for all the end of day things....

Now, that list isnt at all necessary with the slip, but find myself forgetting the same things Julian mentioned... Time for a new list? Lol.

 

[mraz72]

MANY times I have to unsnap the cockpit cover and slip in to grab crap out of the glove box. That's what I forget the most

Call marina to have boat put in? What's the charge for that every time? Does that get you out of wet slipping the boat? How can you boat when the marina is close (holidays, sunday at 5pm?)

 

[arew~SX230]

Call marina to have boat put in? What's the charge for that every time? Does that get you out of wet slipping the boat? How can you boat when the marina is close (holidays, sunday at 5pm?)

I keep the boat in their indoor high and dry. Annual fee covers all in and outs all season. They are open everyday, holidays included. If you want to head out late or you get back late, the boat stays tied to the launch dock over night. It's a little on the high side price wise, but as close to hassle free boating as you can get.