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Now most people don’t see a boat launch as a source of entertainment, but let me tell you, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon being entertained for free. It seems that after all the preparation for their day on the water sometimes folks forget to pack the most important thing, patience and common sense. This will always lead to either horror or humor.
Like the day, a friend over heard a guy at the dock complaining loudly to a mechanic and salesmen about his brand new boat and 200 hp motor not getting up on plane, as it had the day before, when he and his wife had purchased it. After cranking the engine and revving it up a few times, checking the fuel connections, the mechanic suggested they take a short boat ride. While untying the boat the salesman noticed an extra line attached to the bow ring. He then walked to the stern and to his amazement discovered two safety straps attached to the transom. I still wonder how shallow it could have run with that dual axel trailer.
Recently I watched as the two guys behind me tried to speed things up. they loaded the last of their gear and then one remained in the boat to take it to the dock after it was launched. The line had been moving slowly and the guy in the boat decides to take advantage of the delay and use the restroom. You can guess what happened next. the line speeded up and in the dark the driver launched the unmanned boat and drove quickly away to find a parking space. Their red faces lit the way as I motored them over to retrieve the vessel.
Now I didn’t get to see this one, but a friend swears its true.
It seems a husband and wife are launching their rather large Sea Ray with the wife's rather small Blazer. The ramp is wet and long with a sharp drop off at the end. The husband tells the wife to back down slowly, which she does. The husband has her stop when he feels he has enough water to start the I/O motor. He then instructs her to unsnap the winch clip and to back him up a couple of feet more. He cranks the engines, puts the boat in reverse. Seeing the boat is moving slowly he gives it a little more gas. She sees the Blazer moving slowly backwards and puts it in drive and gives it more gas. He gives it more and she gives it more. Pretty soon her tires are screaming and his engines are screaming. It’s a real tug of war with the large Sea Ray beginning to make headway. The wife sensing all is not well, sets the parking brake and jumps out just as the tires hit the slick part of the launch. Launch being the key word here. It’s reported the tiny Blazer looked like a large sea monster attacking the Sea Ray and The Sea Ray was doing its best to out run its predator. Wish I had been on hand to listen whose fault it was the safety change hadn’t been disconnected.
So the next holiday weekend, grab a chair a couple of cool ones and stop by to watch the show. Don’t forget the movie camera.
Fishing has been good lately. Reds and Snook have been cooperating on the falling tides. There are a number of schooled up reds cruising the flats. One trip last week we caught over thirty and never moved from the pothole we were fishing.
Lots of tournaments coming in Oct. Some are charity events, like the Mercury Redbone Oct 25-27th.Others give the anglers a chance to win a little money. The Marine Dynamics Inshore Classic Oct. 19-20th and the 1st Hooters Cabbage Key catch & release Oct 25-26th. So get a guide, get entered and have some fun.
Remember catch all you can but keep only what you need.
