My worst boat day ever!

[Fishermans blues]

Firstly I'll start off by saying my brother and I have bought a boat! We've spent all our spare time on it and although we've spent about £500 on fuel and bait to date and only catching two cod, we were still pretty enthusiastic ( even though we have almost sank it and lost an anchor ). Anyway, took a fully charged battery down yesterday in the hope of getting out today and there was nothing, no life in the engine at all! So we went down early today to give it a bit of a service and try our luck and after 2 hours at 12:00 we finally got her started. By this time though it was low tide and we were locked in the marina until 1ish at least and the swells were adding a good hour onto that time so we set off to do a few laps of the marina. All of a sudden the steering locked on a full left turn and as we were struggling to free it we decided to test the back up engine. Bad idea. Lowered it into the water, started it up gave it a bit off throttle and snap! My brothers hanging over the back of the boat trying to drag our emergency engine out the water while the main engine is locked up! We finally managed to free up the steering and get her back to her berth but what a day! I'm just glad we weren't at sea

[johnf]

Are you taking bookings mate?

[Kartonkel]

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[alcaucin]

scary!

[Fishermans blues]

Thanks for that kartonkel! I'll just add though that winds were 8mph, the swells were 1 metre and dying down, the main engine got stuck on full lock (which I wouldn't do at sea anyway and as for the emergency engine... Well I never really expect to use it and only come across problems when were checking the boat for safety. If I was some sort of pirate, I'd accept your criticism but I'm not so I'm not going to! And all we have to do to get out the marina is ask, it was common sense that kept us in yesterday but thanks for the concern anyway

[dale19]

think the boat you purchased must be a nacker m8 you can not trust it more so trying to go to sea in it when it is not sea worthy and you no nothing about small craft.
take notice of the boat owners on this site you need to have it all sorted out by a person that knows what they are doing before you even think of going out to sea. you are putting your life in danger think about it
lads are just trying to give you advice.

[alcaucin]

have to agree, no room for error out there. I am sure your family would not be chuffed if you had an accident at sea in that boat as it is now. They should be the first people you should be thinking of before you set off. Don't go out unless you are 200% certain that all is well. It ain't worth it. Get a second opinion from a knowledgeable person if you have any doubts.

[Fishermans blues]

Listen everybody, I understand what yous are trying to say but these were simple little problems and I stand by the fact this couldve happened to anybody... The steering was a little stiff as it hadn't been moved in a while, the only reason it wouldn't start in the first place was because the spark plugs needed cleaning and the major problem was the back up engine, the problem there was the wood it was attached to got a bit worn and I couldn't see the damage. Honestly the boat is safe, I have a wife and 4 kids at home and if I was ever in any doubt I wouldn't even go on it!

[alcaucin]

fair enough, it's just that people in the boating world are well aware of the dangers out there and if someone is taking the dangers lightly then we have to speak up and be sure that they understand the risks. I wouldn't take it as a personal snipe just genuine knowledgeable concern/advice as you would expect on this site. If nobody had replied to your post and you went out and the worst happened , I for one would have been gutted. So it's helpful criticism that was intended.

[Fishermans blues]

Thing is though mate I'm well aware of the dangers myself. I've found this forum very helpful most of the time but having had to listen to choruses of my boats not sea worthy and my skills as a small craft owner are useless when all I've done was tell you all about my escapade (in the marina) my thought on this section have completely changed. If anybody knew of my boating past, or had seen my boat then I'd accept the criticism, I just personally hope no body else has a bad day like that... They won't though, they're just too damn good!

[alcaucin]

yeah , we can all get a little smug when looking at others who are having a bad day, I've had plenty. But to be fair, your original post did seem like a "laurel and hardy" sketch so you should expect the response you got. Anyway as I said , don't take it personally. I don't know you from adam so couldn't comment on your skill on the sea and therefore only commented on what you posted which if wasn't so serious , was seriously funny.

[Kartonkel]

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[Kartonkel]

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[Fishermans blues]

How was I fishing? I told yous all my story and you set your lip up, I did nothing to ask for your reply especially in the manner you did and then after I'd left a reply you start calling people names and trying to humiliate people. While you're on the subject of pointing things out... Go back to the part where I stated that I was doing a service, I really should've asked you how to do a service first. Practice what you're preaching and stay away from the thread... Just because somebody doesn't ask for advice, doesn't mean you have the right to be a critic, especially when you know nowt about us

[Jimbob]

To the OP. I would seriously consider getting the boat out of the water and playing with it on your drive until you are completely happy with it. It's too cold anyway!

My boat is on my drive since December and I know Kartonkel scarily launched his boat back yesterday after several weeks of tinkering and a top class service of his engine and gearbox.