The maiden voyage

[cassidyta]

I finally got her out on the water today. I made some rookie mistakes, but I came back with all of my body parts.
While it was unplanned, the first launch became a solo adventure. The buddy who was supposed to go bailed on me at the last minute. I figure that I will be doing several solo launches so I might as well start now.

Rookie mistake number 1.
I pushed the boat off the trailer and jumped in. Too bad I had left the keys for the boat in the car. I got to test out my trolling motor sooner than I had planned.

I tied off the boat, parked the car, and was officially boating.

Rookie mistake number 2.
I am sure most of you know what causes your torlling motor to go backwards. For those that don't this happens when you swap the red and black wires. A couple of wire nuts later and I am boating again.

I fished for an hour or so. In the begining, I had a hard time making delecate adjustments with the trolling motor. This cost me two missed hits. Not a big deal, today was about learning the boat and as such will not consider that a true rookie mistake.

Rookie mistakes number 3 and 4.

While switching spots it dawned on me. Maybe I shouldn't leave the trolling motor down..LOL I killed the engine and pulled the TM back up. I laughed at this one because I knew better.
But then the darn boat wouldn't start up. I checked that it was primed, made sure I had fuel and confirmed that it was vented. After a minute of trouble shooting, I then noticed the kill switch lanyard on my PDF. Hmm...Pull the switch and boat no start.

The final event of the day was getting the boat back on the trailer. My boat has a jet propulsion instead of a prop. These need throttle to turn at all. They do not react to subtle adjustments at low speeds. I figured this out after 5 or 6 failed attempts to put it on the trailer. Finally I made a wide swinging turn, lined it up, and gave it the gas.

It was a good day. I learned a few things about my boat and caught a few fish.

No pics from today, but here are a few from yesterday.

[WaffleJaw]

Man thats a clean looking rig..The carpet looks great!
Is it a Tracker? Those BPS seats are throwing me off.

My dad bought his first Tracker back 82 (I was 4 months old,haha)
I saw the pics not too long ago..It looked alot like this one...Thats why I ask.

[WTL]

Nice rig.

Did you mean to get a jet outboard, or was it just what was available?

PS, always, always remember to put the drain plug in.

[MallenManson]

Sweet!!!!!! Just think, you made some mistakes that nobody saw. But then you told us.....
Congrats on the boat

[bamabassman]

Cass...that is a VERY clean and pretty rig. I LOVE your captain too, VERY PRETTY. Oh...and your first mate is cool as well. It is always a little nerve racking on oyur maiden voyage, you done good my man.

[BigBassin144]

Cass sounds likea fairly decent day!

And about the trolling motor, 2009 was my second year running the troller, and while it does get easier, you still miss hits and can't always pay attention to the fishing.

BB

[BassinNC]

Congrats on the rig. It looks super clean.

[MIbasser]

Cass, sounds like a great time on the water.

And, I've know some guys who have pretty much torn apart a motor trying to figure out why it won't start only, to find out that it was the kill switch.

It gets easier as you do it.

[keysd13]

When I launch by myself I tie a decent length of rope to the eyelet and the other end to the section of the trailer below the middle roller. Back in until the boat slides off, then untie and tie off on the ramp pier. I fish alone 95% of the time and this really makes it easy.

[cassidyta]

Waffle, it is a tracker. 1985 to be exact they went from Los Angeles to Springfield to pick it up. The seats are the originals that the original owner (Roy) worked to restore.
WTL, the jet is what it came with. The boat had belonged to a friend of my father-in-law. They used primarily to chase the salmon and the steel-head. They put the jet on it in 1986. I am sure that it was very cutting-edge back then. I double checked the drain plug before the launch.
Once I can scan them in, I will post some before pictures in as well. It is amazing to see where this boat came from. He acid washed it several times to get the metal looking that good.

[bcklash]

Cass, those arn't big mistakes. You'll make biiger mistakes than those before it's all said and done. You done good pal.

[nofearengineer]

Originally Posted by MIbasser

And, I've know some guys who have pretty much torn apart a motor trying to figure out why it won't start only, to find out that it was the kill switch.

It's times like this that I'm not sorry JB is busy on Facebook.

[Bender]

Great looking boat, looks like new! I'm sure the jet will take a little getting used to but the big plus is you don't really have to worry about hitting anything. The feeling of driving across the lake with the wind in your face is great.

I sure wish I was in sunny SoCal right now.

[woody]

Like everyone has said, "congrats on your maiden voyage!"

I wanted to add, that I appreciate your transparency.


-Mark

[carolina-rig-01]

Way to go Cass! Glad the first trip out was a good and safe one. Don't worry about the rookie mistakes, there will be more of them to come and it is all part of it. Ask Nofear about the kill switch not letting his boat start at Kentucky Lake lol, it happens. I was fishing a championship tournament this past fall, on the morning of day 1 we were making our way past the livewell check. My wife and my partners wife were standing on the dock where we had to idle past for our livewell check so they could tell us good luck one last time. As we approached the dock for the idle by I went to wave at my wife and accidently pulled the kill switch, in front of 150 other boats. That was an emberassing moment to start off the tournament lol.

[Bassboss]

Not a bad day sounds like, learned some stuff!

Pretty nice looking rig too, how ever I hate the blue carpet!
Swap it for gray..

[bassackwards]

don't feel bad i for got to undo the straps on the back of the boat once at the ramp and had to pull it back out when there was a line wating and watching me

[keithdog]

Thats a great looking boat Cass. Your gonna have many great days out on the water in that. So ya made a couple mistakes. No big deal. You had fun and thats really all that matters. I really like the color of the carpet!

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by Bassboss

Pretty nice looking rig too, how ever I hate the blue carpet!
Swap it for gray..

Why the hell would you say that? It's not your boat to talk bad about guy. Cass I think the blue carpet looks good, I would just ignore a stupid comment like that.

[nofearengineer]

Bassboss, what color is the carpet in your boat?

Cass, talk about your rookie mistakes.

I was fishing with Woody once, when a fish and game officer came up and wrote me a citation for not having the proper boat sticker. He got me right after I puled my plug to drain my bilge. I guess my routine (if I ever had one) got a little thrown off, and I put the plug in my glovebox rather than back into my boat.

Well, don't you know it, I forgot to put the thing back in, and the next time I launched the boat, something just didn't feel right. I hit the bilge pump, and it was gushing water. I realized what happened, and thankfully got my boat back on the trailer before I totally swamped the thing. I always check it now, even though I know I put it back. Who knows? Some mischevious kid could pull it out while you're at the gas station.

Moral of the story, these things happen, so have a sense of humor about it. The Felt Like an Idiot Club has a lot of members, and we all have a laugh about it. Welcome to the club.