Well, the weather has warmed up and the sun is out. I decided to take
the boat out.
I did a pre-run checklist and called the dockmaster to help me untie and
get out of the slip. It turns out the dockmaster had quit last week and
we are on our own. Oh well, I enlisted the aid of neighbor boater, and
put out.

The first thing I noticed was that I was down to a quarter tank of fuel.
So I head for the fuel dock next door and take on 75 gallons. $1.27 /
gallon for hi test. I also had the holding tank pumped out, and the
freshwater tank filled.

Turning the bow west and was in the river in 20 minuets. The first thing
I came up on was a boater who had the same idea as I. He was dead in the
water and waving his arms trying to flag me down.

I pulled alongside and his boat had a lot of water in it. Evidently he
had forgotten to install the drain plug when he launched. It wasn't a
problem until his outboard quit. Once stopped, the boat begin to slowly
fill. He had stuffed a rag into the drain, but it wasn't very effective.
I pulled out the portable pump and got him bailed out, and handed him a
wooden plug for the hole. (He couldn't find the drain plug!) After an
hour of towing, he was back at the Hood Landing ramp.
He winched the boat back on the trailer, and without so much as a thank
you, drove off.

Back to the river, and a leisurely cruise downtown to the Landing. I had
a great lunch at Hooter's (no alcohol) and was enjoying the jazz guitar
by the water. I must say, women's skirts get a lot shorter in warmer
weather, and boats sure attract the best legs!!!!!

All in all, it was a nice ride on a nice day!

Capt. Frank

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

========= COMING SOON +++ SPRING SPLASH ========

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" :

I pulled out the portable pump and got him bailed out, and handed him a
wooden plug for the hole. (He couldn't find the drain plug!)

I just don't understand people. No extra wood block. No extra drain
plug. Almost should have let him sink.


He winched the boat back on the trailer, and without so much as a thank
you, drove off.

Yep, should have let him sink. What are people thinking? An hour of
towing? No offer to pay for some gas or at least say thank you. Wow.

I don't know how other boats are setup but on my last boat I was able to
put the plug in from the inside. So that's what I did. I also kept the
plug
on a chain so it couldn't get away. And I still had a spare one in the tool
kit.
Will be doing the same on this new boat.

Anyway Capt., glad you ended on a good note for the day.