Memories on the lake - Putting In

My love for the water started when I was a boy. My father bought a 1989 22’ Sea Ray, in the spring of 1989. My family took it out on the lake every summer, and we loved it. I think as a child I just took it for granted. I didn’t realize the work that was put in to afford such a nice toy. I didn’t realize the expense of owning and operating a boat either. For me, and I suspect my siblings, it was sheer fun.

Even now, at family reunions, as legendary stories are recalled aloud, stories of our boating days are brought up. Some stories bring uncontrollable laughter while others make my mother tense up in her seat.

For my dad, my youngest brother, and I, backing the boat down the launch ramp and into the water was a lot of fun. This process is often referred to as “putting in” or “launching”. So the task is multi-faceted. You have to put the boat in the water, dock the boat and have the family come aboard, park the van and trailer, and finally the driver (who was also the Captain) would have to make it back to the dock and board the boat. But with my family, things were seldom so smooth.

Many times the launch ramp was so busy, we would have to actually wait in line before we could back our boat in. Then we were under pressure to launch the boat quickly and move the trailer out of the way so the next person could launch. – I seriously doubt most people were as courteous and aware of others as my father was.

A favorite memory that has now been made legendary was actually not even about us. Our friends who owned a boat and went out with us a lot, forgot a critical boating element, and nearly sank their newly purchased boat. In case you don’t know, every boat has a removable plug that when the boat is taken out of the water, can be removed to let any onboard water come out. Well at some point they must have forgot to replace this plug.

 

 My friend, who was in the boat prepared to maneuver it back to the dock, suddenly started yelling out to his dad who just launched him into the water. He was frantically telling his dad that there was a lot of water coming into the boat, while onlookers on shore started screaming that the boat was sinking. So, my dad started running down the ramp, then down the dock, and dove into the water, all while instructing the “captain” to cut the power. My dad swam over to the back of the boat, which was now sinking even faster due to the extra water weight, and plugged the villainous hole with his finger!

Yeah, my old man is a bad ass.

At this point they navigated the boat back to the trailer where they pulled it out of the water, drained the onboard lake water, and then properly plugged the whole. No lives were ever in danger, but a brand new $25,000 boat would have been at the bottom of the lake. Luckily no boats sank that day, just maybe a few egos.

Remember your transom plug!

Don't forget your parking brake either!