Waiting for the shoe to drop

[luckydude]

Two boat launch out of Moss Landing today, I was alone in my boat, my buddy had his wife, son, and dog in his boat. No drama launch, dropped 4 crab pots, he pulled 3 pots (2 really, rope broke on one so there is a pot down there somewhere), and we pulled the boats together so I could rebait and drop two of his pots.

A somewhat big ocean, windy.com said 6' @ 12s, I think it was more like 4-5' @ 13-14s, whatever it was, it wasn't flat. But pretty pleasant. I'm starting to be able to predict which swells are gonna bang me and which ones I'm going to roll over. Maybe 50% of the time I get it right? It used to be close to 0% of the time.

Came back in in a following sea, without even thinking about it, I trimmed the engine out a bit, raised the bow about a foot. I wasn't close to stuffing the bow, the period of the swells worried me a little so up comes the bow. With that, I came in at about 30-32mph. Someone said Seafarers are slow, mine is not ;-) I didn't notice the RPMs but at 32mph I was getting 2.4 mpg. Which is about what my buddy gets with his 140hp Suzuki, my Yammy sips gas.

Drama free docking, solo, everything went right. Which is why I'm waiting. Every darn time I think I am remotely competent, the boat lays the smack down on me and shows me one more thing I don't know. I'm waiting, boat, I'm waiting. Not eagerly.

 

[HTHM]

Better hope that it drops from a relatively low height, wooden shoes can hurt.
Conversely, you could realize that with practice comes competency and this trip was a result of that. Glad to hear you had a good outing.

 

[luckydude]

Better hope that it drops from a relatively low height, wooden shoes can hurt.
Conversely, you could realize that with practice comes competency and this trip was a result of that. Glad to hear you had a good outing.

OK, that's a little weird. Did you do some detective work and figure out I'm half Dutch? I've got wooden shoes next to my stove in the kitchen. Never wear them, they are crazy uncomfortable, but they have been following me around for decades.

The last time I thought I knew what was going on was right after I had the Fell MOB cutoff switch installed. I was on autopilot mentally and completely forgot about it and tried to start the boat. It won't start unless you pair the wrist thing with the cutoff switch. The Yamaha display said something is wrong with your engine, take it to the dealer. So like an idiot, I did. They asked "What has changed since it last worked?" and the light bulb went on in my head. Paired, engine fired right up.

Anyhoo, maybe I'm getting better but I try not to jinx things by thinking those thoughts

 

[mhinch]

You know Luckdude, I think if you're always looking for something to happen or "go wrong" it shows that you're just super aware of your surroundings and equipment - think aircraft pilot. Eventually something can and will happen and your preparedness and watchfulness will make it nothing more than an unremarkable event.
Seems like you've got your ducks in a row, so to speak, and I'd be a willing passenger on your vessel anytime.

 

[luckydude]

You know Luckdude, I think if you're always looking for something to happen or "go wrong" it shows that you're just super aware of your surroundings and equipment - think aircraft pilot. Eventually something can and will happen and your preparedness and watchfulness will make it nothing more than an unremarkable event.
Seems like you've got your ducks in a row, so to speak, and I'd be a willing passenger on your vessel anytime.

Wow, that's, well, wow. I'm really green, I've been on the ocean for only 3 years and it is only this year that I was the guy running the boat. It's been a HUGE learning curve, fishing on someone else's boat is one thing, being responsible for the boat and passengers is a completely different thing.

Funny you should mention aircraft pilots, I'm close friends with one (and friends with another one who just bought a 236) and I've discussed my approach to the boat and it is very like how they approach aircraft. Everything has to be right, David, the 236 guy, has a "2 strikes" rule. A gauge that is normally at 12 oclock and is now at 2, strike one. Radio is flakey, strike two. Two strikes, back to the hanger. It's sort of a mentality that everything has to be as good as last time, if something isn't, abort.

And like pilots, I don't run the boat impaired, I need to feel healthy, no drugs, no booze, no nothing other than Dramamine (and I'm close to not needing that). Your comment about awareness is spot on, I understand that some people want to relax and have a beer on their boat, there is no way that I will ever do that, not even once, not while I'm driving. I like to drink, I do that at home.

As a green guy, it means a lot that you'd go out with me running the boat. I'm pretty sure there is a ton I don't know, but I'm learning, it was super fun today to realize I trimmed the engine instinctively. I didn't think about it, I was just a little concerned about the swells and trimmed the bow up. That is a huge difference from where I was a few months ago.

When this COVID is in the rear view, I'd be happy to take you out. Santa Cruz, CA is my main harbor, don't know if you are close to that.
Your post made my day.

 

[rocketguy88]

I like how you quoted me

I've used my 'two strikes' rule on more than just airplane and boating. I used to love to read airplane accident investigation reports as there was always something to learn from. Every single accident had not one single event that led to the accident, but a series of events that's called the accident chain. I hope my 'two strikes' rule prevents that chain of events from forming leading to an accident.

 

[RussGW270]

You worry too much. Stop worrying and just fish. Bad stuff happens, it does not need you to look for it... it finds you. Don't look for trouble where there is none.

Everyone is a noob... the moment we stop asking questions, the moment we think we master anything, it kicks our butts.

So, go fish.. enjoy.. and stop worrying about trouble.... it'll find you when it is ready.

R

 

[luckydude]

I like how you quoted me

I've used my 'two strikes' rule on more than just airplane and boating. I used to love to read airplane accident investigation reports as there was always something to learn from. Every single accident had not one single event that led to the accident, but a series of events that's called the accident chain. I hope my 'two strikes' rule prevents that chain of events from forming leading to an accident.

Hey all, this is David the pilot. I met him here and did a little to get him to get a Grady. He is good people, I'm happy to be internet friends with him, a lot like magickbill is friends with me. The Grady clan is pretty nice.

 

[luckydude]

You worry too much. Stop worrying and just fish. Bad stuff happens, it does not need you to look for it... it finds you. Don't look for trouble where there is none.

Everyone is a noob... the moment we stop asking questions, the moment we think we master anything, it kicks our butts.

So, go fish.. enjoy.. and stop worrying about trouble.... it'll find you when it is ready.

R

That is what I am doing but I am old, 58, I don't want bad shit. I am down for the fishing.

 

[RussGW270]

I am 54....I have seen bad, this boat.. ain't it. If the worst you ever have is a dead boat.. and a live everything else, you can do a dance and toast your true luck.

Life is way too short to stress over this stuff.. and we all stress, so.. is what it is. I get mad as hell at this boat, but it is a 'thing' and there will be far more good days than bad....it just will not seem like it.

Also, on the noob thing... you own the boat. You are a grown man and earned the boat by working for it. It is like a work animal, a hunting dog. The moment you are afraid of it, you lose control....at least whatever control the sea allows us to think we have. I know I went 7 years without piloting a boat on the ocean, in the place I sailed a boat for decades and the first time I went out, I was worried.. I did not recognize anything. The next time,it was my inlet, my boat, my 'ocean'... and I knew exactly where I was.

You will bump that boat, scuff it, look like a damn fool more times than you will count...you will have people yell at you and you may yell back. That is just how it is. Don't think, just do. The sea demands a captain be deliberate, precise and it abides fools about as much as we old guys do heh...

Eh.. I am sitting here drinking a beer, winding down from working on bringing a golf cart back to life for my 11yr old son. Tomorrow, I am working on a trailer with LSquared, and then I plan to swap out some old sensors and thermostats on my boat.. then back to the golf cart with my son.... I have Shiner.. and Barbara Mandrell.. and good people like Bloodweiser to text and laugh about life.

So, you get my 2 cents of life heh

Go fish.. post photos.. tell us about the problems you have. Tell the therapist about the ones you dream about. Don't let them ever meet each other, and you will have the secret to life lol

(that was humor)

R

 

[Fishtales]

It's all a right of passage. Stay focused, be resilient and never give up. You have to allow the sea to humble you, to roll with the punches, control what you can and accept what you cannot.
To me being on the water is a microcosm of life.

 

[HTHM]

OK, that's a little weird. Did you do some detective work and figure out I'm half Dutch? I've got wooden shoes next to my stove in the kitchen. Never wear them, they are crazy uncomfortable, but they have been following me around for decades.

The last time I thought I knew what was going on was right after I had the Fell MOB cutoff switch installed. I was on autopilot mentally and completely forgot about it and tried to start the boat. It won't start unless you pair the wrist thing with the cutoff switch. The Yamaha display said something is wrong with your engine, take it to the dealer. So like an idiot, I did. They asked "What has changed since it last worked?" and the light bulb went on in my head. Paired, engine fired right up.

Anyhoo, maybe I'm getting better but I try not to jinx things by thinking those thoughts

You're forgetting a conversation we had about Dutch food and drink couple months back. I extolled the joys of consuming genever .