Shakedown Cruise for "Easy Livin"

TIME 1130 hrs DATE Nov 9, 2002 WINDS NW - 10KTS TIDE FLOOD + 3.5FT SEA COND ROUGH AND BUMPY It was 1130 hrs on 9 Nov 2002, when we showed up at the boat with the intentions of running a shakedown cruise to check all systems. Crew for this trip would consist of Rosemary 1st Mate and B/O (Boat Owner), Sandy as the "Blender Girl", and myself as the Master in Control (Captain). As soon as I cleared the brow and stowed the coolers I proceeded to perform a 100% inspection on all systems. All fluids to proper operating levels, only thing low was the fuel. Both tanks were to the ½ mark. Checked prop clearance on dock and 180* radius. Transferred batteries to proper side. Went to fire engines, no juice in either battery. Transferred batteries to "ALL" so as to give both engines full power of both instead of just one. Still no power to fire the engines. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS READ THE OWNERS MANUAL Sent Rosemary to Dock Master's office to get a charger. Put batteries on charge for about 15 mins, then tried to fire them. Still nothing, this time I left charger on for about an hour. Tried to fire engines and got a good contact. Left engines to idle (8K) for 5 mins. then increased rpm's to 15K. Performed pre-departure checklist. Although seas and winds were against us I was only going to stick her nose out, do a 180* and bring her back to dock…………. EVERYTHING WAS EASY UP TO HERE Had crew cast off all lines, and prepared to get underway. Making a mental note to myself I just kept saying she is 37 ft LOA, (Good to remember). Walked her off the dock and proceeded to make a port side turn into channel. Access channel out of Leeward Marina makes a "Dog Leg" to the right then to the left. Clearance between seawalls is 50 ft (point to remember). As I set up for the final turn out of the marina, the winds picked up and the vessel was catching the winds, waves and slop on the Port side, causing her to "Bip and Bop" "Rock and Roll". I decided to turn her back into the marina. After some quick figuring and math I knew I would only have just so much room to make this maneuver. Remember the boat is 37 ft and the ditch is only 50 ft. That leaves you 13 ft to play with, more than enough room. Except you now split that in half to have equal distance on the bow and stern which is 6 ½ ft. YOU MAY BE THE BEST CAPTAIN AROUND, BUT NEVER PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE TO PROVE IT As I started to make my turn back to the dock, I guess I did not checkout my surroundings fully. As we were making the turn the privacy curtain proceeded to close one at a time making my seeing anything impossible. Remember I told you about the 6 ½ ft? Well now it has closed in to 3 ft on the bow and 10 ft on the stern and vice-versa. There I am getting ready to park this boat on top of the seawall, the winds and tide are getting worse, and I can't see anything because of those curtains. "HELLO" can you say I need some help up here! Needed crew to find something to tieback curtains with. Rosemary says how about the tiebacks that go on them. So I am trying to hold the curtains back and also trying to stear with my "Johnson" (but that's another story). MY BUTT WAS SO TIGHT YOU COULDN'T SQUEEZE A DIME UP THERE After making the turn and heading back in to the dock I can start to "feel the dime falling out of my butt". We decided to top off fuel tanks with help of dockmaster. Who proceeded to say "That was some fancy driving out there, we figured we would have to peel you off the seawall…….. EVEN A LOUSY DAY ON THE WATER, BEATS A GOOD DAY AT HOME….. Well time to head back to slip and have a cocktail. All is good, full tanks of fuel, engines started first time, dock lines cleared, curtains in place, stereo is on……., wait a minute I don't hear or feel something that should be there. All of a sudden those dimes stopped falling out of my butt!!!! Both engines have quit and we are still 50 feet short of our slip. Yelled to the dockmaster and another boater on his way in for assistance. Told crew to relax all is OK. NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT Out of no where comes these guys from every direction getting ready to fend us off the other boats and get some lines attached to her. Finally after 10 mins of trying to get her into another slip and get her tied down those dimes started falling again. So we decided to get the charger back on her for another hour and have a few cocktails and pizza (OH did I mention my good friend Larry, new title as the Pizza Boy). I fired the engines put out a 100 foot line to our dock and to midship on vessel. Put gears in reverse to clear, X'd controls and came right around the dock and put her where she was supposed to be. Shut down the systems, bring up the shore power, time for more music, cocktails and jokes……. THE END OF A GOOD DAY

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