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What's your biggest bonehead move sailing?

214K views 614 replies 265 participants last post by  Michael Lambert 
#1 ·
Tell me yours and I'll tell ya mine ;)
 
#449 ·
Don't be too hard on yourself - it's an easy mistake to make.

Along the edge of our Yarra river is a rock wall (a wave barrier of sorts) behind which is a popular boat ramp, that is exposed at low tide but submerged at high tide and marked only by the occasional white post. It's not uncommon for people in a hurry to take a short-cut across the top rather than go the long way right around the end of it as you're supposed to and I've never known anyone to hit it (at least, if they have, I've not heard about it!)... but it's bound to happen one day. :)
 
#451 ·
Last summer my young son and I were anchored out doing some fishing. When it came time to head back home, I retrieved the anchor and just nestled it securely in its place on deck, rather than tying it in. Because, you know, there wasn't much motion on the water and I was expecting an easy sail back, and I knew I'd be laying the anchor out to clean it when we got home.

On the return trip, about 45 minutes total, the wind picked up and we got a nice heel, travelling just under hull speed.

When I pulled into the slip and went forward to tie up, there was my anchor hanging about 60% on the deck an 40% over the toe rail. I felt ill thinking about what could have happened if my boy had been walking around and the anchor fell overboard.

Like most of the worst bonehead maneuvers, it was completely avoidable if I had just done what I knew I should have done.
 
#452 · (Edited)
I would rather learn from someone else's mistakes than my own. The biggest bonehead move I have seen recently cost someone's life and boat (after almost being killed a couple days before making the same mistake).
Basically a guy bought a boat (CAL27) that had been sitting a long time, left on a trip by himself ignoring what the weather said and a gybe almost took his head off.
Then with a serious head injury, after everyone telling him not to leave and more weather warnings (turned out to be 50kt winds w/18ft waves in the strait)...he left anyway. 2 1/2hrs out he sent a mayday, US and Canadian Coast Guard searched for 3 days to no avail. The worst thing about this is that it was 100% avoidable.
Though I didn't learn anything from his mistakes, because I knew better anyway.
 
#453 ·
I would rather learn from someone else's mistakes than my own.
Learning that is what separates the winners from the losers in the Darwin awards. :)
 
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#456 ·
1983 Newport RI, a few Aussies in town right? Cheap Yankee me wanted to forgo the the dingy fee in town, but had to pick up a friend making it from Chicago. Put the dink under a dock at one of those big houses. 25 words, partied with the Downundies, picked up the friends, got a bit messed up.... tide came up, pinned the poor boat under the dock. sobered up quick after jumping in, tipping it over, hauling it out. OK let's find Das Boot. Over by the fort???
:D
 
#458 ·
I took a couple friends out in my Chrysler LS 13. I had sailed about on my own and this was my first trip with passengers. Three people on the little boat was probably too much, heading down river on a windless day wasn't very smart, but it wasn't the boneheaded move.

On the boat there are twin keels that lock in place for trailering. I forgot that for some reason.

Launch the boat, everyone is... and I shove off. When I raise the sail, instead of cutting on a tangent ('A Tangent' was the name of the boat) into the wind...it just drifted towards the dock.

O, the keel, I instantly realized and tried to put one down, but it would go.

"We must be stuck on a sandbar" I announced and proceeded to jump over the side --- in the believe I was going to land in a foot of water.

I landed in seven feet of water.

Fortunately I had my hands on the side of the boat. I totally extended underwater, leaving my hat floating on the water and my hands in a death grip.

I yanked myself back up, in one motion, by chance landing my hat on my head.

Looking over...I saw two people suffering from internal injuries trying not to laugh.

"Go ahead and laugh, it's funny," I barked in a none too happy voice.
 
#459 ·
20 plus years ago I thought Id take out a blonde boomshell for a sail, we cast off and sail away,, well the clothes came off and the bikini came out, she sits on the bow lookin just fine as i stand on the lazaretts to get a better vantage point, the boat decides to jibe, and I found out why they call it a boom!!! As I pick my disorented ass off the cockpit floor 4 or so min. later she was none the wiser what happened,, only a mild concusun but worth it in the long run, as the anchor dropped and so did the clothes:eek::eek::eek::eek::D
 
#460 · (Edited)
Last summer I built a new boom gallows 6' x 6" x 2" Silver Bali w/teak cap, 4' long Silver Bali legs, I even had a wood carver care the new name of the boat on it, procured a 7" bronze bell to go opposite the brass Fresnel lens stern light. To make the final cut to fit it so I could through bolt it to the bulwarks I had to put it all together. After trying to hold it in place and mark all the angles my frustration level was starting build. I thenhad to get the boom gallows below decks to cut it, it was heavy and a tight fit going through and down the hatch. I got the angle on the first leg cut perfectly, the secound leg I had to do upside down. backwards, with bad light, glasses falling off, hair in my eyes, hungry, pissed off etc.....finally got the fist cut done, perfectly....but then I cut away the wrong part and I didn't notice that until I had wrestled the gallows back on deck in the wind and rain.
I did make the legs about 3" longer than the other so it is fixable....but sent my stress level through the roof.

I try and learn from other peoples mistakes, but one that I have had to learn fom my own is "when upgrading something, don't get rid of what you are getting rid of until it's replacement is ready and/or you know what you are placeing it will work (also before enbarking on a long project make sure it will actually work in the long run). I removed my old winch mounts, bought a pair of bronze Barient two speed winches and bronze double articulated block, made new winch mounts and am still trying to figure out how to make them fit.
Also replaced the vhf cable and through out the old antenna before I got a new one
 
#463 ·
I've found that people who talk about "driving" their boat are more likely to be stupid and/or ignorant on the water.
 
#464 ·
I was watching a 30' power boat try and get into the slip yeasterday, it took 7 people two on the dock supervising, 4 on the dock with lines fighting the guy on the bridge who kept throwing the boat if forward/reverse/forward reverse etc.

Have also seen an equal sized power boat with twin screws and bow thruster, busy playing with three propellers not paying attention to the wind.
Or the guy that is so much of a hurry to get into the fuel dock to let you get out
Or the guy who got a dockline caught in his prop and the other guy, instead of helping him was cussing and swearing at him because he was in his way...I always thought boaters were supposed to help each other, maybe it's just a sailboat thing
 
#465 ·
While sailing down island, years ago (which makes it excusable, right?) we decided to shorten sail as the breeze freshened. As a newbie sailor, I didn't realize that putting a reef in the main only requires securing the luff and leach reefing points/grommets and proceeded to tie those three little lines (meant to keep the now unused portion of the main out of the cockpit) tightly around the boom to hold the foot down tightly to the boom (seemed logical to me). Imagine my surprise and embarrassment when those lines (what are they called?) ripped out the belly of the sail. We had to put in to Bequai and get her sewn up for only $75.
 
#467 · (Edited)
Not my biggest, but up there...I bought a pair of bronze 2-speed Barient winches, made winch mounts to fit them and my old single speed winches before I made sure I could reach the places the bolts went...but that wasn't the bonehead move...when pulling into a slip a line got wrapped around one of these unbolted mounts and pulled it over board. Second try with a diver found them and I have already stripped them down in prep for complete cleaning. BTW I can get the bolts to fit, as soon as I can find someone smaller and more flexible than myself.
 
#468 · (Edited)
End of last season, I decided to build and employ a GIN pole for stepping/unstepping the mast on my Grampian 26, because, why am I going to pay $100 to step, and $100 unstep my mast every year when I can do-it-ma-dern-self for free? Build pole, works great, forget to remove shackle on the tabernacle, break cast shoe hinge at the base of the mast. That'll be $200 you knucklehead!

Thanks capt Aaron and others for the quick advice, and link up to klako spars who kindly provided the part!
 
#469 ·
Mast stepping/unstepping is always a time for everyone to be paying attention.

I remember doing something similar to Chartreuse with my Buddy's Rhodes 19'. We were raising/stepping the mast and I was controlling a line which was tied to the forestay which held the mast straight up while my Buddy was dealing with the other shrouds/stays on the deck. Well, I must have gotten distracted because the next thing that happened was the mast came down and bent up the tabernacle. Oops! No one was hurt but the tabernacle had to be reshaped.

Years later I was either stepping or unstepping the mast on the Lightning 19' I owned for a few years. My wife was helping me. Somehow the mast got free and fell, dealing my wife a glancing blow to the head. I am so lucky that we did not end up in the emergency room and that she is still with me.
 
#474 ·
It wasn't my call but I was involved.
Friend with his home build trimaran was preparing to de-step the mast.
Had me hold the forward line while he disconnected everything and pushed the mast to the stern so the guy at the stern could let the mast set in the boom crutch.
He apparently didn't attach my line and the boom came down fast.
Apparently the line reeving though the block slowed the mast down just enough so the bottom guy was able to guide the mast to the crutch.

No harm done and job done in record time.
Just has to wash underwear.
 
#477 · (Edited)
Does trying to get my boat ready to "sail off into the tropical sunset" while living in the Pacific North West and living on board at the same time with no help from anyone else count? I have minimum 8month/yr down time because of the weather on top of that weather never really gets to where I can do what I want....doing stuff by myself is also a bit tough too.

On another note I recently discovered the difference between knowing where you were going and thinking you knew where you were going....at least when you don't have a clue you know that you don't.
 
#479 ·
Add in not being able to sail most of the year because of weather...or is that just included in the PNW bit. My plan is to get the boat to where I can sail down to San Fransisco in late July and spend the time necessary getting it ready (and finding a long term crew) there. No one wants to volunteer for the sail right now (will probably have lots of takers once boat is ready to go).
 
#480 ·
The weather is the problem with PNW - after all, if it wasn't for that you'd have more good weather time for the repairs, coatings etc. and get in the water sooner. Heck, friends might even come down in good weather and help you out provided you offer them chilled microbrews further speeding the process.

But you have a plan, and it looks workable from the outside. And, furthermore, what's the alternative? Armchair adventuring? Long term TV viewing? You ain't being boneheaded... yet.

However, the path ahead is lined with ample opportunity for boneheadedness.

Best of luck
 
#481 ·
Fortunately I have put alot of effort into learning from other peoples mistakes, but most importantly I do learn from my own....some of the stupidest mistakes I have seen were made by people who didn't listen to other peoples suggestions, for some reason or another just not able to take advice from others....I do listen to everything people say and wiegh what they say. Example if two people tell me two conflicting things....think what would happen if I listened to one (and he was wrong) or listened to another (and he was wrong)....which of the two would put you in a compromising situation. My mind is very analytical by nature so I look closely at what people tell me...they may be right (for their application but not mine) or totally clueless or even present me with a jewel of knowledge.
 
#482 ·
The principle of OPM is, of course, the heart of this forum. You seem to be a fairly careful and thoughtful person so less likely to have a qualifying entry here. Uh-oh... I see a boneheaded move.... it's over 60F, not raining, and you are not working on your boat!
 
#483 ·
I am also 30 miles from my boat...can't get a bus till later this afternoon.....was stuck on the boat all weekend (no buses), need to get food and supplies and make a trip taking stuff to my mini storage....it was raining when I left this morning. I am setting up to get stuff done the rest of the week....including finding people to help me and/or get in contact with my wood worker friend that still has some parts I need (which I will exchange for some other wood work).....fortunately this "nice" weather of partly sunny low 60s will last at least 10 days (though does still rain at night)
 
#484 ·
That's a haul... I couldn't do that, I am forever forgetting something and I don't think the bus would oblige a turn about to go fetch it. Fortunately I was able to get an outdoor spot for my notionally trailerable 24 about 3 minutes from my abode. What a stroke of luck that was. Couldn't do it if the digits were transposed.

Best of luck making headway.
 
#486 ·
Long time ago... I was sailing on Pamlico Sound in the summer, coming back from Jones Bay to Oriental. Listened to the weather radio in the morning - nothing major was going down. Got a late start that day, the wind was light, I was not moving a whole lot. In the late afternoon I realized I'm not going to make it to my marina before the nightfall as the wind just died completely. Picked what I thought was a decent enough anchorage with just a few mosquitoes, dropped the hook and settled in for the night. Around 1 am I woke up to the wind piping up. Turned the radio on and got a small craft advisory for wind and waves. In about half hour it was blowing about 30 mph sustained and the waves started to get large and ugly. My anchorage was apparently very exposed. The anchor was holding fine but the boat movement was so violent I was afraid the line will snap. I dropped a second, smaller anchor just in case. I started getting sea sick. Soon I was puking my guts out. I was in the cockpit, feeding the fish like a champ. I was drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated. I was praying for the dawn to come so I could move to a more protected spot. When dawn came I raised a reefed main and skedaddled out of there. In no time at all I got back to my marina in Whortonsville. What a relief that was. Fortunately, I only lost my shoes that night, and whatever food was there in my stomach. I must have left the shoes on the deck and they were thrown overboard by the violent movement of the boat.
From that day on I listened to weather radio several times a day, and always picked a sheltered anchorage, regardless of how thick the local mosquito population happened to be.
 
#488 · (Edited)
There I was sailing my Coronado 25 coastal cruiser behind the keys (somewhere around Largo) in a parade of about 7 other sailboats. I had just sailed 3 days from St. Pete after outfitting for a year to "do the keys". It was a beautiful sailing day in the sun and I had that living like thanksgiving feeling as any young, dumb, and full of ... freespirited guy should have and alls going well in the train of sailboats I was following. My chest was swelling with pride that day I`ll tell you sir. I was in the middle of the pack and doing everything right. I was even following the chart which turned out to be my mistake. I saw the others not do the charted dogleg and thought it slightly odd, but I continued for the dogleg turn accordingly and within a nanosecoond after realizing that I might be the one that was wrong, BAMM! I came to a screeching halt and was hard aground much to the hysterical delight of the 10 g"#d&%# stinkboaters anchored along the shore just waiting for a sucker like me to give them their afternoon entertainment. As I turned my mortified head to see the others sail AROUND the channel markers, a f#¤%ing stinkboater was johnny-on-the-spot with a beer in one hand and throwing me a line with the other under a supressed laughter about how it happens all the time. I didn`t want to accept his help and really wanted to tell him to GF himself, but it happened all too fast. I then continued on like a wet dog with his tail between his legs that just caught pissing on someones carpet. Chalk one up for experience. Better situational awareness was what I sailed away with from that one. There are others, but the pain of that one still haunts me from 20 odd years ago, so it might just be awhile before I post another one.

Fair winds everyone...
 
#489 ·
I've seen the exact opposite happen here. Pirates Cove is a very special little hurricane hole in the Gulf Islands. It is very popular but it has an S shaped entrance that is also very narrow. The channel cuts through solid rock and requires very careful piloting, especially at low tide.

I was 4th in line going in it one day, everyone following in line ahead. The first boat cut the corner - CLANG, the second boat followed right along - CLANG, the THIRD boat followed right along - CLANG. :rolleyes:

I didn't cut the corner and went through no problem.
 
#490 · (Edited)
I guess it's time for me post here. I wasn't even sailing when this happened!
....
22nd of June. Left home to get on the boat and a friend is going to meet me later on at the club. I took the club dingy and tied it onto my boat to tow it back to the club docks. I've done this maybe hundreds of times over the years now it's pretty routine.

Climbed aboard.... the key won't turn! ARRRRG.. I tried and tried. So.. jump off and went Baaaaack with the dingy and (it's a 14 foot unsinkable with 6 hp) got some spray stuff.. jump in dink and go back to the boat again and climb aboard!

shhhsst shssst SUCCESS! She starts; just like always. After making sure the dink is secure I walk up release the mooring lines and attach the pick up stick toss them away and clear of the boat. I then walk back, turn the wheel, engage my poor little Hurth hbw 5. and about 10 seconds later; CLUNK, CLACK, SCREEEE! the engine dies.... look down.. HUGE tree stump with root between my prop and rudder! There I was floating down the channel! "don't turn off the key" "don't turn off the key" "don't turn off the key" I'm repeating almost in time with the engine chug chugging.

I never panic, I'm a calm, well centered and rather mentally competent person... Really, I am! I guess I had blonde brain this day. Because there there I am; trying all kinds of fancy; Tie the dink along side and take the old girl back in; Nope.. all we did was spin in the channel, get the air horn.. nope.. need a new re-fill for the horn. Jump up and down on the bow.. No one at the club sees.. some wave. I start calling people with my cell phone; nada, 2 old timers that were at the club come over in the big old fly bridge Chris Craft, I know them! I hold out a line, telling them thanks and glad they came over to help and they yell; :"your ok?" they wave and head down river! (I can see they've had "few")

Meanwhile; I tie a line to bow. "gonna tow her home this time" I'm thinking. Nope.. wind and current were fighting me and all my efforts. I'm getting really overheated and feel like I'm going to actually loose control of this situation ( Clearly, I already lost control)

A few minutes after trying to compose myself; A couple of guys in a bass boat stopped by and they got the wood out; I thanked them profusely. Then I get behind the wheel and put the ole girl in gear again... tow line I had rigged up? It floated under.. and yup! CLUNK, CLACK, SCREEEE! It's wrapped on the prop!

The bass boat guys looked at each other and then at me and I said. "yeah. I know, but could you just stop over at the club and tell anyone I'm in trouble? They will send help." (I hope this, because there's a party going on. ) I was mortified!

Finally a couple of guys from my club came down with his 20 something Renken, and towed me back. Lots of young guys and dads were there on the dock. (it's a graduation party) I'm a mess, shaken, and stirred, and; totally mortified! Got her tied up and finally! I ran down below and tried to put myself together boat is like an oven down there. So I just and just ran and hid in my car until the ac got me cooled off enough to function like person I normally am err think I am!

Later, (3;am actually) after I got my wits, composure, and some dignity back I played with the key again, tapped the starter a few times while in reverse and tugging the line it unwrapped. Whew.... :p

Hey Dumass Denise! The moment the tree trunk stopped you dead in the water all you had to do was drop the hook! But Noooooooooooooooooooo MS High IQ had to prove that one lady, with one little 14 ft 6hp boat can single handedly "save" A 30ft 10,000 lb sailboat alone! :eek::eek::eek:::puke:(:mad::mad::mad:
 
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