Today started out so good. Got the boys up early, got hair cuts, went to get our church directory picture, actually got a smile out of both of them! (Amazing feat when you have a 2 year old and a 4 year old!) Beautiful day, no wedding, and a strong wind. We haven't been out on the boat for almost a year, so I figured, let's go enjoy ourselves!

Of course, that's when it all goes horribly wrong. (I should have seen this coming!)

Christian (my 2 year old) decides that now would be a good time to start screaming for the next 45 minutes straight. He wanted nothing - no binkie, no bottle, no food, didn't want to be held, didn't want to be put down - he was pissed and nothing was going to change it. We figured he was just tired (he was) so we went back to the house to let him get a nap.

No problem, I'll just get everything ready for the boat this afternoon.

Battery charged - check.
Motor & Mount - a little dusty and some cobwebs, but still working - check.
Lifejackets - Ian, where is the other kids lifejacket? (I dunno.....). Ok, a trip to wal-mart. No problem.
Boom (for the sail) - hmmm...doesn't fit in the van. No problem, hang it out the window - check.
Anchor - check.
Main Sheet - check.
Sails - man, I really need to clean these - oh well. check.
Keys to the truck (in storage with the boat)...........
Me: Steph, where are the truck keys?
Steph: I'll get them.

Sweet. Check.
Keys to the trailer locks.

um......

Me: Steph?

45 minutes later, check.

drain plug.....must be with the boat.
Oh good, Christian's up. We can just all go.

Me: Everybody in the van!

Hmm...they changed the access hours at the storage unit. No problem, we just have to be back by 9. (It's about 6:30 at this point). Steph and Christian, you go get a new lifejacket for Christian, Ian and I will uncover the boat and hook it to the truck......

Why won't the truck unlock?

Crap. Dead remote batteries.
(unlock door)
Nope. Dead truck battery.
<sigh>
No problem, we have jumper cables.

Me: Steph, pull the van up.
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

(hook up the jumper cables, truck factory alarm goes nuts).
HONK-HONK-HONK-<start>-<die>-HONK-HONK-HONK-<start>-<die>-HONK-HONK-HONK

Crap. The remote batteries ARE dead. I can't turn off the alarm.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Me: STEPH, GRAB THE OWNERS MANUAL TO SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN OFF THE ALARM!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Steph: WHERE'S THE MANUAL? SHOULD BE IN THE GLOVE BOX! IT'S NOT THERE!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

(disconnect the jumper cables)

HONeeeeeewwwwww.....click....click...cli.....

Wow, the battery died really quick. Not a good sign.

Me: Is the manual in the center console? How about under the back seats?
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

Where is that thing?

Oh well, let's just try again.

(hook up the jumper cables)

HONK
HONK
HONK

Ian: DADDY, THE TRUCK IS HURTING MY EARS!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Me: GO GET IN THE VAN IAN!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Ian: I GOTTA GO POTTIE!

HONK
HONK
HONK

(of course, the storage unit has no bathroom.....)
Me: GO OVER IN THE BUSHES THERE BUD!

HONK
HONK
HONK

Me: NO! DON'T CLIMB THE BUSHES! PULL YOUR PANTS UP, JUST GO ON THE BUSHES!

HONK
HONK
HONK

..........

Oh, using the key in the drivers door turns it off. Good.

<Truck finally starts>

Me: Ok Steph, go get the new lifejacket, we'll finish up here.
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.


Me: Ian, Did you see the drain plug?

Ian: This one?

Me: Nope...that's the wrong size......

<20 minutes of searching>

Me: <on cell phone> Steph, I need a new drain plug. 5/8 or so.
Steph: They only have 1".
Me: Ok, that's too big. Just get a 5/8 dowel. We don't have much time anyway.

<10 minutes later>
Ah, here in the overhead compartment.

<on cell phone again>

Me: Nevermind Steph, we found it.

Me: Ok Ian, stand way over here, and let me know when this hitch is near the front of the trailer, ok?

Ian: OK Daddy!

<pull the truck forward, put it in reverse>

<sputter sputter die>

grrrr...should have come over and started the truck this winter.

<turn the key> click...click...click....

<sigh>

<on cell phone>

Me: Steph, where are you? The truck died again.

Ian: Daddy, I'm going to throw up.

Me: Huh? What's wrong?

Ian: I drank too much propel.

Me: Well, go over there bud and just sit down, ok?

<Steph pulls up>

20 minutes later.....

Truck finally starts. We really need to get a new battery so it doesn't die on the launch ramp.

Steph: It's 8:00 already......

Me: Ok, we'll go to Wal-Mart. I'll kill it, and if it doesn't start back up, I'll get a new battery.

Ian: I'm still going to throw up.

Me: What's the problem bud? You've been saying that for half an hour.

Ian: I drank too much propel.

Steph: Here, I'll give you a bag. If you get sick, you can use this, ok?

Ian: Ok.

In the truck, 5 minutes later.....

Ian: Zzzzzzzzzz........

<at wal-mart, turn it off, try to start it....click-click-click>

Me: Ok, I'll get a new battery.

30 minutes later....

<truck starts right up>

Steph: We have 1/2 an hour to get back in the storage unit.

Me: Ian, we're going to have to go boating next week.

Ian: <yawn>But.....but I wanted to go today! <sniff><whine>

Me: I know bud, so did I.....

Ian: Can we go to Chuck-E-Cheese instead?

<I'm covered in grease and battery acid>

Me: um...no bud, not tonight. We'll take the boat out on Monday, ok?

Ian: <whine>Ok.....

5 minutes later:

Ian: ZZZzzzzzzzz.....




Ah, the joy of boat ownership!

At least we're ready for Monday. Hopefully we'll actually get to SEE the lake at least! LOL

Hope your day was more productive!

Shan

LOL, what a great story!!! Glad it wasnt an "already out on the water" kind of bad!

Sounds a little like my day! At least you have everything (hopefully) all set for Monday!

Yeah, it could have been a worse story.....I've been out when the wind absolutely died and my battery for my trolling motor was pretty low.

Monday is looking good though! If all goes well, we'll head up to lake Erie (rather than the little lakes around here) and go out to the islands.

BOAT = Bring On Another Thousand

I've had worse days, but I thought this was just funny the way it ended up! Christian started the day all pissed off, and Ian ended the day wanting to do EVERYTHING but instead fell asleep. Figures! LOL

Hopefully, I'll have some pics to share monday night. Hopefully not of both boys crying in the boat! LOL

Oh my goodness! This is SUCH a great story! I think every parent has had days like this!

Hi Shannon…this is such a great story! WOW am I glad my kids are a little older now (but there are OTHER fun things to deal with when they get to be pre-teen and teens ).

I grew up in Sandusky, OH and love to sail or power boat. We spent many weekends sailing over to the Islands (Kelly’s and South Bass) and racing—man was that great fun—I miss that tremendously.

Have a great boating trip on Monday!

wow...that was just one of those days...glad to hear of the positive attitude!

Good read! Even though it was a bad day- Wow.

I speak from personal experience...much better to be on land wishing you were out there...than out there, wishing you were back on land.

Check out my alter ego... www.geocities.com/buccaneersailboats

Yup, back in my Jimmy buffett days, I was Jollymon Jeff. Some friends still call me that because I am nauseatingly optimistic.

I just got rid of the 28' Buccaneer after 2 diesels and a decade of fun.
I am having a blast with a Hobie Wave. 13 feet of low tech, low maintenance, high speed sailing fun.

I have a Flying Scot - great little 19 footer. If I get a spinnaker I understand they'll actually plane out!

Yeah, I haven't been really stuck yet (although I was in a pretty bad wind shadow once and my battery on my trolling motor was really low). I'd hate to be stuck out on lake Erie - the storms can come up pretty quick, and my sail has no reef points.

I'd love to have a buccaneer though, down in the Carribean - that sounds like paradise to me!

Shan

Ohhh... Sorry you had such a crappy day! We actually almost sunk our ski boat once. Left the drain plug in on the lift.... torrential rains for 3 days, flooded the boat too heavy for the lift. Lift breaks... Boat goes down. Once a boat fills with water and is hanging out about a 8 inches from being completely under water, the battery acid then eats everything else that hasn't been damaged by the water!

Boat =

Break
Out
Another
Thousand

Wow Jamie - that would really suck!

It wasn't really a crappy day, just frustrating when it seems like everything is working against you, yet so funny in retrospect!

My dad says the same thing: BOAT = Bring On Another Thousand.

He also said the 2nd happiest day in his life was the day he bought his boat.

The happiest day was the day he sold it.

LOL

Shan

That is sweet! I have raced hobies a few times--the 16 and 18fter'. Great fun!! You have to love back-winding the jib on the 16 and 18 ft. just to tack the boat....LOL.