jforgan
New member
Louise and I went out for the first time on Sunday in Wave Runner without David from Mendez Marine for comfort and after a long wait getting her cleaned and serviced. We were accompanied by our two boys and my elderly mother who was visiting from Scotland.....perhaps not such a good idea on our first excursion.
We planned to visit Cowes Yacht Haven, repeating a trip we had made with David earlier this year, so we set of merrily from Hythe with a full picnic hamper.
We got through the lock OK and decided to have a look at the big ships, so went upstream. Unfortunately Lou and I were so nervous that we didn't realise we were looking at the world's biggest cruise ship, however the flottilla of spectating boats should have given us a clue.
We then toddled of to Cowes following our carefully constructed plan and on reaching Hythe pier applied a bit of welly to get on the plane. I was up to about 20 knots when Lou tapped my shoulder and pointed at my Mum who was holding on to the seat and mouthing the Lord's Prayer, her face a rictus of sheer terror. Either she doesn't like getting on the plane or David's had a word with her /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
So, back to 15 knots and down towards Calshot Bell..All of a sudden there's a funny buzzing sound and a red light. Oh dear..starboard engine's overheating. Thought back to the Day Skipper theory course and all our training...No that wasn't covered....Looked at new DSC radio...perhaps time for a Mayday, scramble the helicopter...get Sea Start...Mother's looking more worried.....kids upset about not getting new sunglasses in Cowes....
Slapped myself about the head, had a deep breath, turned the engine off, and set back for Hythe. Now very glad that I didn't listen to the guy who tried to sell me his boat saying that two engines weren't really any safer than one. And sorry that I hadn't waited to get the engines serviced by Col!
We crawled back with Lou at the lopsided helm and switched the engine back on to get through the lock. Got through safely if inelegantly and reversed OK into the berth with the help and advice of the guy next to us (aren't boating people nice!)
Sat down in Hythe to have picnic with wife, kids and a Mum who seemed just happy to be still alive.
I felt really euphoric (the beer helped) and remembered the wise words of Burgandyben, "Nobody got hurt, nothing got damaged, and everyone enjoyed themselves. So the trip was a success" (OK the engine overheated and my Mum wished I hadn't been born, but we'll ignore that)
All the best
John
p.s. If anyone wants to know how to cut fuel consumption in half, I've found the secret!
We planned to visit Cowes Yacht Haven, repeating a trip we had made with David earlier this year, so we set of merrily from Hythe with a full picnic hamper.
We got through the lock OK and decided to have a look at the big ships, so went upstream. Unfortunately Lou and I were so nervous that we didn't realise we were looking at the world's biggest cruise ship, however the flottilla of spectating boats should have given us a clue.
We then toddled of to Cowes following our carefully constructed plan and on reaching Hythe pier applied a bit of welly to get on the plane. I was up to about 20 knots when Lou tapped my shoulder and pointed at my Mum who was holding on to the seat and mouthing the Lord's Prayer, her face a rictus of sheer terror. Either she doesn't like getting on the plane or David's had a word with her /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
So, back to 15 knots and down towards Calshot Bell..All of a sudden there's a funny buzzing sound and a red light. Oh dear..starboard engine's overheating. Thought back to the Day Skipper theory course and all our training...No that wasn't covered....Looked at new DSC radio...perhaps time for a Mayday, scramble the helicopter...get Sea Start...Mother's looking more worried.....kids upset about not getting new sunglasses in Cowes....
Slapped myself about the head, had a deep breath, turned the engine off, and set back for Hythe. Now very glad that I didn't listen to the guy who tried to sell me his boat saying that two engines weren't really any safer than one. And sorry that I hadn't waited to get the engines serviced by Col!
We crawled back with Lou at the lopsided helm and switched the engine back on to get through the lock. Got through safely if inelegantly and reversed OK into the berth with the help and advice of the guy next to us (aren't boating people nice!)
Sat down in Hythe to have picnic with wife, kids and a Mum who seemed just happy to be still alive.
I felt really euphoric (the beer helped) and remembered the wise words of Burgandyben, "Nobody got hurt, nothing got damaged, and everyone enjoyed themselves. So the trip was a success" (OK the engine overheated and my Mum wished I hadn't been born, but we'll ignore that)
All the best
John
p.s. If anyone wants to know how to cut fuel consumption in half, I've found the secret!
