DERF
Well-Known Member
This weekend I went off to Fareham to sea-trial a new RIB. Was a beautiful day on Sat so, rather than drive we set off in current RIB from Porto Solente. Now being proper sea faring types, we are kitted out in full wet weather gear, life jackets, HH/VHF and of course our brand new Gecko Helmets.(orange dayglo!)... Felt pretty snazzy I can tell you.
Half-way to Fareham, my partner (T) decides she wants to helm. No problems I think, as she's been out with me loads of times in the RIB; so she obviously knows what to do......doesn't she?
Eventually arrive in Fareham and come in toward the pontoons.....
A little fast me thinks, but I say nothing...... closer and still too fast..... closer stilll.... time for me to say something...... SLOWER... so she eases off the throttle, but only a touch. I Jump to the helm and throttle right back to tickover... Phew embarrassment avoided!
Now by this time the "professional" who is taking us out in the new RIB (45+ knts) is standing on the quayside with three others watching us approach.
We are now about 20 feet from the pontoon and I pick up the painter ready to step ashore as T brings the RIB alongside. I have my back to the helm ready to step out... Unfortunately T had never actually had ANY practice in the RIB, so never thought to come out of gear and give it a nudge astern to actually stop......
Yep we hit the pontoon and bounced backward... Of course, I not expecting this, nearly fall overboard and in trying save myself, reach for the centre console. Big, big mistake...
In flailing around to get my balance, my hand slips off the S/S rail and graps the throttle (which is still in gear) and I give it full ahead!
The 55hp suzy wails away and launches the RIB straight at the pontoon at full tilt; the bow attacks the pontoon and half mounts it, before I manage to grab the kill cord and kill the engine...
The boat thankfully slides back off the pontoon....
I can see from the corner of my eye, the guys on the quayside bent double, and can just imagine the look of disbelief and amazement on the Pro's face....
I hastily shout out to T... " are you trying to kill us" Anything to hide my own shortcommings..... see!
Anyway boat now safely tethered to pontoon. We step smartly up to the men on the quay, all trying terribly hard to hide their mirth at my appalling seamanship..
All sorted and happy, we trundle down to the pontoon and step aboard the test RIB.
"leaving your keys in your ignition he asks?"... so I jump out and run over to the RIB, and promptly jump into a foot of water!
What I hadn't realised that during the pontoon leaping saga, the bung had come out of the transom and the boat was in fact, slowly sinking!!! Luckily I carry a spare so avoided any further embarrassment.
Of course I get back to the RIB and tell the bloke that I was "new" to boating and still had lots to learn..... he calmly responds.... "yeah well at least you've got all the gear though hey mate"...
Half-way to Fareham, my partner (T) decides she wants to helm. No problems I think, as she's been out with me loads of times in the RIB; so she obviously knows what to do......doesn't she?
Eventually arrive in Fareham and come in toward the pontoons.....
A little fast me thinks, but I say nothing...... closer and still too fast..... closer stilll.... time for me to say something...... SLOWER... so she eases off the throttle, but only a touch. I Jump to the helm and throttle right back to tickover... Phew embarrassment avoided!
Now by this time the "professional" who is taking us out in the new RIB (45+ knts) is standing on the quayside with three others watching us approach.
We are now about 20 feet from the pontoon and I pick up the painter ready to step ashore as T brings the RIB alongside. I have my back to the helm ready to step out... Unfortunately T had never actually had ANY practice in the RIB, so never thought to come out of gear and give it a nudge astern to actually stop......
Yep we hit the pontoon and bounced backward... Of course, I not expecting this, nearly fall overboard and in trying save myself, reach for the centre console. Big, big mistake...
In flailing around to get my balance, my hand slips off the S/S rail and graps the throttle (which is still in gear) and I give it full ahead!
The 55hp suzy wails away and launches the RIB straight at the pontoon at full tilt; the bow attacks the pontoon and half mounts it, before I manage to grab the kill cord and kill the engine...
The boat thankfully slides back off the pontoon....
I can see from the corner of my eye, the guys on the quayside bent double, and can just imagine the look of disbelief and amazement on the Pro's face....
I hastily shout out to T... " are you trying to kill us" Anything to hide my own shortcommings..... see!
Anyway boat now safely tethered to pontoon. We step smartly up to the men on the quay, all trying terribly hard to hide their mirth at my appalling seamanship..
All sorted and happy, we trundle down to the pontoon and step aboard the test RIB.
"leaving your keys in your ignition he asks?"... so I jump out and run over to the RIB, and promptly jump into a foot of water!
What I hadn't realised that during the pontoon leaping saga, the bung had come out of the transom and the boat was in fact, slowly sinking!!! Luckily I carry a spare so avoided any further embarrassment.
Of course I get back to the RIB and tell the bloke that I was "new" to boating and still had lots to learn..... he calmly responds.... "yeah well at least you've got all the gear though hey mate"...
