FS14- Bayou City Boat

[OrangeQuest]

So I would say you had a great day today! Congratulations I know today has been a long time coming. It is always a bit of a nervous time when your baby first hits the water.

Yes! Yes it was. I had hundreds of things going through my head.
No place to tie the boat up so I just pushed off. Forgot to plug the lanyard back in for the emergency stop switch so wouldn't start when I first got in. Very embarrassing as I drifted over to a man's fishing lines off the dock. All the docks were fenced off due to storm damage so no place to tie off to get in and out. Launching and recovery was a little tricky and a few fishermen held the boat off the ramp as I moved my trailer. Had to look for any leaks as I was idling into open water. Lucky there was none.

Was wanting to go again today but the forecast of no rain till evening changed to waking up to a drizzle and will continue all day. Then bad weather for a week or two. Spending that time on learning the GPS/FF settings. It's a thick book on all the things it can do.

[cape man]

What a day! Congrats!

[Dougster]

Terrific job. Re the kill switch: been there, done it and worse. It would be great if you could bring her to the Port A boat show for builders next spring. Lotsa different builds and good company there. Looking forward to more pics and first fish.

Dougster

[pee wee]

What a happy day this is for you, and those of us rooting for you! You did a great job on her, looking forward to your continued stories of getting things sorted and your adventures on the near horizons. Congratulations!

[Jaysen]

Congrats!

Same thing on the kill switch in a buddy’s boat. Except we were 13mi off shore. And called tow boat. Tow show up, ties off, looks at console and says “did y’all try plugging the kill switch back in?”

That was a quiet ride back.

[VT_Jeff]

HUGE congrats Ken. Thats a fine looking skiff, looks very fishy!

[Fuzz]

Congrats!

Same thing on the kill switch in a buddy’s boat. Except we were 13mi off shore. And called tow boat. Tow show up, ties off, looks at console and says “did y’all try plugging the kill switch back in?”

That was a quiet ride back.

Gee I wonder if that ever comes up during a beer drinking session

[OrangeQuest]

Again, thank you all for the kind words, unlimited support and advice over the years to help me get to this point. It is very exciting time just getting the little skiff through the sea trails and breaking the motor and the helmsman in. This is by no means the first boat I have been at the helm on, but it is the nimblest with a motor so I have been light on the steering and throttle.

One more blooper I just remembered: As I was throttling up the first time to the 3000-rpm mark, I noticed spray coming off port aft side. It took me a second or two to realize there was a fender still hanging over the side. It wasn't a big deal but those few seconds, a few weird thoughts were going through my head.

Till I get comfortable with the limits of the boat, there will soon be other mis-steps along the way.

One younger guy at the TPWD getting his boat inspected, stated it was a nice-looking boat but was wondering "what that thing is on top of it?" I told him I wonder what to call it too, maybe splash shield?

[BarraMan]

One younger guy at the TPWD getting his boat inspected, stated it was a nice-looking boat but was wondering "what that thing is on top of it?" I told him I wonder what to call it too, maybe splash shield?

Downunder, we would call it a "wavebreaker"!

[OrangeQuest]

One younger guy at the TPWD getting his boat inspected, stated it was a nice-looking boat but was wondering "what that thing is on top of it?" I told him I wonder what to call it too, maybe splash shield?

Downunder, we would call it a "wavebreaker"!

I hope I never need to test that!