Subtitle: How Dumb--- FlyRod nearly got seriously whacked.

Early in the AM, predawn, of the Glorious Fourth, Rebbasser and I launched his boat at Boerne City Lake TX. This is a "No gas engine" lake, unless in dire emergency.

As the Nitro slid off the trailer, with me ready to deploy the TM and take control, I remembered we hadn't unhooked the...you know. The winch handle spun merrily and now we had several feet of strap in the water and a breeze from astern.

The TM was still in the stowed position.

I laid down and was reaching over the bow when "Whack!", the TM fired up and began massaging my face. Had I not had glasses on it might have been bad. As it was, I wasn't more than startled, scared poopless, and embarassed.

The switch was on, you see, and my less-than-svelte tummy had depressed the "Go" button.

I hope all of us will remember to "OFF" the TM when it's not deployed.

FR

Very good advice. I'm guessing many of us have been in a spot where that could have happened to us. Glad you didn't get hurt. "Let's be careful out there."

Glad nothing damaged and you guys lived to fish the day.

Hookem

matt

FR

OUCH!

Glad to here you are O.K.  That is a little scarey.  

I can empapthisize with you because the same thing happened to me a couple of months ago when I was loading my boat by myself on an "electric only lake".

I had used the electric to move the boat towards the trailer but a wind kept pushing the boat sideways and off-line from the bunks.  When I got close I quickly stowed the motor and dived on to the bow of the boat so I could reach down and grab the bunks to guide the boat on.  I inadvertently hit the go button and of course the motor was still on.  Almost got a real close shave.

I have since come up with a safer way to load it myself when I can't run the big motor  

Don't be hard on yourself, the fish work in mysterious ways  Glad you're O.K.

Glad to hear you're ok FlyRod! I've come close in the past with my hands (prepping the boat before hitting the water) and that wasn't a comforting feeling! Hope the day got better!

i always have mine unplugged till im on the water

Thats good advice Fly Rod.....it took a couple of ripped jackets and shirt sleeves before I started to remember to turn mine off when not in use.

I had it trigger a few times but I haven't been near it thankfully. I don't plug mine in until we idle away from the launch and as we head back I unplug it. Glad you turned out ok from that.

bassdocktor

Thanks for the info.

I will no longer plug in my trolling motor until I am on the water.

I never thought of this occurring and it is very serious.

Thanks again.