I was so excited to have my new (to me) bass boat that I’d take anyone out on it whenever there was an opportunity.  No obstacle would prevent the trip once we’d committed to go either.  I had trouble getting anyone lined up one particular Saturday, but my sixteen year old daughter, Ali (short for Alicia and pronounced “Al – lee”), said she’d go and read a book while I fished.  I thought that was a good way to spend a day with her, so the plan was set. 

The plan was set until one of the tires on the hauling vehicle went flat (and the rest were obviously too tired to continue as well).  The lake was a little over an hour away and when hauling an extra 2,500 lbs. with trailer and boat, you don’t want a tire problem. So, I had to get the tires replaced.  In a small town like Owensboro, that was tough on a Saturday morning.  Thankfully, Walmart had the right size of Michelins, so after a few hours, off we went.

The tires were only the first delay.  Next was unloading the boat at a small ramp with a line of frustrated boaters and a 16 year old who has only seen me do this once. Mercifully, one of the other boat owners helped me get it unloaded and pulled over to the dock where I could put Ali in the boat while I ran and parked the trailer and tow vehicle.  Then, the boat wouldn’t start.

I mean it wouldn’t start.  We’d tested it once right before we got it in the water and it fired right up.  It wasn’t so nice once we got it in the water.  We’d used the trolling motor to move around the dock so Ali could hold it in place while I parked.  Now, I was in the boat with her and another boater came by and we were doing everything we could to get it to crank up.  Spraying ether in the carb, priming the gas line, cleaning the spark plug, you name it. Apparently, it was a bad battery.  It would turn over, but just not quite fast enough to fully crank.  I got a jump and it revved right up.  I knew that running it would charge the battery some and I didn’t want to leave after all we’d gone through.  After some discussion, we motored to the other side of the lake and the fishing began. 

It was a moderately good day fishing.  Not too hot out.  I caught several fish of multiple varieties.  I always seemed to be that guy when we went out in groups too.  If one guy was catching all the crappie and another all the catfish, I’d be the guy who caught six fish and they were all a different variety.

I particularly enjoyed catching a small to medium sized bass that day (maybe 15 to 16 inches).  Mainly because he put on such a show for Ali.  I’d kind of predicted where we’d get one – near some grass growing out of the banks.  Right as I cast with a little rod and reel (light gear makes for a good fight with small fish) the little bass struck.  He jumped up out of the water and shook his mouth hard, then took off running.  It was like watching a little cartoon as he jumped and skipped out of the water and ran in and about near us.  After I finally reeled him up, I unhooked him and got him released back into the water quickly.  Ali commented with a giggle, “He sure was a lively little guy.” 

After a few hours of fishing, we cranked up the boat.  Yes, it barely turned over, but it did crank up and start. Fifteen minutes later we were back at the dock and now the real challenge was coming.  I wanted Ali to learn how to load the boat onto the trailer.  Now, think about this… she’s barely learned how to drive a car and I want her to perform a task that often leads to mature adult couples having public tantrums and breakdowns. 

We pull up to the dock and I went over everything I needed her to do.  “Ali, you’ll keep the boat idling or just puttering around in circles near the dock until you see me get the trailer backed into the water and I wave.  Then, make sure you swing wide as you come around the dock to the ramp or you’ll have a bad angle and not have the boat lined up with the trailer as you try to load it.  Also, go very slowly when approaching the trailer,” I said.

“Yes, I understand,” said Ali.

No, she didn’t. 

I’m not sure what swing wide means to a sixteen year old American girl, but it did not mean what I thought it meant. After I got the trailer in the water and waved at her to come in, she motored the boat as tightly around the docks as she could and then tried to turn in sharply at the corner and come onto the trailer.  I cringed as soon as I saw her approach the dock, but held on hoping she could somehow miraculously swing it on a 45 degree angle around the corner of the dock and come straight on to the trailer.  She could not. 

As she was headed towards the partially submerged trailer, I knew it wasn’t going to make it.  My choices were, let her run it up on the bank (and risk cracking the hull), let her load it sideways on the trailer (and risk cracking the hull and damaging the trailer) or jump in to the lake fully clothed and try to wrench it, in the water, under power into the right position onto the trailer.  Did I mention she was coming in hot?  Now, she wasn’t drag racing it mind you, but it was not puttering in on idle that was for sure.

I yelled, “slow down.” Then, I jumped in and got between belly and chest deep into the water.  I was down and off the side of the ramp where all the sharp rocks were (and probably some snakes too).  I caught the boat, under power as it was running off the trailer and miraculously lifted it just enough to wrench it into line and let it run up on the trailer.  I lived and so did the boat… and Ali.  I did have back trouble for about three years thereafter before time and God’s mercy finally healed it up fully – so much that I can’t pin anything on that event anymore. 

I had the boat for about three years and I don’t think I ever had Ali try to trailer it again.  I would let her if needed, but somehow, it was never needed again.  She’s a great driver by the way.  I thank God that both my kids never caused us any grief while they were teenage drivers.  I just needed to give her better examples of boat docking and loading (and maybe a little more time driving a car first).  So… it was just an ordinary day on a boat.

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The next story in this series is: Tales from Kentucky #6: The New Boat and the Wildlife Surprise

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