6/18 The beat down, battered and broken!

[Riptide Charters]

6/18 The beat down, battered and broken!

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I always say I post the good the bad and the ugly. Well today is a bit beyond that. Its the beat down, battered and broken! The trip was slated as a tuna trip out of PLymouth. Things were supposed to get started around 1000 since the bite sbeen a bit late in the day. I had Mark D, Average Joe, and Slappy the Baitshopboy on for crew. All very able bodies so if Icould get them on fish they would deliver.

I got to the ramp early and hoped to get a little rigging done before the guys showed up. This is the last time that things went my way for the rest of the day. Things began to go down hill when I bagan to get the boat ready to splash and the over ambitious harbor master nearly fell over himself running out to yell at me about why I don't have registration numbers on my boat. Last year the same guy did the same thing and just like last year, you'd have thought I was speaking a foreign language when I told him the boat was documented and it doesn't have hull numbers!

After explaining it slowly I was able to continue to launch. I must have been a bit frazzled because I splashed the boat like I always do and I began to walk out on the toungue of the trailer to hop onto the bow of the boat. Only this time my jump was a bit off and I missed my handhold on the bowrail. CRASH, SLAM, SPLASH!!!! I bounced off the bow of the boat and came slamming down into the framework of the trailer before bouncing gracefully into 3' of water. Fortunately my ribs broke my fall as I slammed into the I beam of the trailer frame. 1000mg of Advil didn't take that pain away. Landing on my ribs did keep the damage to the rest of me to a minimum and rather than a broken leg or hip I ended up with torn up shins and a huge bruise on my thigh. I am thankful howefver that it was a weekday and only a few people got to see my ballerina like moves.


Once I did a system check on myself and found I was still alive and mostly in once piece I dragged my soaking wet self back up onto the trailer and made the leap of faith a second time. This time I got purchase on the rail and we able to drag mu waterlogged butt up onto the bow and get the boat safely to the dock. I then squished my way back to the truck and parked it. A big thanks goes out to Ruge who was thoughful enough to leave some spare cloths in the boat, so I was able to strip out of most of my wet gear and put on his dry albiet fishy skanky stuff that was stowed in my fishbox. My sneakers we soaked so I got to do the cold bare foot thing for the rest of the day a-la Soundking's purple feet in April.

The rest of the day gave us great whale shows, and huge bait balls. We even saw a tuna or two. Never close enough to acctualy cast to one. I think they were staying away for fear that I might fall on them or I may ask to borrow some of their dry cloths. Suffice to say they kept their distance and I think at one point I could acctually hear them and the whales laughing at me.

I'll cut the rest of this short since every breath I take is a new experience in pain. The final tally is assorted cuts, bruises and contusions. No fish, shy of 2 doggies and 3 snagged sandeels. A TON of ground was covered and the only place we didn't go.....was the place where at least 3 tuna were landed (that I know of).

Overall I could have played in traffic and had less issues. The only tow things that made this day livable is the guys were fun to hang out with and Slappy's wife makes killer cookies. Beyond that the day was as painful as my ribs.

[Dads Dream]

6/18 The beat down, battered and broken!

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I must have been a bit frazzled because I splashed the boat like I always do and I began to walk out on the toungue of the trailer to hop onto the bow of the boat. Only this time my jump was a bit off and I missed my handhold on the bowrail. CRASH, SLAM, SPLASH!!!! I bounced off the bow of the boat and came slamming down into the framework of the trailer before bouncing gracefully into 3' of water.

Lucky thing you weren't knocked out cold Rip-man

I've been there done that.....yours was worse though.....but once, trying to load quickly one night, I slipped with sandals on.....my lead foot came off the edge of the alum trailer and the side of the ball of my big toe caught the edge of the sharp jack stand plate that protrudes - you know, the big lug nuts stick out & all

Nice, huh? Big chunk of skin missing- chum slick right there @ the launch-

Maybe 3 wks to heal that nasty-@$$ chunk...try wearing dress shoes to work after that?!

Come on guys......

Let's hear your trailer/ launch/ oops/ I frigged up& got killed stories!

[Animal 1]

Sorry to hear it,Terry.Hopefully the next trip is a slammer.

[clcharette]

Terry,

@ least you keep it real.

[Shark Bait]

Riptide,

Sorry to hear of your issues. That is why so many of the elder folk sit at the top of the Plymouth launch with lawn chairs and a drink. Before they rebuilt the Plymouth launch I personally watched a dude park his Toyota in the harbor and several mishaps like yours, well maybe not with as much pain and injury.

I am going out with the Wavelength II on Friday from Plymouth and when checking in with the guys I did hear about a dude that just about bought the farm yesterday. I am guessing they were talking about you. Glad to see that you fought through the pain and continued on with the charter, the bumps must have made those ribs really feal goooood.

I am also guessing that it was my wifes uncle who harassed you about the boat hull numbers. I'll check with him on Friday and soundly reprimand him. I like to give him a hard time because they don't even trust him with the smaller harbor master boats.

[chumtini]

Man, that's got to be hurtin today. Get well soon.

BTW another good read. "Slappy the baitshop boy", Hahaha.

PS might want to leave that pic out of the "Hot Legs Friday" thread.

Welcome to SFC clcharette