Prestart Checklist

[cab13367]

I'm with Al as well. Everything else is done before we head off to the lake. I also keep an extra key hidden on the boat just in case i forget them, which i have once!

We are getting a little off topic but another spare to carry around is a spare drain plug. After removing the plug, I always put it in the under floor compartment in my SUV's cargo area, except this one time when we were camping and loaded the SUV and then went to pull the boat out. There was too much stuff on top of that storage compartment so I just put the plug in one of the totes. Got home and unloaded everything and forgot the plug was still in the tote. So the next time we went out, the plug stayed in the tote in the garage so I had no plug. Luckily, the bait shop just a couple miles from the boat ramp sold drain plugs (I guess I am not the only one that has forgotten his) so now I have a spare.

[Razzman]

We are getting a little off topic but another spare to carry around is a spare drain plug. After removing the plug, I always put it in the under floor compartment in my SUV's cargo area, except this one time when we were camping and loaded the SUV and then went to pull the boat out. There was too much stuff on top of that storage compartment so I just put the plug in one of the totes. Got home and unloaded everything and forgot the plug was still in the tote. So the next time we went out, the plug stayed in the tote in the garage so I had no plug. Luckily, the bait shop just a couple miles from the boat ramp sold drain plugs (I guess I am not the only one that has forgotten his) so now I have a spare.

Yep, i have two spare plugs on the boat and know exactly where they are.

[wolfeman131]

Check cooler for beer supply and, oh yeah, check fuel. Fire and go. OOOOOPPPPS! Forgot the plug again!

ditto with the addition of all the kiddos

[cab13367]

"This is why I never take the boat keys out of the ignition"

Can we make one exception to this rule?

If you got somebody under your boat cutting the rope off your propellor shaft AND you have kids or stupid neighbors in your boat - let's remove the keys from the ignition

Ed,

I'm with you there. I just meant that I never remove the keys from the time I pull the boat out of the water until I put it back in again. I store my boat in my garage so I never have a reason to. I did that one time a long time ago and forgot the key at home, had to drive an hour round trip to go get it. So now, the key stays in the ignition.

Al

[rc5695]

my key is always in the ignition too...

[kaneboats]

Ed,

I'm with you there. I just meant that I never remove the keys from the time I pull the boat out of the water until I put it back in again. I store my boat in my garage so I never have a reason to. I did that one time a long time ago and forgot the key at home, had to drive an hour round trip to go get it. So now, the key stays in the ignition.

Al

You can hotwire the ign switch in about 3 sec. I'd never drive an hour for a key. I keep spares on the truck, boat, bicycle.

[cab13367]

You can hotwire the ign switch in about 3 sec.

How? And you know how to do this why??

[kaneboats]

Look at the wires that plug on the back of your ign switch. All the switch does is connect one (ign) and connect two briefly (starter). You can turn the ign "on" and then just touch to crank.

Never owned an old Ford, did you? I am always amazed at how many guys have started a Ford with the tire iron.

[jester]

"This is why I never take the boat keys out of the ignition"

Can we make one exception to this rule?

If you got somebody under your boat cutting the rope off your propellor shaft AND you have kids or stupid neighbors in your boat - let's remove the keys from the ignition

I do not know about you but If i am under the boat in the water I pull that nice little red cord. Only had to go under once when i thought I picked up someones anchor line with my prop but I did not.