Last Friday, I go get the boat from the storage lot to clean it out and get it ready for winter. It needs fuel, so I drag it over to the gas station, add Sta-Bil, and fill the tank. I need to run the motor for a few minutes to get the treated gas to the carbs. I didn't feel like getting out the muffs and the hose and all that, so I figured I would just back it down the ramp and run the motor that way. My lake was nearly deserted, and dead calm. I was down all by myself as I had Friday off and the wife and friends wouldn't be down to the lake till Saturday. It was one of those gorgeous end of October days we get with temps in the high 70's, and I had exactly nothing else to do. After about 5 minutes of idling the motor, I realized that I was sitting there, about 90% launched.
Screw this! Time to go the other 10%
I slip loose the winch line, and back off the trailer, tie the boat up and park the truck. I made a speed run to the far end of the lake just for the sheer hell of it, and to enjoy the glass smooth water, if only that one time. I then make a slow and circuitous putt back to the ramp, and decide that I'll leave her at the overnight docks in case the next day was just as nice. it was. Made another slow relaxing putt the next day with the whole crew and then (reluctantly) pulled her out and put her to bed for her long winters nap.What a fantastic way to close out the season.
Tim
