CHINESE FIRE DRILL

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:40 am

Trailered my boat to Economy Lake this weekend and had a thrill shortly after launching. Well, right after momma got aboard, we cast off and backed away from the shore (ramp/dock). It is none too deep, but is soft sand with no rocks or shells, so I am relatively comfortable launching here. After backing out as far as I could, (she backs to stbd and had nearly done a ninety degree turn).
I shift to forward to begin to spin her seaward ( is that even correct on a lake?) I discover that I have no Hydro fluid and hence NO STEERING. AND WORSE, the rudder is hard over to stbd.

Naturally the breeze is blowing onshore, we a re drifting into shallower water, and bumping into forward is just turning us shoreward.

Fortunately, I keep my head and do what every seasoned skipper does in an emergency, I begin to give orders to the crew!!!! You've never seen momma hustle up to the front deck so fast. I had her throw out the anchor and a small bit of line. It held, till I could top off the resevoir.

Had a lovely day on the lake and got some great pics.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:48 am

Great story Foofer and nice pics too. Glad it all ended well.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:53 am

Too funny!

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:20 am

Glad it all worked out, can't wait for a couple days on the hook!!...........question??...where did the hyro fluid go in the first place??

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:40 am

Perfect looking day and a great story. Boat looks really nice. I must have read your book on "effective captaining". My MO is the same. In times of dire emergency start yelling at the crew (wife). Of course the downside of that strategy is that you sleep with the crew and they NEVER, EVER forget!

MattSC · Post by **MattSC** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:09 pm

Thanks for sharing the pics, good story. You definitely did the right thing, glad you were able enjoy the rest of your trip. Strange though, my F-26 has a push pull cable, no feedback rack system. No hydraulics, wonder what other people have on their F-26's.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 11:22 pm

I really dislike hydraulic steering.

Pure mechanical can fail, but usually not instantly. Hydraulic fails 3:1 over mechanical.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:48 am

Great Adventure !

RWS

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:50 am

My F 30 had cable steering , worked great it was the teleflex big t system . On a inboard I don't see a need of No feed back system , In fact I would prefer a std system .

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/products/ ... -steering/

If It was a costly Fix on a single helm boat I would think about going to the cable system , the biggest problem with cable is they can stick at the end of the cable if left to sit . A shot of lub fixes that .

as far as hydraulic systems having 3 times the problems . I do not agree at all , sure some times they need seals , But a cable won't go 30-40 years for sure .

larglo · Post by **larglo** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:37 am

foofer,

Glad things turned out well. Had that been me, I'm not sure the out come would have been the same? I hope you check that resevoir, each time you go out now!

Your pic's looks great, nice looking boat. I zoomed in on the rear canopy to see how it was done, but got a little blurry. I did get an idea, and after I get other things finished I'm doing, may try and make a canopy myself?

Larry

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:57 pm

Foofer you should've put the tug in the water. Nice pics. And where did the oil go ?

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:36 pm

Apparently the hydo fluid leaked into the bilge at the cylinder. I have to go to WM and get an industrial sized jug of Dawn for the bilge now.

Thanks for the complements on the pics.