out to sea!

Keith Ouzts
Jun 5
2 min read

Well, out to lake instead! After a week of getting the Falcon Ranch ready, waiting out thunderstorms, chasing rabbits and skwirls, we were able to take the boat out for a short trip on Wednesday! This is the fourth boat we've owned, driving the boat is not a big deal. Parking the boat can be a challenge.

It's 38 feet long, 14 feet wide and has two motors. The challenge is that instead of steering with the steering wheel/rudders, one can simply use the motors to maneuver the boat all around. I've been mentally preparing for this since last August. Anytime I'm "mentally preparing" is usually a disaster waiting to happen...

We undocked pretty efficiently, a couple of hiccups, and then eased out to the lake. As I was leaving the slip, we had a "oh fartnoggle!" moment when it just wasn't responding and I thought I was going to hit the $800,000 yacht across the way. Then I remembered the steering wheel and that problem took care of itself. So, kids, you can use the motors AND the steering wheel if you need to...

After a short trip out, we returned to the Ole Miss Marina to get our wastewater tank pumped out. I was concentrating on bringing the boat in with just the motors, I had accomplished it here last year a couple of times. Julie was helping by commentating on neighboring wildlife and such. I'm focused on getting to the dock: steady, right motor forward, left motor reverse, go to neutral, right motor forward. Julie: "Look! Is that a floatplane?! Over there!" "Ooh! There's the eagle!" (Later that evening she asked me about the plane and I had no idea what she was talking about.)

We took the advice of a couple who have completed the loop and purchased a "marriage saver." Wireless headsets for communication. Yep. I can see how they will help. All our previous communications was to shout at each other. This is much better. No, I didn't get one for Biscuit.

We docked perfectly, and then pulled out to go back to our slip. This was the real conundrum - backing into the slip. A week's worth of mental preparation actually seemed to help, as we backed in quickly without destroying the $800,000 yacht, other boats, docks or slips. Didn't even, in fact, bang into anything. Just backed in!