On Nov 30, 7:58 am, HK wrote:
wrote:
On Nov 30, 6:34 am, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Don't know about most days, but today there is no doubt just who's the
dumbest guy in the NG. Yours truly.
Thought I'd move the boat from my covered slip over to the yacht club
dock this afternoon. About a half hour's run.
En route, I began calculating how long it had been since last taking
on a load of fuel.
"I'm probably OK," I thought. "But maybe I'll stop off at the fuel
dock and get 20 gallons or so just for insurance. I'll fuel up
seriously next time I'm outside the locks and can get B20."
Pulled up to the local fuel dock. $3.99 per gallon for diesel. No big
deal, $80 bucks worth and I'll be certain of having more than enough
aboard for the upcoming lighted boats parades.
"In fact", I thought, "I'll put it all in the starboard tank. The trim
is a little heavy to port right now, and that will level things off
quite nicely."
"Hello, Chuck" says the fuel dock guy.
"Hi, Dave. I'm only going to put 20 gallons or so in the starboard
tank, just to
make sure I've got enough to do the Special People's Cruise and the
parade."
"No problem."
I uncrew the deck plate and begin filling the tank. At about 14 or 15
gallons, I'm hearing fuel in the vent line. "Impossible! I need a lot
more fuel than that, I've got to be down at least 100 gallons in this
150-gallon tank what the heck?"
Oh.......*That's* the heck!
In the gathering late afternoon darkness, I had unscrewed the deck cap
for the holding tank pump out.......immediately next to the fuel tank
filler. I had just topped off my holding tank with diesel.
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.
"Don't feel too badly," said Dave. "The Argosy (huge commercial
charter boat) did exactly the same thing here not long ago. But of
course they took on well oer 100 gallons before they realized what
they had done."
"What did they do about it?" I asked.
"We hooked up my oil change pump and sucked it out. Only problem is, I
need a new hose for my oil change pump so I don't dare try to evacuate
your holding tank. I know I'd have diesel leaking into the water for
sure. Frankly, I don't know what we can do for you tonight, I'm
getting ready to close and go home."
They say Providence looks after kids and idiots, and just then this
idiot got a break.
Putt, putt, putting along the canal was one of the local "Sani-system"
boats.
A unique group of businessmen make a living by running small boats
with pumps and several hundred gallon holding tanks into our local
marinas where they pump out the holding tanks for liveaboards. It
normally costs about $25 to have a holding tank pumped. Dave waved the
guy over to the fuel dock.
"Maybe you can help us out," said Dave. "Chuck here has just pumped
about 15 gallons of diesel into his holding tank."
"No way," was the first response. "I can't put diesel into my sewage
tank, I wouldn't be able to discharge it."
"I have a plan," said Dave. I'll truck one of my waste oil recycling
barrels out here to the dock, you disconnect your hose from your sewer
tank and pump into the barrel. We'll flush the hose with a few gallons
of soapy water, and put that into the barrel as well, and then rinse
it all out with some lake water- also into the barrel."
"Well, OK" said the sani-system guy.
We pumped the holding tank into the recycle barrel. (The tank itself
was pretty empty before I added the diesel). Then we dumped some TSP
cleaner and water into the tank and sucked that into the barrel as
well. Finally, we
flushed the hose with lake water, and the ridiculous screw up was
corrected.
And so the dumbest guy in the NG, and certainly the dumbest guy
actually out on a boat in Seattle (there wasn't much traffic) this
afternoon was rescued from his own stupidity by a couple of guys who
didn't really *have* to do anything. I paid the pump out guy for his
time and trouble, but the Dave didn't charge me anything for the extra
trouble, or for staying past closing time to get me squared away. I am
on the hook for $2 per gallon to recyle the contaminated diesel when
the guy comes around to pick it up, but I'll be glad to get off so
cheaply.
"Good thing that wasn't gasoline," we all agreed.
"And good thing it wasn't your water tank," commented Dave. "This
happens more often than you'd think, and a lot of times people put
fuel into their potable water tanks. About the only real cure for that
is to replace the tank, and maybe some of the lines if any of the fuel
gets pumped through. You're getting off for under a hundred bucks all
said, all done, while a water tank replacement could cost $1000 or
more."
So round up the doo-wop group; "dum, dum, dum dum, dum de de de
diddly, dum dum doo wah....." :-)
Chuck, I am sure you are the only one stupid enough to do such a thing,
but I have seen fuel and fresh water caps, that had different spacing on
the holes in the top, so you needed to use different "keys" to open
them. Your problem was a minor one, can you imagine if someone pumped
diesel into your fresh water system.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Chuck doesn't have this problem I hope, but I did leave my transom
plug out once. So I got it on plane and pulled the plug and sucked the
boat dry, put back the plug, and just went fishin'.

I've done that, but on a boat with a deck, so I had to head to shore
real fast to screw the plug in from the outside of the transom.

I've also pumped a few gallons of gasoline into the rod holder, thinking
it was the fuel fill. Fortunately, the last time I did that was in
Florida, many years ago.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Now that's good...

Chuck Gould wrote:

Don't know about most days, but today there is no doubt just who's the
dumbest guy in the NG. ?Yours truly.


A while back I posted a picture of this boat that was for sale here at
Kingman.

http://www.eisboch.com/downeast.jpg

Well, somebody bought it and had it surveyed stem to stern, along with a
full mechanic's inspection. The result of the inspections generated a list
of maintenence and other recommendations that, in the opinion of the
surveyor and mechanic, should be accomplished before the new owner took the
boat south per his plan.

After spending the money for the inspections, the new owner chose to ignore
the recommendations.. He had a friend or some totally unqualified person do
a couple of things I am told, but decided to postpone any other work until
he arrived at his southern destination.

I found out yesterday that the boat caught on fire somewhere in the Delaware
River.

Eisboch

On Thu, 29 Nov 07, "William Andersen" wrote:
So, why aren't the deck plates identified?
I've read about these mistakes before and never understood why things aren't
clearly labeled

Do you read the on/0ff label on a light switch every time you
constatly use it? Labels are fine for people who've never used the
"whatever" device before. But after the first use, it takes something
else to get your attention.

And btw, years ago when gas stations had attendants, I had one pump a
few gallons down a rod holder before my screaming got his attention.
Not my mistake but I've made worse.

Rick

On Nov 30, 7:53 am, wrote:
On Nov 30, 6:34 am, "Reginald P. Smithers III"





wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Don't know about most days, but today there is no doubt just who's the
dumbest guy in the NG. Yours truly.

Thought I'd move the boat from my covered slip over to the yacht club
dock this afternoon. About a half hour's run.

En route, I began calculating how long it had been since last taking
on a load of fuel.

"I'm probably OK," I thought. "But maybe I'll stop off at the fuel
dock and get 20 gallons or so just for insurance. I'll fuel up
seriously next time I'm outside the locks and can get B20."

Pulled up to the local fuel dock. $3.99 per gallon for diesel. No big
deal, $80 bucks worth and I'll be certain of having more than enough
aboard for the upcoming lighted boats parades.

"In fact", I thought, "I'll put it all in the starboard tank. The trim
is a little heavy to port right now, and that will level things off
quite nicely."

"Hello, Chuck" says the fuel dock guy.

"Hi, Dave. I'm only going to put 20 gallons or so in the starboard
tank, just to
make sure I've got enough to do the Special People's Cruise and the
parade."

"No problem."

I uncrew the deck plate and begin filling the tank. At about 14 or 15
gallons, I'm hearing fuel in the vent line. "Impossible! I need a lot
more fuel than that, I've got to be down at least 100 gallons in this
150-gallon tank what the heck?"

Oh.......*That's* the heck!

In the gathering late afternoon darkness, I had unscrewed the deck cap
for the holding tank pump out.......immediately next to the fuel tank
filler. I had just topped off my holding tank with diesel.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.

"Don't feel too badly," said Dave. "The Argosy (huge commercial
charter boat) did exactly the same thing here not long ago. But of
course they took on well oer 100 gallons before they realized what
they had done."

"What did they do about it?" I asked.

"We hooked up my oil change pump and sucked it out. Only problem is, I
need a new hose for my oil change pump so I don't dare try to evacuate
your holding tank. I know I'd have diesel leaking into the water for
sure. Frankly, I don't know what we can do for you tonight, I'm
getting ready to close and go home."

They say Providence looks after kids and idiots, and just then this
idiot got a break.

Putt, putt, putting along the canal was one of the local "Sani-system"
boats.
A unique group of businessmen make a living by running small boats
with pumps and several hundred gallon holding tanks into our local
marinas where they pump out the holding tanks for liveaboards. It
normally costs about $25 to have a holding tank pumped. Dave waved the
guy over to the fuel dock.

"Maybe you can help us out," said Dave. "Chuck here has just pumped
about 15 gallons of diesel into his holding tank."

"No way," was the first response. "I can't put diesel into my sewage
tank, I wouldn't be able to discharge it."

"I have a plan," said Dave. I'll truck one of my waste oil recycling
barrels out here to the dock, you disconnect your hose from your sewer
tank and pump into the barrel. We'll flush the hose with a few gallons
of soapy water, and put that into the barrel as well, and then rinse
it all out with some lake water- also into the barrel."

"Well, OK" said the sani-system guy.

We pumped the holding tank into the recycle barrel. (The tank itself
was pretty empty before I added the diesel). Then we dumped some TSP
cleaner and water into the tank and sucked that into the barrel as
well. Finally, we
flushed the hose with lake water, and the ridiculous screw up was
corrected.

And so the dumbest guy in the NG, and certainly the dumbest guy
actually out on a boat in Seattle (there wasn't much traffic) this
afternoon was rescued from his own stupidity by a couple of guys who
didn't really *have* to do anything. I paid the pump out guy for his
time and trouble, but the Dave didn't charge me anything for the extra
trouble, or for staying past closing time to get me squared away. I am
on the hook for $2 per gallon to recyle the contaminated diesel when
the guy comes around to pick it up, but I'll be glad to get off so
cheaply.

"Good thing that wasn't gasoline," we all agreed.

"And good thing it wasn't your water tank," commented Dave. "This
happens more often than you'd think, and a lot of times people put
fuel into their potable water tanks. About the only real cure for that
is to replace the tank, and maybe some of the lines if any of the fuel
gets pumped through. You're getting off for under a hundred bucks all
said, all done, while a water tank replacement could cost $1000 or
more."

So round up the doo-wop group; "dum, dum, dum dum, dum de de de
diddly, dum dum doo wah....." :-)

Chuck, I am sure you are the only one stupid enough to do such a thing,
but I have seen fuel and fresh water caps, that had different spacing on
the holes in the top, so you needed to use different "keys" to open
them. Your problem was a minor one, can you imagine if someone pumped
diesel into your fresh water system.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Chuck doesn't have this problem I hope, but I did leave my transom
plug out once. So I got it on plane and pulled the plug and sucked the
boat dry, put back the plug, and just went fishin'.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You must be the only one who's ever done that......
Well, you, me, and about a million others!

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:09:23 -0600, lid wrote:

And btw, years ago when gas stations had attendants, I had one pump a
few gallons down a rod holder before my screaming got his attention.

ROTFL!!!!

I feel your pain, but that is still funny.

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:09:23 -0600, lid wrote:

On Thu, 29 Nov 07, "William Andersen" wrote:
So, why aren't the deck plates identified?
I've read about these mistakes before and never understood why things aren't
clearly labeled

Do you read the on/0ff label on a light switch every time you
constatly use it? Labels are fine for people who've never used the
"whatever" device before. But after the first use, it takes something
else to get your attention.

You've hit on the problem, which is the way the human mind works.
Outside of standardized hose/receptacle fittings, the only way to
prevent this kind of thing from happening is about five guys with
checklists doing the job - and even then they might screw up.
Distractions - maybe only the guy on the fuel dock yakking at you -
can flip your mind to the wrong action.
I once pumped about 1000 gallons of heavy navy fuel oil into Naples
harbor, and to this day don't fully understand how it happened, except
I was distracted by other responsibilities I do know how it could
have been prevented, but it's too late now.
Strictly followed procedures are important, but most people don't
establish them for something as simple as gassing up.

--Vic

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
...
Don't know about most days, but today there is no doubt just who's the
dumbest guy in the NG. Yours truly.

snip...

Nice to know that even the 'pros' make mistakes....... wonder if WayneB
ever has?

Those little screw off stainless steel deck plates should have a better way
of marking what they are.
Maybe a reflective coloured symbol rather than words etched or stamped into
the metal.

wrote in message
...

Chuck doesn't have this problem I hope, but I did leave my transom
plug out once. So I got it on plane and pulled the plug and sucked the
boat dry, put back the plug, and just went fishin'.


Second time I put the Yukon in the water, I forgot the plug. The boat was
still on the trailer when I noticed it.
Didn't have to worry about $%$# plugs with the sailboat.

On Nov 30, 8:26 am, " JimH" ask wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

...



We pumped the holding tank into the recycle barrel. (The tank itself
was pretty empty before I added the diesel). Then we dumped some TSP
cleaner and water into the tank and sucked that into the barrel as
well. Finally, we
flushed the hose with lake water, and the ridiculous screw up was
corrected.

Glad things turned out OK.

Hey, remember that they still put erasures on pencils for a reason. ;-)

you perform "erasures" with an eraser.

JimH wrote:

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
...


We pumped the holding tank into the recycle barrel. (The tank itself
was pretty empty before I added the diesel). Then we dumped some TSP
cleaner and water into the tank and sucked that into the barrel as
well. Finally, we
flushed the hose with lake water, and the ridiculous screw up was
corrected.



Glad things turned out OK.

Hey, remember that they still put erasures on pencils for a reason. ;-)

Um, those're "erasers". They're used to perform erasures. ;-)

DT