Falling in.. What's your story(s)?!

[nickelodeus]

You never think it'll happen to you until....

 

Well actually...this happened a few months ago now but was just interested to see how many of you have plunged into the depths (or shallows!) and how many times..

 

This was one hell of a day towards the end of October just gone. Had disappeared off up the river to get a pump-out as I used to do every 6-8 weeks (before I got me own pump) ....anyways, coming back... it started absolutely throwing it down like a tropical storm. Just at the downstream entrance to old windsor lock, there is a weir stream entrance and because of the sudden influx of extra water and with the lock entrance being on a curve anyway...I had to power the stern hard round to keep the boat in a straight line to enter the lock - gave the engine a bit of welly then throttled back but alas no effect!! the engine revved and revved and I had to pull the shutoff - throttle cable had snapped!!

 

So, grabbed my phone and managed to get through to the marina I had just left and sweet-talk them into sending out their mechanic with a spare cable. He turned up very promptly and fitted a new cable in about an hour and it wasn't extortionate either - however by this point I was dreadfully late in leaving for an important appointment in london that evening that I simply couldn't miss. Told the lock keeper we were ready, he duly came out sporting an enormous fishing umbrella (still absolutely booting it down!) and opened the head gates. Managed to some almost to a halt and get the bow into the side but because of the extra water flow coming with us into the lock, the stern started drifting out at speed - shut the engine off, grabbed the rope and stepped onto the side. At least thats what I thought I did.....the next thing I know I plunged straight into the lock like a 6ft column of human stupidity!!

 

Luckily I was near the steps and immediately swam to the side just in time for a group of walkers/watchers all sporting macs and umbrellas to arrive at the lockside!!

 

Anyways, no injuries ...but I did collapse on my back on the side of the lock in fits of laughter....still in the pouring rain....you know when its just been one of those days!!!

 

So who else has a falling-in story to tell....or perhaps you have several??

 

Nic

[RichardH]

First ever trip. Hire boat on the Llan-g (Mr Tod from Chas Hardern, where are you now)

 

Been on the red wine and pushing the boat off the bank (as we had been dutifully trained to do so) and misjudged somewhat the bank to boat distance.

 

Naturally the local ramblers association were just having their lunch nearby so embarrassment max'd out !

[Phil Speight]

You never think it'll happen to you until....

 

Well actually...this happened a few months ago now but was just interested to see how many of you have plunged into the depths (or shallows!) and how many times..

 

This was one hell of a day towards the end of October just gone. Had disappeared off up the river to get a pump-out as I used to do every 6-8 weeks (before I got me own pump) ....anyways, coming back... it started absolutely throwing it down like a tropical storm. Just at the downstream entrance to old windsor lock, there is a weir stream entrance and because of the sudden influx of extra water and with the lock entrance being on a curve anyway...I had to power the stern hard round to keep the boat in a straight line to enter the lock - gave the engine a bit of welly then throttled back but alas no effect!! the engine revved and revved and I had to pull the shutoff - throttle cable had snapped!!

 

So, grabbed my phone and managed to get through to the marina I had just left and sweet-talk them into sending out their mechanic with a spare cable. He turned up very promptly and fitted a new cable in about an hour and it wasn't extortionate either - however by this point I was dreadfully late in leaving for an important appointment in london that evening that I simply couldn't miss. Told the lock keeper we were ready, he duly came out sporting an enormous fishing umbrella (still absolutely booting it down!) and opened the head gates. Managed to some almost to a halt and get the bow into the side but because of the extra water flow coming with us into the lock, the stern started drifting out at speed - shut the engine off, grabbed the rope and stepped onto the side. At least thats what I thought I did.....the next thing I know I plunged straight into the lock like a 6ft column of human stupidity!!

 

Luckily I was near the steps and immediately swam to the side just in time for a group of walkers/watchers all sporting macs and umbrellas to arrive at the lockside!!

 

Anyways, no injuries ...but I did collapse on my back on the side of the lock in fits of laughter....still in the pouring rain....you know when its just been one of those days!!!

 

So who else has a falling-in story to tell....or perhaps you have several??

 

Nic

Walking the gunwale along Badsey`s empty hold ( very flash ) parallel to the bank. Trouble is the boat wasn`t , in fact , parallel to the bank after all.

Hmm.............

Phil

[carlt]

Crossing marston doles lock, the wrong side. Lock was empty and I managed to catch the bar which slowed the descent until my shoulder dislocated, dropped onto the cill thinking 'arm hurts but I'm dry' slipped on cill slime and went into water. My mate saw what was happening and jumped into the water before I got wet, to save me.

 

Alcohol had been taken.

 

Edited to say: Of course that was the most memorable (and most painful) but I have only done one dry year out of 24.

Edited March 7, 2007 by carlt

[Tomska]

Came back to the boat one night a little bit pissed when it was moored at Lower Brook Street in Reading. The bank is just below boat roof level, so it's a jump down to a cruiser stern.

 

Anyway, it was january, freezing cold and there was frost on the back deck. Jumped down, slipped & went straight over the side. The current was pretty strong, but I managed to grab the fender of the boat behind and banged on the side. A very puzzled friend poked her head out to see what mutant swan had grown knuckles and hauled me out, laughing like a drain.

 

Took me a while to warm up and a lot longer to live that one down...

[bendyboat]

well

mored my 62 foot boat along side a 30 foot finger mooring , commenced to unroll hose pipe to top up water tank, walked backwards whilst unrollin, walked backwards of end of finger mooring, sank like a pigging stone only to be greeted by 30 or 40 kids hooting and laughing at my floundering, they were on a school walking discovery trip, they discovered i was a prat !

[Bill]

A while back but :-

 

Mooring boat (hire boat at the time), stepped off stern with centre line, hammer & pin. Banged in pin, temporarily tied off line. went to bow, banged in pin, tied off bow line. Walked back to stern (ducked under centre line) and disappeared into a hole in the bank obscured by nettles, up to my armpits in water surrounded by nettles, unfortunately it was a hot day and I was not wearing a shirt. Got well and truly stung, the rest of the crew thought it hilarious, got through a whole bottle of calamine lotion.

[Supermalc]

Start about half way down the page.

 

http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/malcsworld/bo...ating-four.html

[Alastair]

I find it absolutely wonderful that everyone can laugh at themselves falling in.

 

Yeah, I've done it too.

 

Getting kids ashore during a flood, didn't have a proper gangplank, just a 10ft length of 2"x4". I walked across it first, held far end. 1 kid crosses, 2nd kid crosses, I walk back - then return with bags. Half-way across, plank starts to slide off bank - woosh, straight in. I didn't laugh

 

OTOH, I did walk into a parking-meter machine the other day, daylight, stone cold sober, even made a nice dong noise

[Keeping Up]

I find it absolutely wonderful that everyone can laugh at themselves falling in.

What else can you do but laugh?

 

I know, I've had plenty of practice too.

 

Quote from the excellent "Ups and Downs of a Lock-Keeper": SPLASHER = Surprised Person Leaving A Ship, Hurriedly Entering River

 

Allan

[carlt]

OTOH, I did walk into a parking-meter machine the other day, daylight, stone cold sober, even made a nice dong noise

 

Lamp posts and other street furniture are forever leaping into my path. When I was a nipper my mother always said 'one day you'll start looking where you're going'. I'm still waiting for that to happen.

[Theo]

We have a dear Mongrel, Holly. She was on the trad stern with me at Ellesmere Junction, I think, and I forgot about her. I accidentally kicked her in and, due to the piling she had no hope of getting out. All I could do was go in and rescue her.

 

I am gald that the water was hot.

 

Nick

[Phil Speight]

We have a dear Mongrel, Holly. She was on the trad stern with me at Ellesmere Junction, I think, and I forgot about her. I accidentally kicked her in and, due to the piling she had no hope of getting out. All I could do was go in and rescue her.

 

I am gald that the water was hot.

 

Nick

When I lived on Badsey - in the cabin , just me and my two cats at the time. Went down the gunwhale and into the engine`ole and shut the doors behind me because, of course , that`s where me portapotty lived.Faithful and really quite dog like cat followd me and waited patiently outside the doors. I then opened the doors and propelled the cat twenty feet out into the basin at Dadford`s Wharf. This was about 10 years ago - and I`ve still got the cat - so he forgave me eventually.

On another occasion my mate ( shan`t name him - he`s biggerthan me ) returned a valuable and rare book to someone`s boat. He stepped onto the stern deck, discovered they were out and then stepped off the OTHER side. The wet side as it were. There was a curse suddenly cut off followd by a large splash. All that could be seen was a hand ( like the lady of the lake ) holding a book above the water.

I could go on and on and on........but I`ve got my miserable bast**rd image to think about.

Cheers

Phil

[Carrie]

When I lived on Badsey - in the cabin , just me and my two cats at the time. Went down the gunwhale and into the engine`ole and shut the doors behind me because, of course , that`s where me portapotty lived.Faithful and really quite dog like cat followd me and waited patiently outside the doors. I then opened the doors and propelled the cat twenty feet out into the basin at Dadford`s Wharf. This was about 10 years ago - and I`ve still got the cat - so he forgave me eventually.

On another occasion my mate ( shan`t name him - he`s biggerthan me ) returned a valuable and rare book to someone`s boat. He stepped onto the stern deck, discovered they were out and then stepped off the OTHER side. The wet side as it were. There was a curse suddenly cut off followd by a large splash. All that could be seen was a hand ( like the lady of the lake ) holding a book above the water.

I could go on and on and on........but I`ve got my miserable bast**rd image to think about.

Cheers

Phil

 

That poor moggy! Funny story though..

[kawaton]

1st time - 10 years ago. As i leapt the 2ft gap from the towpath to boat, bank gave way....in i went.

 

2nd time - 10 years ago. 30 mins after the 1st occurence, i noticed a wallet floating....i was already wet, so what the hell, in I jumped to retrieve wallet, which turned out to be empty

 

3rd time - 10 years ago - same week as first 2 occurences. Again intentional. Lovely summers evening, stopped engine in middle of Tixall wide, and went for a swim.

 

4th time - 3 years ago. A strange choice in trying to jump the 10ft from boat to towpath. I actually made the decision to jump when the gap was only 4ft, but my reactions are bad.

Edited March 8, 2007 by kawaton

[Graham and Jo]

About 33 years ago! Fell off the edge of the boat moored at Braunston, I was cleaning the roof and my only though was 'if I lose this bucket I'll lose my deposit' So I lobbed it into the front well as I fell into the water. All that rugby playing did come in handy!

[Orphiel]

Have been meaning to add this one for a while. Is a semi-falling in story, but more just a falling down story!

 

Having been proper obsessed with boats for a while, but having very little experience of actually being on them, I talked the Boy into going on holiday with me for a week on the Llangollen canal, much beauty, large aqueducts (for which he stayed inside the boat being terrified but that is a different story). Having not been on holiday for 4 years, he readily agreed and by the time we set off had been looking forward to it for months.

 

So it was a bit of a downer when on the 3rd day in he decided to run into the boat full tilt and instead took a flying leap into the stern end, falling 4ft more than expected due to most of boat being below water (duh) and land heavily. Hearing much thumps I shout 'broken anything?' and he goes 'only my arm.'

So then we had to get to a road bridge to phone an ambulance, and whilst pushing the boat off the side after investigating said breakage I pushed the boat off whilst my arms stayed on the boat and my legs stayed on the bank, until they didn't! Luckily got it out again before any kind of boat-bank contact ocurred, but the resulting large scrape I forever refer to as the wound I got whilst heroically saving his scrawny a**.

 

Meg

[Jon]

I've mentioned this before but when I was younger I helped out on a trip boat. We'd got to the end of the trip, I went to tie the bow rope, and in doing so put one foot on the bow of the boat, and lifted my back leg off the bank. My mate pulled the stern in causing the front to drift out, I didn't notice and stepped back onto thin air and landed in the canal, much to the amusement of those onboard! (I think they got more than their moneys worth...

 

You only ever do it publically!

 

Jon

[DHutch]

Ive not been in yet, but while painting at braunston a boat went past with a pair of white labradors on the stern, both wearing harnesses.

- Just as they pasted, one of them began walking along the gunnel towards the front. taking advantage of the fairly generous tumble home.

- A spectating boat owner on the water point watching the event commented to the helmsman "Is she brave, or just stupid?"

- The word "stupid" had bearly left his mouth when there was a loud splash! And a very soggy white labrador!

 

The helmsman then calmly and without thought, knocked the boat our of gear, held his arm over the side, scooped up the dog by the harness, and continued on his way without a backwards glance!

 

 

Daniel

[BlueStringPudding]

When Kev was a kid, his parents owned a series of boats and Kev very much grew up on the Thames / Grand Union. He fell overboard fairly regularly (which is probably why he can now compete in the London Triathlon and does the Swimathon every year!)

 

Once Kev fell overboard while playing with his lifesize Emu puppet.

 

Apparently, the puppet's head (still on Kev's hand) came up for air first

[carlt]

Ive not been in yet, but while painting at braunston a boat went past with a pair of white labradors on the stern, both wearing harnesses.

- Just as they pasted, one of them began walking along the gunnel towards the front. taking advantage of the fairly generous tumble home.

- A spectating boat owner on the water point watching the event commented to the helmsman "Is she brave, or just stupid?"

- The word "stupid" had bearly left his mouth when there was a loud splash! And a very soggy white labrador!

 

The helmsman then calmly and without thought, knocked the boat our of gear, held his arm over the side, scooped up the dog by the harness, and continued on his way without a backwards glance!

Daniel

Two observations on your post:

first

DAN'S NOT BEEN IN YET FOLKS!

second

The fact that the fellah calmly scooped his dog up proves that Labs never learn, though, when I was ccing,Tommy, my lurcher would jump out of the boat from whichever side the bank was when we set off.

[King Learie]

So far I've been lucky on the falling-in stakes, but an incident on the Trent and Mersey canal a couple years ago I think bears retelling.

 

Approaching Stenson Lock, steering a pair of singled-out working boats, I was suddenly enveloped by torrential rain. Ahead I could dimly see two leisure boats breasted up at the start of the lock moorings so there was no easy mooring there and so went into reverse and steered towards the rough towpath. My wet weather togs were on the butty so I was also rapidly becoming as one with the environment. Just as I brought the pair to a gentle halt by the bank the motor rode up on something solid and stopped dead and the butty rode up on me and then swung out across the cut with Peter helpless on stern.

 

The rain intensified.

 

Pulling the long shaft off the cabin roof and planting this on the bank and also opening the throttle full and the tiller over, I pushed hard.

 

The shaft, to my astonishment, suddenly sank deep into the bank throwing me totally off-balanced and following it towards the water below. Reflex action cut in and a hand grabbed the tiller and I just saved myself.from 'taking a look'

 

Meanwhile, Dave screaming advice from the bank near the bows, (he'd jumped off to help moor up earlier) watched through the stair-rodding rain and the blue exhaust of the roaring engine as I pulled the shaft out, only to start madly flailing about with my arms, apparently at some unseen attacker.

 

I was being attacked - by the wasps who took a dim view of me pushing a monsterous pole into their nest and then pulling it out leaving a huge hole!

 

Fortunately, the rainstorm and the exhaust fumes distracted them and I was spared their stings but it really intensively manic for a few moments but the throttle was closed and the noise was reduced to just the roaring waterfall sound of the rain. Dave stormed up and then made a quick retreat when he discovered the reason for why I had suddenly appeared to have lost mine!

 

The summer storm stopped as suddenly as it started and and the mooring mess was eventually sorted out in the aching peace and quiet.

 

We went up to see where those inconsiderate breasted bastard boaters were. On reaching the road over the bridge, a van tore through throwing a huge sheet of muddy water over both of us but as we couldn't get any wetter, we just laughed. The breasted up boaters appeared by the lock in smart natty nylon waterproofs and took one look at the two saturated chaps in front of them and in American accents enquired if we had just climbed out of the canal?

 

Surprisingly, nothing offensive was said and they apologised for holding us up and even offered to buy us a pint but we needed to get to our mooring that night at the Burton on Trent IWA National rally and so sailed on beerless amd dripping.

 

King Learie

[BlueStringPudding]

Surprisingly, nothing offensive was said and they apologised for holding us up and even offered to buy us a pint but we needed to get to our mooring that night at the Burton on Trent IWA National rally and so sailed on beerless amd dripping.

 

King Learie

 

Wow - what a story!

[nickelodeus]

Wow!! thats a terrible experience.......

........

........

..............having to turn down free beer!

[BlueStringPudding]

Wow!! thats a terrible experience.......

........

........

..............having to turn down free beer!