Check all fittings & bolts!

Consumer advocate David Horowitz used to admonish us all to “Read those labels!” I think a similar caveat applies to boaters!

Went rowing this morning in the Coffey. First two-thirds of the row was pretty unsatisfying and frustrating and not much of a cardio effort. I came to the conclusion that I had gone backwards up the learning curve and/or the wind-and-chop was too much for me in a still-new-to-me shell and I should have taken the Maas…

Then I realized one of the oarlocks was loose on its rigger! The pin was wobbling maybe 5°. I could barely reach out underneath the rigger to loosely finger-tighten it but it soon loosened again. I wasn't far from the dock and I just hoped I didn't lose the nut into the water and have the oarlock come off and have to swim the boat and oar back to the dock.

Fortunately, I got back to the dock okay, got a wrench out of my car, tightened the nut you see here and checked the others. Couldn't come home without knowing, so I rowed down-lake and back for some genuine cardio work and realized I hadn't gone backwards up the learning curve! Whew!

It was a year ago! 1 year ago (“RETIRING!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-05-28
2 years ago (“Airport day”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-05-28
3 years ago (“Zebra swallowtail”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-28
4 years ago (“‘Touching daisies’ or ‘Kissing Daisy’?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-28

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[Rick Schies]

I guess it's one of those situations that you learn the hard way one time and then the lesson is learned for good