First 2013 Big Duck Outing

Well, it really wasn't the first Big Duck outing for 2013. Several weeks back, when my wife's sister Barbie came for a visit with her daughter Emily, we took Big Duck to Charleston. We like to take them to the coast for a couple days when they visit from Chicago but found that an ocean front motel was $600 for two nights and the others weren't that much cheaper. So we had booked a spot at the James Island Campground for a couple nights at $41/night.
James Island
It's the nicest campground we've ever stayed at; it even has a Dog Park complete with doggie swim area. Big Duck didn't get her feet wet that trip, but it was her first outing.

Suzy, Barbie, Emily and Merlin on the way to James Island

Our campsite at James Island

Barbie, Emily and Merlin at the Dog Park @ James Island

The first water outing started Wednesday 4/17 when Suzy, Merlin and I drove up to Lake Keowee for a couple nights aboard. This was our second visit to Keowee, so we were familiar with the drive up and knew of a great ramp.
First Keowee Cruise
I had been to the dentist the day before and had been drilled and fitted for a crown, so the trip was contingent on how I felt the next morning. The crown work was done by a lady dentist and turned out way better than anticipated, so we hooked up Big Duck and were off to the lake by noon even tho there were showers forecast for Wednesday and Friday.

When we arrived at the Crow Creek ramp there were 3 trailers in the large lot. Crow Creek is only one of the many great ramps on the Duke Energy lake so it's not unusual to 'put in' without any wait, and we did.

The slight rain that we had experienced on the drive up had stopped - we had a nice evening cruise, picking out a spot to come back to for our night on the hook. A protected place where Merlin could go ashore on a beach.

After we were anchored and Merlin had shore duty, the rain returned as a gently sprinkle.

We quickly put up the aft bimini. The rain was light with no wind so it came straight down. We stayed in our chairs on the aft deck to enjoy the symphony of drops on the canvas.

All day Thursday we plied the upper lake, taking in the sun, lavish homes and a waterfall...we had the glassy lake all to ourselves.

Merlin liked the falls.

All alone on the lake

Calm waters

Best first mate ever!

We found some of the other Duke ramps and a very nice campground complete with boat slips. Merlin got to go ashore on several occasions where we beached The Duck. The Friday forecast was for more rain so we anchored near the ramp that night, figuring we would get Big Duck on her trailer in the early morning before the weather set in. In the meantime, Merlin decided he needed to go ashore, so we tied up to the ramp and turned him loose. As we were getting ready to go back out and drop the hook, we learned that winds could be 30 mph on Friday, so at about 9pm, I decided to see about getting Big Duck back on the trailer in the dark.

This was one of the reasons we like the Crow Creek ramp; it's very friendly with a floating dock, however, as Merlin and I were ready to bring the trailer down to the dock, a boat pulled up on the other side. We'd wait for him. Then another boat came in. We'd wait for him too. Then another boat came in and we continued to wait, knowing it would take me quite a while to get the trailer down the ramp from the keyhole turnaroud.

Then this last guy decides after he gets loaded, he wants to spend 20 minutes in the keyhole adjusting things. By now it's raining again. Finally, about an hour later it's my turn and I have a helluva time getting the trailer lined up in the dark, but after directing Big Duck's spotlight on the ramp, finally got her loaded...well mostly loaded.

As the boat/trailer is being brought up the ramp, the stern settles down and the bow pulls away from the bow stop. I've had this problem since day one and have dealt with it is different ways:
Make a double purchase pulley for the strap
Lock 'em up at 5 mph to have her slide into the stop
Put 'slippery' on the bunks so she'll crank up easier
Turn around and head DOWN the ramp, then crank the winch
Back her back down the ramp into the water and recrank at intervals bringing her back out

I tried heading down the ramp and locking them up, then cranking the winch - but no joy, so I decided to deal with it after we'd spent the night aboard at in the lot...maybe back her into the lake again and do the interval thing.

We kinda slept in, in the lot until about 9am. I then tended to the things that needed to be done before hitting the road - locking up the sterndrive with the cable, stowing all the lines, remove the garboard plug, put the TPMS modules back on the trailer tires, move essentials into the van, make coffee... We got Suzy off the boat and into the van during a lull of the rain. I then decided if the boat wouldn't be encouraged to go forward, downhill, with full braking last night, then she wouldn't be inclined to move during the road trip home - so home bound we were.


There were some downpours on the way home, but for the most part the trip was uneventful. And who is to say where the boat should end up being on the trailer if it's happy?

So far away the turnbuckle won't reach.

However, once home, the wet grass prevented me from getting Big Duck fully home. No problems - close enough for now - gimmie a beer, even if it's 11am.

Wet grass = no traction getting her back under the boatport