It was time to take my wife out on the boat. Did I forget to mention that I hadn’t turned off the battery bank or plugged into shore power after my first run? Rookie mistake.
It was a Sunday, right after church, when my wife said, “Let’s go for a ride.” Traffic was light, conversation was good, and when we arrived at the marina, the boat was still floating — always a reassuring sign.
I tried to turn on the blowers. Nothing. Turned the key. Nothing. The power was already on, but the batteries were dead. In my excitement the week before, I’d left everything running.
The marina boys came over, and one of them — a friend of my son’s — offered a charger. We hooked it up, but the boost didn’t work. Later we discovered the shore power wasn’t working either. So we left the boat, and I spent the next week waiting for the batteries to recover.
A Week Later
This time, I was ready. The charger had done its job, the engine roared back to life, and I set up the folding seats. Smooth jazz on the radio, Mama stepping aboard, and Lake Erie looking like glass.
It was perfect.
I eased her out, engines rumbling, and headed toward a lighthouse. At one point, I nearly clipped an anchor tie-up for barges — a reminder that Erie’s Canadian side is full of oil wells, sandbars, and hazards. I slowed down, adjusted the stabilizers, trimmed the motor, and kept us steady.
Everyone on board was delighted. The weather was flawless, the ride smooth, and the scenery stunning.
Back at the Marina
We returned at sunset, opened a bottle of wine, and shared cheese, meats, and olives. For a moment, it felt like dining on the Riviera. Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic — but it was a success.
This time, I made sure every switch was off before leaving. I found the shore power cable, plugged it in, and saw the fridge humming and the batteries charging. Finally, I could exhale.
I’d been worried our “three-hour tour” might end up like the Minnow. Instead, it was the perfect day.