What is the stupidest, kick yourself in the ass, thing you have ever done TO your boat? (Stupidest thing done IN your boat is a different thread )

I picked up a switchplate to replace one on a 47 yr old boat where a true replacement was not an option. The replacement switchplate required I increase the size of the hole in my dash. Once installed and looking good, I come to realize the unit is non functional. Now I have a hole in the dash larger than my old switchplate will fit back into, and I don't really want to futz around trying to repair the unit at a cost less than I paid for it (it was on the free side of cheap). Arrgh, and this was easily testable. The dash is teak so patching the hole will not result in a "blended in" repair, so I am cutting a faceplate to cover the hole and provide an opening for the old switchplate....then I need to go shopping for a new faceplate that works.

You think thats bad.......nah.

I installed a timing chain wrong once. Had a total brain fart. Broke 8 rockers and bent 8 intake valves on a fresh set of heads.

I can come close. Removed heads to do gaskets,placed rags into cylinders not to get any crap in there while cleaning. Left rags in cylinders. Yup,installed heads,intake and everything else. Luckily remembered the rags where still in the cylinders.

Ha! I removed the drives and gimbal bearings on a Friday night, started back up on sunday to re-install everything... forgot to put both gimbal bearings in. Got the drives, tie bar and steering installed. Looked on my bench and there were two white boxes... DOH!!! Pulled everything back apart again... I will never do that.. EVER again!

Had a leaking seawater pump on a 3208T. Cat many years ago. Located the problem as it spraying saltwater into the engine room. Thought I'd save money and do it myself, just unbolt and send away for reconditioning. Bit awkward getting access to it but managed ok. Got the re-cond pump back and installed, everything great. 6 Months later, minor oil leak and temperamental starter motor on the same engine.

Oil was coming from near the sump plug. Sump was corroded, starter motor corroded, alternator corroded and a few other small things 'cos I never cleaned off the saltwater spray from the leaky pump!!!!!

Engine had to be pulled. Slip the boat, remove the fixed fibreglass targa to get a gantry over the engine, replace sump, alternator, starter and a few other corroded parts, repaint some Caterpillar Gold, reinstall engine, reinstall targa and pay a heavy bill, too big of a job for me to attempt.

Lesson learned, I always boat in salt water but I'm pretty OCD with cleaning now.....

RR

Many stories,but only 1 boat related.

Washing boat, friend stops by. I don't have trigger nozzle on hose, I have one of those the end twists open/closed.

We get talking, I leave strong stream pointed at boat. Many minutes go by, I turn and look at boat, I have the strong stream pointed right in the gas tank vent Perko fitting which is wide open hole.no deflector. Fuk me !!!!! Good thing I noticed though. Damn it !

Stupidist thing i ever did was own boats

Getting ready for a poker run. Ran motor on the hose at home before I left. Forgot to put the cap on the sea strainer. Launch boat, start motor, FRY impellor. NO poker run for me that day.

Sold my baja with bravo drives and picked up my cig with ssm drives and just assumed the procedure for filling the drives with oil was the same. Fried the starboard upper within a mile of the dock 2qts low on oil. Luckily I had enough in the port. Drives where fresh with less than 10hrs on them. Or maybe the dumbest thing was that time I wanted a professional paint job and said to myself "I got this" and grabbed a rattle can. Well after paying an extra 15hrs of labor to have that sh!t stripped I got my awesome paint job.

If everyone on here is honest this should be a long entertaining thread