Ahhhh... night before the tournament. Just checking everything, you know like you're supposed to do -earlier.
Battery charger plugged in - check
All drain plugs in place - check
Light check on boat - bow light - check
Light check on boat - stern light - not in the loaner boat - ka'rap - will wait until sunrise to blast off
Light check - trailer driving - check
Light check - trailer brakes - check
Tires - uh-oh - notice a few low'uns. That's OK I have compressor in shop. Begin inflating L.R. - starting pressure 20psi. Pump it up to 50. GOOD. put valve stem cap on. Uh-oh... feel air escaping. Push/release valve stem trying to clear possible debris. Still leaks. Pull valve stem force it open and clean with carb. cleaner, re-insert, 50psi - still leaks. Pull valve stem from spare, swap'em out... Inflate L.R..... still leakes. Day'um. Time 9:45 no auto parts open? Mmmmm... Pull valve stem... apply 3M marine sealer to seating surface and threads as emergency measure. Insert valve stem, inflate to about 20psi, check - still leaks. Maybe need to tighten valve a li'l tigher, give it a li'l tweek with valve stem tool. Brass tube insert rotates - not good. OK, it was holding air with valve stem cap on so... Light bulb goes on - apply 3M marine sealer to valve stem cap, inflate tire and install valve stem cap. Plan made time for action... inflate tire, check... 30 psi. Inflate some more - check - 40psi. Inflate some more, check 45psi... inflate some more. Well just as I put the tire chuck on at 45psi - valve stem brass insert almost puts eye out on the way past my head. Pull spare insert "borrowed" valve stem inflate to 50psi - put tire on trailer. Leaving early but with no spare. Just hoping the whole trip ain't like the start of it!
Battery charger plugged in - check
All drain plugs in place - check
Light check on boat - bow light - check
Light check on boat - stern light - not in the loaner boat - ka'rap - will wait until sunrise to blast off
Light check - trailer driving - check
Light check - trailer brakes - check
Tires - uh-oh - notice a few low'uns. That's OK I have compressor in shop. Begin inflating L.R. - starting pressure 20psi. Pump it up to 50. GOOD. put valve stem cap on. Uh-oh... feel air escaping. Push/release valve stem trying to clear possible debris. Still leaks. Pull valve stem force it open and clean with carb. cleaner, re-insert, 50psi - still leaks. Pull valve stem from spare, swap'em out... Inflate L.R..... still leakes. Day'um. Time 9:45 no auto parts open? Mmmmm... Pull valve stem... apply 3M marine sealer to seating surface and threads as emergency measure. Insert valve stem, inflate to about 20psi, check - still leaks. Maybe need to tighten valve a li'l tigher, give it a li'l tweek with valve stem tool. Brass tube insert rotates - not good. OK, it was holding air with valve stem cap on so... Light bulb goes on - apply 3M marine sealer to valve stem cap, inflate tire and install valve stem cap. Plan made time for action... inflate tire, check... 30 psi. Inflate some more - check - 40psi. Inflate some more, check 45psi... inflate some more. Well just as I put the tire chuck on at 45psi - valve stem brass insert almost puts eye out on the way past my head. Pull spare insert "borrowed" valve stem inflate to 50psi - put tire on trailer. Leaving early but with no spare. Just hoping the whole trip ain't like the start of it!