don't under estimate fotation... in the cowl!

[Jesse J]

So I got this Vegas hydro, beautifully painted up in metallic red and really nice clear coat. Got me some Formula stickers and put in a Hacker 9XL motor. Made a sweet sub-hatch system so I wouldn't have to do all the taping required to seal off that HUGE cowl (I always give Dad crap for whining about all the taping).

Anyway, I took her out for the maiden voyage just as she came to me (I was worried about how low the strut was) but OK lets give a try. I do some laps nice and easy, bring in for temp check and see how my sub hatch held - gravy!

Second run and as you all know, you need to test out how a hydro corners, so by instinct now, I do my uncharted crazy maneuvers closer to the shore than farther, so not too far off the dock I crank her over to see how she will hold a sharp corner.... well aerobatics were the result... no biggie.... or was it.

there she be, boat and cowl separated. (I just used a couple small strips of hatch tape cause the locks wouldn't fit with my subhatch.) Ok, deploy the rescue craft...

but wait, the cowl is sinking....

In my mounting fury and intensifying language, I watched the beautiful irreplaceable hatch make its way to the locker. OK, you piece of explicative, so now on retrieving the hydro, you know those pointed noses how they like to submerge, well this lifted the rear end up - which got me going even more - and I gunned it Ya, right great idea, this knocked the hatch off the rescue barge AND even better, as the now water logged hydro rolled over tail end forward and lifted the rescue barge clean out of the water.... Can it get worse??

Well, now we have 1) hatch on the lake floor, 2) hydro full of water AND 3) beached rescue vessel and no wind.....

Then a voice rings out," look the hydro is sinking and the rescue barge is back in the water!!" WTF??? ok quick bring it in before the hydro goes down too... I doubt the hydro would have sank, pretty good flotation, but could use more.

Aside from a totally melted down swordfish 120, got the boat back..

So then a buddy asks, "what is that hatch worth to ya?" so resisting smart remarks, I said, "well since its irreplaceable, a lot!" Next, he brings some light to the situation: "I have a wet suit and mask!" Well, we visually mark where it went down and head home.

Yesterday morning, thankfully under a beautiful sunny sky, we arrive with wet suit on hand. He starts to get suited up and mentally prepared for chilly waters. Gets his gear and we hit the dock (very well prepared, scuba tube, knife, etc).

Splosh he goes, motors out to where I marked the tragic event and then he kinda sits there, I guess getting his breathing down. Next thing I see are his flippers skyward................. Unbelievable... see attached photo!!

Very first attempt, he said there was about 4-6' visibility and it was just right there exactly below him...

Ran again later in the evening (with foam in hatch) got her over 60 mph and then spectacular crash, hatch came off ---- found it this morning right there bobbing among the weeds....

Moral of the story: even the hatch needs its flotation!!!