New Deck Hand Helps Calibrate Radar Mr. Bob Style/ The Fun Times

This was pre-accident

It was just a routine day, we were just doing a routine operation.

We headed to the rig, about one hundred thirty miles off shore, on board we had their supplies for their daily activities.

We had two new crew members that had never been off shore before, one deck hand and one cook.

This is always fun.

Going out, it is calm and fair weather, every thing goes smoothly.

We get to the rig, tie up, and off load their supplies.

We are requested to stay over, so that they may off load some unneeded and spent materials, cool, fishing will commence immediately.

This rig has a very nice tie up spot for fishing, and god knows I like to FISH.

We break out the fishing gear and start fishing.

We make poola bags, these are chum bags attached to the bottom of your line, you yank hard, they open with bait, and the fish attack the bait.

The snapper is biting like crazy, we each catch many pounds of snapper.

Word comes, we are being released from the rig, damn, the fishing is just too good to want to leave.

The trip back is a little bumpy, not bad, but for guys that have never been out before, you would think we are in the "perfect storm", I can't help my self, being an old salt, I start the prank, and tease mode.

I walk up to the new deck hand, I have a glass of raw eggs and milk. I down it all in one big gulp.OOPS. sorry new guy, I didn't mean to make you sick. (snicker snicker) sorry.

I guess I'll fust have to finish off these sardine and peanut sandwiches by my self, (snicker snicker) sorry.

The captain sees what is going on, he removes me to the wheel house, to take the wheel, for the remaining, trip back to the dock. I am still snickering, get to sit in the wheelhouse chair and relax all the way in.

The new deck hand, comes into the wheelhouse to see how I am doing.

I apologize for making him sick and all, he feels better, and I show him all the equipment.

We have a gps, radar equipment,even auto pilot. He is really impressed. I explain to him how at times the radar goes a little hay wire, and has to be adjusted at times.

I ask him if he will help me calibrate the radar when we get in, I explain that it is a two man operation, and if we get it calibrated, the captain will let us fish longer the next time we go out.

This guy loves to fish.

We get back to the dock, get everything secured, and get some rest.

This new guy keeps bugging me about calibrating the radar, today is Saturday, and I'm wanting to watch the ball games, we will do it tomorrow before the games begin I tall him it is better to do it early in the morning before every one at the docks get on their radios, much less interference that way.

The next morning, every one, all the other vessels are, tied up tight, at the dock.

I get the new guy to help me calibrate the radar.

He is really excited, and I get him all prepared, and I position him on the back deck.

I yell at the other hands, on the other vessels to please stay off their radios for a few minutes, as the new guy and I are about to calibrate the radar for our vessel. They all wave, and agree, they just hang out to watch.

I go to the upper deck in the wheel house, get on the loud speaker so the new guy can hear the commands.

Ok, "go to the middle of the stern, place your hands over your head, walk from pot to starboard, do this three times, slowly, then stop at the center."

The new guy does this procedure flawlessly.

Great I say" now one more time , a little faster, and walk up to the engine stacks then return to the stern."

The fellows on the other vessels are whistling and giving encouragement the whole time.

We did this for about five minutes, and I told the new guy, "great job.I believe we got it"

The captain was up now and wanted to know what was going on.

The new guy, was all excited that we had the radar calibrated and gushed out to the captain what he had helped get accomplished.

Well, ole Cap, just burst out in laughter, he said,"yes I know I was watching the whole thing from the galley." Then said, "well son I guess you wre just initiated right proper, we never calibrate the radar that way, especially all wrapped up in aluminum foil, with a pan on top of our heads, and holding a clothes hanges in both hands."

But I am sure you will be the talk at the docks for the next couple of days, Byford, I need to talk with you.

Damn, I wish U-Tube would have been available then.
I have also started this  thread on  face book
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114387775262356&v=wall&story_fbid=119547301413070#!/group.php?gid=116719855035371