Tuesday, November 17, 2009

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


35 comments:

Sarah said...

i changed my mind. you should be little jonny, not mike. lol

(they had gps back then?!)

Anonymous said...

It's a thing in the services, the new guys have got to be initiated... LOL

AV

plainolebob said...

Sarah, gps has been around longer out there than on new cars, little johnny would be proud

AV, I always loved this aspect lol

Sandee said...

Bwahahahahahaha. I knew you were going to do somebody with this prank. Remember I'm a boater and we have radar on our vessel. You devil you.

Have a terrific day. Big hug. :)

plainolebob said...

Sandee, you ole salt dog you,lol

Abatevintage said...

Stopping by to say hello.


Blessings,

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Heidi ♥

Innocent Owner Of Mad Cats said...

What are you saying. I'm all ready, I got my tinfoil on and the pot and hangers are already to go. LOL

Lee said...

I was waiting to see what you were going to make him do! Don't you love enthusiasm, such an easy target!

plainolebob said...

Heidi, thanks for stopping by

Mike, I wouldn't have let you off that easy,lol

Lee,this was a true story, all the new guys fall for it, and the old dogs get a really big chuckle

Carmen said...

Oh dear. You and my Dad would so get on! I've heard many a tale like this. He was an engineer on trawlers and subs and I definitely have heard many an initiation tale followed by much guffawing. Unfortunately he used to catch myself and my sister out at home all the time too! Grrr!

Andrea said...

Hey there sailor, there's a little something for you on my blog:)

Hunter said...

You dressed that poor guy up like the Tin Man? Too funny.

plainolebob said...

Carmen, the engineers are the funniest

AlpHa, thanks you, yep an ole tar

Hunter he had it coming, he was new, he will pass it on lol

plainolebob said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

lmao bob, those were the good ol days. i remember when i cut a 2x4 too short and sent the new guy to go get the board stretcher, he'd know what it looks like when he found it. 30 minutes later i still couldnt find it. I meen he couldnt find it:(

Rae said...

There is a fool born every minute and you sure found that one. What a great prank. I bet he never lived it down. Just can't trust old dogs like you. Loved this post. My best laugh of the day.

plainolebob said...

John, i fell for the sky hook thing,lol

Miss Rae, I am so happy that you got to laff, how is Piper?

Chapters From My Life said...

LOL.. You on Youtube is a great idea..

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

That's one prank LOL
great way to discover your blog!
L*

Carmen said...

Bob you have an award from me to you :)

plainolebob said...

Farila, maybe some day,lol

Lenore, lol, now you are discovered as well

Carmen, for me, man you and AlpHa, and at the same time,omg

UberGrumpy said...

Harharhar! Great post. Remind me never to go fishing with you

Bendigo said...

Lol..You brought back so many military memories with that post...Thanks a ton...

here's another award to add to that wall of recognition you have... Thanks for all you do :)

http://bendigosrage.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Good old pranks for offshore fun, you fishermen, ha ha.

plainolebob said...

Uber, we fished at the rigs and platforms, the fish were every wher there

Ben, my dad had loads of stories, mostly about the officers,lol

Secertia, Wanna go fishin? lol

Aion said...

I still remember my deckhand days lol.. (many years ago..!) that was way too funny. Great Memories!
Thanks for bringing them back...

plainolebob said...

Aion, the deck hand days wer ok, but man it is so much better after you become 1st mat or captain, then it is all supervise and delegate, my two favorite responses.

buddeshepherd said...

That is a great story. I grew up around people like yourself and I learned to be somewhat skeptical.
I have to tell someone this story but I can't post it on my own site as it is too recent.
My daughter wanted to know her weight. She is 8 and interested in everything.
So we found mom's scale. I went first and as I stepped on the scale I noticed a towel hook on the wall right by the scale.
I said to my daughter. When ladies want to weigh less they just stand on one foot. So I raised one foot and pulled on the hook. Sure enough my weight dropped 30 pounds. She wanted to try it.
So she gets on the scale. She tried standing on one leg. I stuck my toe under the scale and sure enough she looses 20 lbs.
So she runs to mom and starts telling her about it. I figured I'd get another lecture about warping my daughter's mind but...
My lovely blond wife said that everyone knows you have to balance the scale by standing on it with two feet.
I had to leave the room.

plainolebob said...

Budd, that was too precious, I miss my "little" girls.

Áine said...

That picture looks like pop-eye on steroids :) lol

I Wonder Wye said...

LOL! But my tin foil hat is already made!!

plainolebob said...

Smiley, it is

Amy, my prayers are with you and hope everything is coming along fine for you. Only the best.BIG HUGS

Alice in Wonderland said...

Bob, sorry I've not commented here today, but I've been sort of bust with all this rain and seeing that the elderly people are doing o.k.
You know the rest! More bad weather is forecast for tomorrow and right into next week! It's the power-cuts that are most annoying! But we are doing fine just now! Hey, I live in a house that is almost 8 hundred years old, and has 3ft thick walls! We've come through worse than this before! Just keeping you up to date! Thanks for all the mails and your concern!
Big hugs!

Lorenza said...

Exhilarating Bob... A very gentle initiation anyhow...

xx Lorenza

plainolebob said...

Alice, thank you so much always lovely to hear from you.

Lorenza, I know exactly what you mean, and yes it was mild.

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I Have started this blog as a rest stop to collect my thoughts, share my ideas with my friends and to start work on what ever, I started blogging at the last of august, 2009. it says 2008, hell I don't know where they got that..lol

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