On Valentine's Day on
Topaz Lake I finally launched the Otter about 23 months after I began
the build. It was a beautiful day and the lake was glass when we
arrived. My wife and kids came along to help me launch her and to
get a ride. I was nervous. I have had visions of stepping
into the boat and my foot going through the floor.
Once we got her into the
water, my wife steadied her while I stepped in. I sat on the stern
seat and put some water over the transom, but did not, however, put my
foot through the floor. Obviously, I shouldn't sit in the
back. I shifted to the middle seat and the boat leveled out and
actually rode quite nicely. I didn't feel like she was straining
under my weight, she felt really solid.
I started out rowing her
and discovered I don't have a lot of room. My hands keep hitting
my knees, but I finally found a position that worked. I rowed
around for a bit then went back for my trolling motor. I quickly
mounted it up and off I went. The Otter zipped along at a decent
pace, but I'm not going to break any no wake rules.
Next, I took my son Owen
out for a spin. He was kind of nervous at first, but soon he was
having a ball. Then it was Henry's turn. He started out in
the bow, like Owen, but is too heavy and I had him move to the
stern. When we turned the Otter around for our photo, I nearly
beached her and dug the prop into the gravel bottom. Oops!
Nothing was harmed and we were on our way.
Finally, my wife took her
turn but she wanted to try the oars. She quickly rowed out about a
hundred yards and then tried to row back, but a breeze had come
up. She was going sideways faster than she was going forward, but
manage to get back to shore, albeit about 50 yards down the beach.
Then the wind really started to whip up and we decided to go.
The Otter is launched.
Topaz lake and the Sierras are a beautiful setting to launch a
boat. There I am trying to row. Me with Owen and then
Henry right before we dug the motor in the bottom. My wife,
Jen, rowing out to sea.
What fun! I had a
blast and am looking forward to fishing out of her. It was worth
all the effort, and while it isn't a perfect fishing boat, it will do
the job. If nothing else she will be great in the summer to just
mess about in. I guess I can check this one off the list!
