re: Boat launch comedy

I lived on the east coast for a few summers and we stayed in a house right by a 80 ft long lock system connected to a yacht harbor. The lock was staffed from 6 am - 7 pm, but if you had a boat in there you could be trained to lock yourself in and out and get a key.

Most afternoons at like 4-5 there would be quite a few 30-45-60-75 ft boats heading out to cruise up and down the intracoastal. Come 645 most of the boats that went out would be lined up waiting to lock in.

Several boats however always just stayed out there cruising back and forth right outside the lock, waiting for the staff to head home. All of those guys were usually way too drunk to operate the boat safely and did not want to be seen drunk.

It was always a spectacle watching the 75 ft motor yacht trying to get in. You always heard crunching fiberglass, big bangs, popping fenders.

It was just great to sit there on the porch and watch some hoighty-toighty a-hole try and get it done. The wife was always running around trying to get the fenders out.