They were still winterized so we had to install the batteries, go get gas, screw in some plugs, etc.
Installing the batteries is a pain in the ass, but I was good at it so I did them both (Chuck and his dad did one, but they put it in backwards.) Anyway, it turns out this rubber piece Chuck had told me we didn't need was necessary after all, so we had to take the batteries out and put it back in. As Chuck's dad handed me a cable, an important screw fell down under the engine. We spent a damn long time trying to flood it out with buckets of water, a house, reaching our hands down there, etc. No luck.
Eventually the three of us decide to go out on one of them. Chuck's driving... Blythe is sandwiched between us. We're not out there 10 minute and Chuck decides to throw me off. He fails, but does succeed in flipping the whole thing over. So we swim back to it (in the middle of damn Lake Washington) and get it back upright.
Problem now --- it won't start. We had to jump it to get it started. His dad had told us not to let it die. So ... to be safe Chuck brought his cellphone (in the dry box). We call his dad.... busy signal. Again, and again, and again. So finally I jump off, tie the rope to the front, and start paddling to the nearest island.
Chuck jumps off too and starts helping. Blythe is lazy and just lets us tow her ass. Finally I threaten (jokingly) to tip the craft over unless she gets in. She comes and helps us.
We finally make it to the island... it's getting dark. We call his dad and he says he'll come get us (in his boat).
We think he'll be over soon so we start towing the boat back into deeper water where he'll be able to bring the boat to.
We wait, and wait, and wait... we're out there forever, swimming around the jet ski, sitting on it, laying on it. I did a flip off of it at one point. He finally comes and we tie it up.
Chuck's dad tows the jet ski back from his boat but the water is really choppy... docking was chaotic. The rope we were using to tow the jet ski got caught in the propellers of the boat, killing the boat's engine. We're heading towards the neighbor's dock pretty quickly so Chuck and his dad are in the front trying to prevent the boat from slamming into their dock too hard.
They lift up the propellers and I untangle the cord and swim the jet ski into the dock, trying to get it onto the lift all by myself. I get it on a little, then have to go help with the boat.
Meanwhile, they've got the boat all fucked up, going in diagonally, and the engine won't start, so they're throwing ropes all around, trying to keep it from smashing up their dock. Chuck's dad yells for the rope that's currently still tied to the jet ski... I jump back into the water and untie it, then go hop in the boat, trying it on and throwing the other end to Chuck's dad on the dock.
We get the boat almost under control, but by now the waves are even worse and I see the jet ski banging all around into the dock and the other jet ski ... I run over there and crank it up more.
Problems are almost over. We put the cover on the boat, then go to put the cover on the jet ski ... I hop on the back (as I did a dozen times before when I was installing the batteries), but I hadn't centered the jet ski on the lift, so the jet ski falls back off the lift into the water and underneith the other jet ski, witih me kinda in the middle. I get out then start lowering the lift as fast as possible, tying on a rope to the front, and pulling it forward (all in choppy water...). Finally get that up.
WOoooohooooooo. What a rush. Great time.
I hope Chuck's dad's boat is fine, though.