---

My first trip out on my 220 Dauntless, I launched during low tide, on the causeway with a stiff northerly wind. Now for those of you who don't know or are unfamiliar with the Mobile area. The Causeway crosses the bay running pretty much due East and West, and all the launches are on the northern side of the road. So we launch and immediately get pushed into the ramp. So I have to jump out of the boat into the water in middle of February to save the boat from running up on the concrete, but instead of saving it from the concrete I guided it right into the mud so thick I could not even stand (low tide). Finally I get the boat out the mud and we're on our way. We have great time on delta. Coming back...remember the low tide and the north wind? We had to drive the trailer in the water a little deeper to get the bunks wet, and the northerly wind blew me right over the bunks and into the bow roller up front. WHAM!!! I was not only mad at my self, but at my Whaler for some reason. I didnt' take my her out for some time after that. I thought maybe I had bought to much boat. But after talking to some people I learned that with the conditions that day I should now have even thought about going out. I have not had an experience as bad since then.