Stupid scary mistakes are part of owning a boat. My dad has

• Also forgotten the bilge plug, multiple items.
• Left the boat tied down to the trailer.
• Forgot to secure the anchor rope during launch (boat almost found freedom).
• Gotten a tie-down rope under a tire, resulting in bending a roof-mounted canoe nearly in half.
• Swamped several boats, some stayed there.
• Not attached the trailer to the tow hitch properly (yay for cross chaining).
• Not attached the trailer to the tow hitch properly and not cross chained (ouch for road).

One of my dad's friends managed to launch a boat and trailer into a tree on the interstate and not realize he'd lost it until he arrived at his destination an hour later. Fun fact, that same boat was later sunk (accidentally? on purpose? who knows?) that same day. I'm not sure on the logistics behind getting it down out of the tree and to the location.