Curious to hear everyone's experiences, to learn from and make myself feel better..
I'll start: while launching from LJ surf I once put in my Hobie Mirage Drive backwards... Silly me assumed the incoming tide was pushing me hard back in so I started using my paddle and somehow got past the sketchy surf with a backwards drive...
only then realizing my mistake.
Don't ask my why I didn't realize how my drive was backwards..
Half asleep? Maybe. Idiocy? Definitely! D'oh! Never again.