Bob and the J3 were airborne in relatively short order, I and "DEATH WISH III" were another story. The water was glassy, and with no surface wind, the 140 did not want to get "on the step." Using some of the tricks that Bob had taught me, I finally coaxed the 140 onto the step and into the air. None too soon, however, as the shoreline (which seemed distant at the start of the takeoff) was now only about two hundred yards ahead. Once airborne, we formed up and headed southwest toward our next stop, Lake Woccamaw, NC.