Has anyone tried this biblical experiment?

You are mistaking a narrative as a doctrine. The passage simply relates an event with no indication that it can or should be repeated. That mentality would also likely assume that since Jesus instructed Peter to join Him for a walk on the water that we all can and should walk on water. The same mistake is made by people who read the second chapter of Acts and say everyone who receives the Holy Spirit speaks in tongues as evidence. You should read "An Introduction To Biblical Interpretation" by William W. Klein if you are serious about understanding the Bible. But first and foremost, You must understand that the Bible is God's Word to His people and it cannot be properly interpreted without His indwelling Holy Spirit which He freely gives to every true believer.