I just have to say something...

[chris in va]

We did the Potomac river yesterday, boating up to the fireworks. Halfway up my boat quit, dead. 5 minutes later, a nice guy with 5 other people pulled up and asked if I was OK. It was 2 hours to the show, and we were about 45 minutes away.<br /><br />To make a long story short, this amazing guy towed me 6 miles to the nearest boat ramp (1 hour away at our speed), after determining my boat was dead (hydrolocked). The very least I could do was offer him some money for gas, but they all refused and he was on his way. <br /><br />Then, a fantastic couple let me ride with them back to where we put in, 15 miles downstream. <br /><br />So, I want to personally thank ANYONE that takes the time and effort to help out fellow boaters on the water. Blasting by at 40mph is easy to do, but it takes real heart to stop and offer assistance. God bless.

 

[roscoe]

Re: I just have to say something...

Glad you ran into some kind boaters.<br /><br />Hydrolocked? ? same as vaporlocked fuel line?

 

[chris in va]

Re: I just have to say something...

No, hydrolocked as in water in the cylinders. Somehow my flapper valve didn't do it's job and sucked water into the engine, siezing it up.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I just have to say something...

Yup! I always stop to lend a hand to my fellow boater in need of help... Never take a penny from them either, just ask them to return the favor when they see someone else in need... Who knows, they might see me in need of assistance and tow me home someday... Ya never know...

 

[blipship]

Re: I just have to say something...

It takes 2 seconds to zoom by a boater in need... it can take hours to help someone in real need. It takes a good hearted person to do the latter. Here's to more people who do the latter! You never know, it could be you and the family next time!

 

[crab bait]

Re: I just have to say something...

a good story is good to hear...

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: I just have to say something...

AWESOME!!!

 

[flashback]

Re: I just have to say something...

around here, its kind of a give and take thing, I have pulled in numerous folks and have in turn been pulled in. always figured it was just the thing to do. I believe the golden rule holds true for boaters more than any other group of folks...good luck with your repairs.....

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: I just have to say something...

Living on the lake, I have given many a boater a tow, and helped more than one stupid swimmer with floats that find them selves out in the lake, and too exhausted too get to shore, and having trusted a thin plastic balloon (float) too support them, and not being expert swimmers (a person is an idiot too go any where with a blow up plastic float, that he would not be without it) get into trouble fast, when the wind starts pushing them faster than they can paddle around on their little death trap (float) and they tire very rapidly, often barely having the strength too hang on to their thingie. And by the way in the state of South Carolina, it is the law if you are a boater, and you are on South Carolina waters you "MUST" stop and give aid to any other boaters you see on the water that appear to have a problem, and can be charged with a crime if you do not. Check with your states DNR, and you will no doubt find you are operating in your state under the same, or similer regulations.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: I just have to say something...

PS!! by the way, any time we have guest, and a lot of the times when the neighbors have guest, I usually take the group on a sight seeing ride around the lake. Invariably some one ask me how deep it is where we are, and when I look at the Lorance, and tell them 55 to 65 feet or so they squeel with fear, and my answer is always hey once it is over your head what is the difference, as 100 foot deep water is no more dangerous than 6 foot deep water for most persons.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: I just have to say something...

you are required to render aid to prevent injury or death but you are in no way obligated to take someone in tow and actually can be held liable for whatever happens to the towed vessel once your line is attached. if it sinks you may end up buying it. if the boat is sinking its best to just remove the passengers. sounds cold blooded but sometimes even the cg will refuse to attach a line. that being said i have towed in several stranded boats. only once did i regret it and that was because the operator was a rude jerk.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: I just have to say something...

i have always helped someone in need, and would not even consider NOT helping someone in distress ... when I was just starting out in The Big World, I took a little trip along the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, looking for my Uncle Sonny, who was out in the SeaCraft ... many soft sand spots, one of which I was lucky enough to find with the rear axle of my fully laden Tire Repair truck ... yanno, tractor trailer tires, flathead cast iron jeep engine powering the compressor, and an 8 foot bed full of tools, a literal rolling toolbox ... <br /><br />the truck sank faster than the titanic.<br /><br />some while later, as I baked in the August murky blazing heat, putting everything I could think of and find in the truck and general area to get some traction, a guy showed up with two things I didnt have ... four wheel drive and his wheels on tractive ground. <br /><br />I must have looked like a wildman, absolutely drenched with sweat, but he didnt seem to notice or care. he stopped, tossed me a rope and said tie that around something strong ... so I tied it around the hitch, and then his little six cylinder truck yanked that monster right out of its sand trap<br /><br />He wouldnt take money, wouldnt take an offer to take his family out to dinner, nothing ...<br /><br />"If you ever come across someone else in trouble, lend a hand"<br /><br />and he left - and I have always, always always tried my best to help someone in trouble, including the time I kept a single screw party boat .. and a few dozen fishermen (Reliant, of all names) ... from getting washed into the rocks off of cape may, Chugboat Annie and her 35 horse Johnson pulled her halfway to the inlet when the Coast Guard arrived with substantially stronger ... and much LARGER .... gear<br /><br />and others, but the point is, think of how you would feel if someone blew past you ... <br />pretty lousy, and boating is a place where good manners and chivalry are making a last stand - simple human decency<br /><br />and thats all I have to say about that!<br /><br />

 

[JB]

Re: I just have to say something...

It's really nice to see a thread that makes you feel good about boaters.<br /><br />There are lots of good guys and gals out there, but we usually hear about the few jerks.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing, Chris!

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: I just have to say something...

the other day i had the opportunity to assist a stranded boat. the pair had what i'd guess to be 19' runabout i/o, with motor cover open drifting 50yds from boat ramp. we were leaving a nearby cove, and i told my (newbie) fishin bud we'd go offer help at about the same time as the guy quit paddling with a ski and jumped in to swim/pull the boat in. he waved us off but we went up anyway. i shutdown, dropped TM and glided them in the short distance while he was climbin up the outdrive. a good feeling. <br />- he said he'd just rebuilt the carb(s)... bad time to test it - 4pm with 90+temps (gave me flashbacks of the good ole days of owning wornout vw beetles and working on them on the side of the interstate during summers in S GA )

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: I just have to say something...

me, the wife, daughter, and two good friends went out on the eve of July4th to see the big fireworks show on the lake. it was just getting dark as we splashed the boat. the ramp had 1 other trailer the day before. but this time there were only 2 open slots. it is an amazing thing to expl to all the passengers that all those lights on the lake are not lakeside bldgs - but boats! <br /><br />there must have been 500 boats on every side, as we drifted by the L Lanier Islands. at @ 9:45pm when the main show was over, we started back on the green mile to the ramp. i'd never exp gridlock while boating before, but all went well. there were yachts, bassboats, cruisers, runabouts, unameit's all around like fireflies - but mostly just running a fast idle. we only had to power up the bow a few times for a few impatient dingleberries, and stop to let one goober cross our bow to avoid a bouy 75ft ahead...<br /><br />back at the ramp it was like walmart on christmas eve. i got the trailer in place, ran back out to the dock, but my friend in the boat wasn't there. anyway, to shorten this story a tad - he drove on the trailer, and i latched/pulled out to avoid a lynching. the boat was up on the guide roller at a bad angle...<br /><br />but i went over to the nearest guys with a bassboat, and together, all 4 of us men were able to rock my boat off the roller and within a few inches of center! and its a 17.6' glass with 140hpRude. very nice of the fellas. they just asked that i help them if ever they're having boat problems

 

[jdkzrt]

Re: I just have to say something...

My best lend a hand story was not about getting somebody home, but getting them started for the day.<br /> Buddy and his family (obviously pretty new to boating) were in the the process of killing their battery when I finished unloading my boat at the ramp one hot day. His O/B was flooded so bad there was a fuel slick around the boat <br /> I offered help, and he accepted. I always carry booster cables, and with a little trick involving the throttle linkage, the boat was running in about 10 revolutions. <br /> The look on the faces of his two kids when the engine started made the whole day worthwhile.

 

[L Christopher]

Re: I just have to say something...

Good to hear about the good guys. I want to add some pride: I travel for a living and had been gone to almost two weeks and promised my two teenage boys that I would take them skiing the afternoon I got back. We got the boat in the water around 6:00PM started sking around 6:15 figuring we would get in about 1.5 hours of fun. My oldest spotted a boater waiving a paddle and said Dad that guy needs help. I was proud that that was the first thing to come to his mind. Child unit number 2 was a little miffed but we found a way to cool him off.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: I just have to say something...

Was out on the lake this past saturday with the wife and 2 boys. It was hot, so we anchored and they hopped out to do some swimming. No less than 6 boats stopped by to see if everything was alright (the boys are young and had life jackets on)...even a couple guys on PWC's stopped after seeing lifejackets bobbing in the water. It's too bad that a few bad eggs give a bad impression of what most boaters are...good, descent human beings.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: I just have to say something...

This weekend I heard over the VHS of a 50' sailboat that gave a 24' fishing boat a tow in from the Gulf. I was impressed when the Captian had to get his vessel and tow through the causeway and how pleasant he was to the bridge captain after what must have been a pain in the butt for him.