Stuck on lake
 

Did anyone ever break down on the lake? :toot_horn:(I DIDNT THINK SO) But if you did do you think a electric trolling motor would get you back in.(inland lake)Not you guys with the big boys. Does anyone have a back up motor? If so what kind and what kind of hook up do you have?

I have had a spark plug wire bounce off the plug (stayed on the cap) as I was taking a biggish wake in my boat last summer. I ended up running on 3 cylinders back to our dock. Looking back I wish I pulled the engine cover to take a peek at it.

Now part of my startup checkover, is pressing down on each plug wire to make sure they are still seated.

Other then that, no breakdowns. Otherwise it would be my gf and I rowing until some nice boater tows us.. lol. Kicker motors might be a good thing, but unless you have a fishing boat.. they would just look frickin' ugly off the back of it.

I had just got my boat back to Ohio from buying it in Maryland. Took it up to a local lake, got out right into the middle and the engine died. It overheated due to impeller failure. Lucky enough for me a fisherman was out there and towed me back in using a 14' aluminum boat and a 15hp Johnson motor. After that I seriously considered some sort of backup motor, but figured it wasn't worth it. 95% of the time where I boat there's at least 15 other boats around. All I'd have to do is signal one of them for help, whether it be by air horn, or raising a distress flag. Having all the coast guard equipment, along with a VHF radio, or at least a cell phone, you shouldn't ever have a problem getting help. Just remember though, keep your eyes out for others who might need help and be ready to help, (it's good boater etiquitte). And it's also a good idea to have some cash to pay someone if they tow you.

Also, BoatUS has a towing coverage on their membership package, if you boat on a lake large enough to have a towboat service.

I flooded mine one time when was in large swells fairly close to a rocky shore... :shakehead:

I carry a set of basic tools, and of course all the necessary emergency gear. I usually carry my cellphone as well as I get service in some of the areas I visit.

Though the traffic is pretty light where I boat, there are usually other boats around. Two seasons ago, I was stopped a fair way offshore, and the kids wanted to see how the covertible top fits. So I had the engine hatch open for an extended period as I took it out and put it up. A couple of miles away, another boat altered course, and began making a beeline for me. I didn't immediately dawn on me why they were headed straight for me, then I realized the engine cover was still up... I put it down and got under way, and they returned to their original course...

In Canada, assisting someone in any sort of distress is more than just good etiquette: Failure to render assistance is a violation of the Criminal Code of Canada.

As it should be (criminal)!!!

My wife and friends were having such a good time tubing one day that we pushed it on the "E" side of the gas gauge....ran out of gas and came to a stop 200 yards from the dock. Hey, it was 90 degrees outside with no wind, so we jumped in and swam it back while my wife paddled.

I got stranded when the lower unit gears striped on my first boat, a 1970 18 ft. Mark Twain. After 45 min. fisherman pulled my wife and I back to our slip. That was long before everyone had cell phones. I bought a trolling motor to move from the slip to the ramp so I could get it fixed. I used jumper cables to reach the battery. I stowed it on board for 16 yrs and three boats and never needed it again. With the Z275 I no longer stow the motor because I figure it would be about as much help as the oar I must carry by law. If you have a trolling motor and room to stow, I would do it because you can never be too prepared for boating emergencies.

We (gf and I) normally carry our cell phones with us, but occasionally they drift in and out of service areas on the water. We normally are not far from shore or cottagers and other boaters anyways, so help should be around. Boating early or late in the season is probably the biggest worry due to a lack of boaters.

Along with looking for others that need help, knowing how to properly tow a boater back to shore would be a worthwhile task to learn (or practice)

Subconsciously I remember to bring my wallet with cash for that very reason.

My father in law has a cottage up on an island in G-Bay near Pointe au Baril. He & the mom-in-law were up alone one weekend 2 summers ago & f-i-l decides to take his old 18' Sylvan / 50hp Johnson out fishing at about 7pm. He heads out the main channel and goes about 4-5 miles along the shoreline heading to open water where there aren't many cottages and shuts her down to do a little fishing. Around 9pm & just before dark he decides to head in, starts up the motor & BANG....blew a piston. He has a kicker motor but had taken it off the boat about 2 wks before that to do a little repair work. As luck would have it, the wind is blowing away from the somewhat populated shore to an area where there are only a few cottages and as luck would have it, no one was around and there were no other boaters in the area. He didn't have his cell phone with him nor did he take a portable radio so he had no way of contacting anyone other than use his flare gun. Course he only had 3 flares so he had to wait until someone came by......at about 3am. The m-i-l panicked at about 10pm, called us at home in Cambridge and then called the OPP who arranged for the search helicopter to come in from Trenton as well as a coast guard vessel to come in from the Parry Sound area. They found him sitting on the shore with a small fire going after he had fired off a couple of flares when the chopper went by........

I too have contemplated the trolling motor as a backup. I also considered an on board charging system that is on a lot of bass boats. I boat on Lake Cumberland and travel into the National Forest. There are no houses, roads, boat ramps or anything for miles. It is very peaceful. Since it is so far away from the marinas, you might see 1 or 2 boats all day long. Did I say it was peaceful? There is also no cell phone service. I think a trolling motor and a 2 or 3 bank charging system would get me at least in cell phone range.

WetWilly’s idea sounds good. A trolling motor may not get you where you want to go, but it can get you away from where you don’t want to be ( like out of barge traffic). I boat a lot on the Ohio and they either don’t or can’t move for anything!

AMEN!!! Two years ago a houseboat with four guys onboard fishing had motor trouble. They didn't think anything of it, At 3am, they continued to fish and noticed the oncoming barge. Unfortunately they had no radio, lights, or recommended CG gear other than lifejackets. The barge ended up hitting their boat, just as one of the men was able to jump onboard. He ran all the way down the 6 barges and went up banging on the wheelhouse window telling them to stop. Of course, by then it was too late, three people died, and the 36' houseboat had been dragged 2 miles up river where the barge finally was able to stop. I have to admit, it gave me chills every time I passed the area, and still does to this day. It happened around a mile from my harbor, and I pass that area everytime I head downtown. It took over two weeks to get the boat salvaged and removed... Here's two pics of the boats holding the houseboat in place until the investigation was closed.

Lesson: Stay out of the way of barges and commercial traffic!!!

The guy I know with the 302 takes long river trips to the gulf. Last summer he locked through with a barge. 3 wide 5 long. One barge in front of the tug was missing so that’s where they put him. Coming out of the lock the current kept sucking him into the barge. He said he could see the captain laughing at them instead of slowing down.

Most boating accidents happen this way ....

http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_oct20...gAccidents.jpg


Ummmm, dont view if your wife or gf is nearby ... or are you are at work.. :wink_thumbup:

Sorry bad pic bayliner in the back. I know why would i be looking at the boat.

there was a boat in the back ? .. :p

Yep been there done that. Probably do it again
 

Having grown up on a lake I’ve helped many stranded boaters and have been stranded many times for many reasons but now I’ve grown up and have a 1991 Mariah 1900z with a 4.3Ltr HO.
A few years ago my wife, three kids and I went for a weekend campout at Lou Yeager Lake in Litchfield IL.
The first day out, second trip of the year about 2 miles from the ramp an oil line from the aux oil filter gave way. With no way to fix it on scene and swimming back out of the question we put up the top broke out the drinks and sandwiches left the engine cover up and made the best of it. After thirty minniuts or so I was really surprised that a boat pulling a tube stopped and asked if he could help. After talking with him he said I’ll drop off the wife and kids and see you in about 20 minuets. Thinking too my self yea right, I did turn down several offers for help putting much faith in this one man. Sure enough he did return, pulled us all the way down to the other end of the lake and never asked for a dime. It took me quite some time to talk him into letting me pay gas but he finally gave in.
It turned out to be a very expensive day but a really good day all the same.
Now that my friends is what boating is all about looking out for the other guy because too some one you are the other guy.

wow, those are some good stories. I have quite a few exciting ones. Ill share my most recent one.
I had just picked up my mariah, the next day I took it out. I found out that the battery was shot. well wasn't that just exciting. So i had no tools or tool box on my boat. so i figured if i can just get to the filter i can spray some starting fluid and it will start. so the nut was a ***** to get off. i flagged down most people and they wont stop, just stare. I have multiple waverunners also, and a modded seadoo rxp that goes 75+.
so mr, joe jackass goes by on his eliminator with girls and acts all cool not stopping. i finally see a guy on a sail boat and he gives me pilers and viola, it works.
2 weekends ago i had my rxp up there and there was the guy with the eliminator broken down, and I went up to him and asked him if he remebered us being stuck and he said yeah, and i said that was me, thanks for helping me. now in return for that, im not gonna help you.

I know it was wrong of me, but it felt so good.

That's awesome! Way to stand up!! :wink_thumbup: I've found the @ssholes that own speedboats never help. Yet they're usually one of the first ones to have their hatch up with some kind of engine problem... They have no common sense when it comes to CG rules & regulations, mariner's law, and general "Rules of the Road" on the water. Loud Exhaust, Top Speed, Bikini Clad Women & Cheap Beer is all they ever think about.... You'll always find someone with a sailboat willing to help, as they're probably the most skilled and knowledgeable people on the water.

Good for you man! Hey, that guy had it coming and i'm sure he won't leave someone stuck again. Only way that could have been better would be if you had driven up in your Mariah then driven away with his women :yes_grin:

Hi,
You could also tow a dingy in case and a multitude of safety gear. I know you can never be certain, but I think if you keep your boat in good order and you don't boat near Niagara Falls or somewhere as threacherous, you can be at ease and enjoy your boat. I agree that adding a motor is expensive, ugly and who says that will work when you really need it.

We have been boating 30 years, and only a few incidents, but it always turns into an adventure, inconvience and something to remember.

Apart from the safety gear, we bring a battery pak, a quart of oil, a cell phone. and warm clothes.

Happy Boating..
Gilberte

I got a kick out of that!!!!

I often boat close enough to see the mist over Niagara falls!!!! (2 or 3 miles upstream at most)

Even in the Niagara River, very few if any boats tow a dingy or have a backup motor, but we all have one thing in common..... a very big anchor!!!

Re: Stuck on lake
 

I have a swim deck and would be worried if I trimmed up if it would fit.

Re: Stuck on lake
 

U might have a bit of difficulty getting a response on this 5yr old thread....

Re: Stuck on lake
 

Time to break this out :yes_grin: