Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake
Nova you?re probably right, but I hate nothing more than when the fire service is tied up for boaters that ran out of fuel or that need a tow because of their carelessness. The fire service is there for emergency situations.
Trust me, I understand completely....
i tried calling for a tow on the radio, but no one answered. and i did not have the boat us number.
i didn't want to go east in the canal, because that would have just put me further from home.
I can understand you not wanting to get any further from home, but sometimes it's not about what you WANT to do, it's about what you HAVE to do. The rules about not operating in the canal under sail as well as not anchoring in the canal are in place for good reason as you found out.
One of the unfortunate facts that I've had to face during my boating career is that boats tend to break at the most inopportune times. Therefore, proper preparation is a necessity, including knowing the area you'll be boating in as well as the number for any marinas in the area and what channels they typically monitor.
I am fairly confident that Summit North would have sent a boat out to get you and bring you in. They're a good bunch up there and are used to dealing with broken boats on the canal.
I might also suggest for the future that little sticker with Boat US' phone number on it that comes with your Boat US membership cards gets put on or in the boat near the controls.
