Help out a felw boater

jayg0351

Cadet
Joined
Apr 16, 2007
Messages
20
This past weekend I was out fishing on a local lake. Our engine died so I pulled up the engine and started to paddle to shore. We were leaving the lake due to the wind. It was starting to pick up. We were about a mile from shore and in a jon boat. There were boats every where that morning. I even attempted to get their attention. No one would stop. We got about half way across after 2 hours and I was wore out. we anchored so I could rest. Paddleing aginst a head wind is not an easy thing to do. Finally another boat came by and asked if needed assistance and I said a tow would be great. He was in an older small boat like mine. Seems like the big bass boats are to good to help out the little guy. I remember back in the 80 when I would fish with my grandfather it seemed people were a little nicer on the lakes. We used to stop and help guys with large fish and sometimes just to talk and see how the fishing was going. Has anyone else experianced this type of situation?
 

flashback

Captain
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
3,987
Re: Help out a felw boater

Don't know what lake your on Jay, but around here folks are still like your granddad for the most part...the only boater that doesn't have a breakdown once in a while, is the guy that doesn't boat...
 

CATransplant

Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
6,319
Re: Help out a felw boater

It always seems to me that the older boaters in older boats are more willing to help out. I've towed a few boats with my little 12' tinnie and 5 hp motor. That includes one sparkly bass boat, the owner of which laughed at me at the ramp over my crappy little boat. He wasn't laughing when he threw me his bow rope, though.

What really annoys me is boaters in wakeboard boats who find it very amusing to buzz me when I'm fishing near shore in my little boat. They think it's really funny to watch their wake almost swamp me. One day, I'll see one of them dead in the water. I won't tow them.

I've finally quit going on the lake on the weekend at all. I go during the week, when all the noodleheads are working.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Help out a felw boater

Arseholes are arseholes, and it doesn't matter if they're in a canoe or a megayacht . . .
 

bob_jaykins

Recruit
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
3
Re: Help out a felw boater

You can find good hearted people anywhere, just looks like life was trying to test your patience.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Help out a felw boater

actually, it's againts the law for them to pass a boat that is disable or in distress. shows what they know about the rules of the road.
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: Help out a felw boater

Where I come from it depends on the lake. There is a local lake that is the rich guys playground and nobody waves at each other when passing in the channels. Up where my cabin is, everyone waves and will bend over to help if needed. Needless to say I do not like the local lake. Too highbrow for me.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Help out a felw boater

Unfortunatly, it's the sign of the times. Even good people won't stop. Everybody is afraid of everybody else. Not boating related, but I once was stranded with my wife and daughter way the heck out in the desert west of Albuqueque NM. Brand new car on the Interstate, not a bum in a heapage. Anyway, do you think anybody would stop? Ha! I finally spotted an old house trailer off in a field. Climbed over the fence, hiked to the trailer, where some Native Americans were living. I asked the woman if I could borrow their phone to call a for help. She said they don't have phones out there but she would take me to one. We got into her old jalopy pick-up truck which barely ran, and only intermittantly at that, and took off down a desert dirt road, AWAY from the interstate. But got to a gas station at an exit where another Native American the guy went out to tow us in. (Wife and daughter were waiting alone all that time in the car and didn't know where in blazes I went)

Oh, the new car? They never plugged in the altenator wire at the factory and it ran till the battery went dead.
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Help out a felw boater

i'm always up for helpin someone. have had several occasions to do so too. no problem. i figure what comes around goes around. though i've not found that to be true yet.....i've only been disabled once. had to walk and swim my jet ski quite a ways one time. had many folks pass me but not one offered me a tow.....i was disappointed too.......tds got the point really. yer required to help is the word........
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: Help out a felw boater

Well this brings up a story - - -

The scene - - - Elliot Key is a barrier island about 7 miles from the mainland south of Miami.

I am headed back to the marina after a long , fun day at Elliot. About a half mile from the channel going to the marina I see what looks like a 12' or so open boat with two people in it waving at me. Soooo I come off plane and head their way. As I approach I see an older guy (white hair - deep tan) and a young well endowed gal in a VERY skimpy bakini sitting facing each other. The cowl was off of their little outboard. I hailed them and offered to give them a tow to the marina - I thought they were out of gas. Anyway the guy in a very slurred voice asks me to tow him back to his big yacht that was anchored just off of Elliot (like 6 1/2 miles behind us). The little boat that they were in was aparently the tender. Seems he had run out of both gas and Scotch at the same time. He was much more upset at the empty scotch bottle than the empty gas tank.

Well I'm all for helping out a boater in distress but not this guy. I put - putted into the marina and told the dockmaster of their plight. Oh and yes the water was pretty calm or I would not have left them. I oft wondered how they made out - - er - - well I'm sure that they MADE OUT or somethin.
 

babeliner

Recruit
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
4
Re: Help out a fellow boater

Re: Help out a fellow boater

I know very little about boating, but the operators manual for getting a boat license tells me I need to carry three things, lifejackets, lifering on LONG rope, and a HORN (either on dashboard of boat with switch OR in a can). Or have a LOUD voice. Im scared to leave the dock without these things, plus a charged cell phone, full gas tank, fully serviced engine, 2nd emergency engine, proper life insurance, sober husband, dog that can bark and swim, if I go on too long like this, I may NEVER leave the dock!
 

babeliner

Recruit
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
4
Re: Help out a felw boater

Nobody waves to you? Good grief; how boring to stare straight ahead and ignore everyone else. I thought this was supposed to be fun. We live in Alberta Canada. On our lake, even the biggest fanciest boat owners wave to you, smile at you, talk endlessly to you about everything about boats, you have to drive away to get them to shut up. But thats just farm people, eh?
 

babeliner

Recruit
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
4
Re: Help out a felw boater

Just figures. If everyone is too afraid to stop, they must watch America's Most Wanted on TV every night. But if I was a single female driving alone, I must admit I would have a hard time stopping for any male. Worked too long for criminal lawyer.
I hope you gave your "native" americans a few bucks for their troubles in addition to a very heartfelt "thank you"!
 

bucky7680

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
296
Re: Help out a felw boater

We were out on Lake Havasu in Az. last year on a very busy Sat.. My buddy was driving and I saw a 24 -26 ft pontoon boat about 300 yards to port. It was full of kids and adults. All the kids were waving their arms. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they were having problems. There were literaly hundreds of boats in the area, in fact we had to dodge a few to get over to the stranded pontoon. It turns out that their cable from the alternator to the battery came loose and the battery was dead. No one stoped to offer asistance. We handed them our portable jumper battery and they had it going in less than a minute. We were there and gone in about 5 min. No big deal for our good turn for the day. (old boyscout) I've been broken down before and the worse part is the look you get from the wife. Bottom line if everyone followed the golden rule this world would be a better place.
 

jayg0351

Cadet
Joined
Apr 16, 2007
Messages
20
Re: Help out a felw boater

Glad to see if I come to other parts of the country there will be a friendlier croud. I am in Texas and this certain lake is know for fast boats who want to see how big your rooster tail can get and how fast you can get from one side of the lake to the next. Small boats are like bugs in their way. The funny thing about this lake is that is full of stumps and the lake is really high so most are submesersed. I guess one day I see one of them dea in the water becuase they hit a stump and tore the lower unit off. I will gladly give them a tow.
 

edzzed

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
42
Re: Help out a felw boater

i can say i have towed many boats back to shore and in one case saved someones life. cold water and their canoe flipped. don't put 9.9 hp on a canoe. asking 4 trouble. in all my years i have never charged anyone for towing. it's an unspoken rule as one day i may be on the end of a tow rope. one day i needed a tow and called canadian coast guard who put out a call, well a guy shows up and asks if our engine is overheating. says he will tow us for a hundred bucks or he is leaving. we paid. my wife says why aren't you mad. i laughed and says i have towed so many people that i will get my money back eventually. i just tell people i don't like the idea of charging but explain why i have to...... Ed
 

valkyr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
522
Re: Help out a felw boater

... in all my years i have never charged anyone for towing. it's an unspoken rule as one day i may be on the end of a tow rope.

one day i needed a tow and called canadian coast guard who put out a call...

... i have towed so many people that i will get my money back eventually. i just tell people i don't like the idea of charging but explain why i have to.....Ed

*Confused*

So you charge or don't charge? LOL
 

valkyr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
522
Re: Help out a felw boater

I'm not even sure I'd know how to tow a boat back to a marina as this is the first boat I've ever owned. Do you just pull them with a ski rope tied to their front bow eye or something?
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Help out a felw boater

Do you just pull them with a ski rope tied to their front bow eye or something?

pretty much. towed one in yesterday. the disabled vessel had a 25' or so polypropolene ski type line witha a snap hook at the end. one end to his bow. snap end to the skitow eye on the tow vessel....speed was kept to 5-6 mph.....
 

bucky7680

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
296
Re: Help out a felw boater

I have towed many boats over the years and have been towed once myself. I have a rope that I keep in the boat for towing. It's an old ski rope. Don't use metal ends because if they fail the tension in the rope will launch it like a slingshot. I also tie one or two lifevests to the middle of the rope. This does two things. First the Knuckleheads on the lake can see that there is a boat in tow. Second if the rope does break the vests will slow down the slingshot effect. And I go very slow, no more than 5mph. In rough water I would think twice about towing someone. there's too much strain on the equipment.
 
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