Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

[lmannyr]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

Since we are talking about towing others, what is the best method to accomplish this? I have a 24 ft cruiser with 5.7 mer alpha 1. I have 2 stern hooks (one on each side facing aft). How fast should I go for say a boat my size? what is the best way to tie. How close should I tow them behind me?

I'm sure there are other things I should know but this is not something that was in the boat ed online class.

Thanks.

PS Don't mean to hijack..

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

Since we are talking about towing others, what is the best method to accomplish this? I have a 24 ft cruiser with 5.7 mer alpha 1. I have 2 stern hooks (one on each side facing aft). How fast should I go for say a boat my size? what is the best way to tie. How close should I tow them behind me?

I'm sure there are other things I should know but this is not something that was in the boat ed online class.

Thanks.

PS Don't mean to hijack..

First get a tow bridle, see http://www.iboats.com/Tow_Bridles_H...7821043--**********.225043170--view_id.258729. Not sure of connectors, but they need to be extra strong and may have to be replaced by carabiners (sp?). Also insure that it has a float to aid in not fouling your prop.

Then get a tow rope, not a ski rope, maybe 50 feet long. How fast, depends on water conditions, but expect 3 to 5 mph. If your are towing a boat with an outboard, have it down and wheeled straight.

And oh, you may want to learn to tie a clove hitch to attach the tow line to the towed boat if it doesn't come with a snap hook.

 

[DJ]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

Let me share a recent experience.

About six weeks ago I finshed my Boston Whaler refit. Subject of another topic.

Anyway, my wife and I were anxious to give the the boat her trial run as-reborn. Part of the new refit was a new, to me, engine. A Johnson 60-circa 1989.

I did all the cosmetic and basic mechanical but I DID NOT rebuild the carbs. My fault.

On our maiden cruise, the engine ran great. I ran about four miles up the lake and all was fine. On the way back, I opened the throttle up and the engine bogged. I thought. Uh oh, I just lost something. Turns out I did. I lost the bottom carb. which hurt the bottom cylinder. Due to dirt, oil, clog, whatever-read; messed up.

With that, we nursed it back to the landing. There aren't any other choices on an AZ lake.

While nursing it back, I ran across a "Go Fast" boat of about 28' in length. They had the engine hatch up and were fanning small amounts of smoke.

I said to myself, "that's not good", so I idled over. They were very reluctant to talk to me in my "junk" boat, at first. Once I pointed out to them that their batteries were still smoking, they gained interest in what I thought.

(Here's a tip; Always deal with the women on a go fast boat. The men will never admit there is a problem).

I helped them disconnect the batteries, got my sick engine running and towed them into the dock.

Once at the dock, I was a Leper.

I expected that. Not a Thank You or anything. It helps that I didn't expect anything. That is typical on AZ lakes, from what I've seen.

There are differences in people. The closer you are to a metro area, the jerkier they get. The lake I was on is, by far, the closest to a nest of AAAA+++++ personalities. All of them certain that they are above you.

Regardless, I would have towed them in anyway, It was the right thing to do.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

this summer we lost a ujoint on the river one afternoon (sounded like a ball mill when it came apart, bellows was full of metal, etc...). Wasn't positive what the noise was but had a pretty good idea from the sound. Either way, it was clear we weren't going anywhere under power). I had my 13 year odl daughter and one of her friends with us, we were out wakeboarding and generally playing around, it was a nice day, So we started paddling up to the next launch.

a fellow in a new stv tunnel rig pulled up alongside, took a sip of his beer and said "it's gonna be awful hard to get on a plane that way".

he towed us up to the ramp - despite the fact that it was clearly something his 600 pound boat with a new hot rod merc outboard wasn't set up for (I've learned since that it's been clocked on radar over 130). Then while the girls swam and a few of the other outboard gear head / racers (another stv, a quartershot, etc...), who were getting ready to go do some prop testing, stayed there and kept an eye on the girls while he ran (literally) me 10 miles or so down the river to where the truck was parked... He was burning 110 octane racing gas the whole time. When I tried to give him some money, he just gave me a wink and asked me if I believe in karma.

two guys in fishing boats drove by while we were paddling, both pretended not to notice. I was chuckling as one almost hit a snag while he was pretending to look so intently at something on the far bank...

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

Never been towed but have towed a few times. Remember when I was 12 or so, towing someone back to the campground. Got a real nice Pickerel out of it. I was burning dad's gas so money wasn't and issue, but that fish tasted nice.

Towed my buddy more than once when he was having carb problems. Still toss him the pictures now and then for laughs.

I expect I'll be towing the boat oops! is putting together at some point

 

[haskindm]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

I have not yet been towed, but in 24-years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary have towed many others. It is not often in life that we get to be "heroes" but it is sure nice when it happens. I am 54 and partially disabled with Multiple Sclerosis. My usual "crew" is an 81 year old woman. She is not your typical 81 year old. She is a Judo Champion and spends two weeks every year at a Survival Camp. The nice thing, when we get to tow someone or otherwise help, is that people do not see us as "the guy that walks with a cane and the 81 year old woman" but two people that have practiced, trained, and developed their skills in order to help others. It usually takes me a week to come down off of that high!
Some advice when towing - GO SLOW! You may see Sea Tow and others towing boats "on plane" but do not attempt to do this yourself. Your boat is not built for it and the risk of damage is too great. I have towed a 27 foot twin outboard Quick Response Coast Guard Boat with my 18 foot center console (single 115 HP outboard). You don't need much more than idle speed to do whatever you need to do. Also watch the tow line. If the line goes in the water, immediately shift into neutral until the line is tightened up. A line wrapped around your prop is not a good thing. Also be careful if trying to pull a boat off that is aground. A boat that is aground can't sink. Make sure the hull has not been damaged. If it has, it may be better to leave it aground until it can be salvaged. Ungrounding a boat can put tremendous strain on both vessels. If you can get close to them offer to take their anchor out and let them try to pull themselves off using their own anchor line. The other thing you can do is to pass by and "throw them some wake" often they will be able to power of while "bouncing" on your wake (don't do this if they are aground on rocks!). This poses little danger to either boat and will allow them to help themselves. Just keep your speed reasonable, you want to "bounce" them, not drown them!

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

My friend (who has been boating for years) Has always told me how friendly & helpfull people are at the lake. Everybody waves to eachother, etc.

This year his engine died & he was stuck out far from shore, He also had his girlfriend & a bunch of the neighborhood kids on board. He flagged down another boat & asked if he could either tow him in or go to the dock for help. The guys response was NO. He said that with the cost of fuel he would have to charge him at least $40 bucks & all kinds of crap.

turborich,

If that should ever happen to you on Lake Mead or Mohave or anywhere in the National Recreation Area, make sure you take down they're reg numbers and report it to the Park Ranger's. That is one of the top things that really pisses them off and they can/will pull the registration of said vessel no matter what state it's from. They are Federal and have the authority to do so. Along with a citation/hefty fine. We won't even get into a "life & death" situation because then it would involve jail time for the SOB.

Just remember 95% of boaters out on the lake are very friendly and the other 5% don't wave.

I happen to be a waver and would always assist if asked.
At no charge of course. I believe in the, "What comes around, goes around", theory.

 

[winfan]

Re: Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

Just a couple of weeks ago I was out at a nearby lake with some friends camping and boating. This was the first time out since we brought the boat a week after its test cruise. Well anyway It seemed that I had a minor battery problem and it was drained (Left the key on). So my buddy pulled his boat over and jump started me. That was Saturday morning for our first run. Anyway on Sunday afternoon my buddy took some of the kids out for the last wakeboard run of the weekend. I was getting my boat ready to load. Well one of the kids came walking down the path. Seems that my buddy ran out of gas and was beached on the far side of the lake. So we loaded some gas and off we went for my turn to help. I know that we are friends but for sure if I see anyone that needs help, I will not hesitate. Just my little story.