Pulled one in today !!!!

[Craig-]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

No, actually it's the LAW that you must render assistance. You don't have to put you or your vessel in peril, and you don't have to tow anyone, but you do have to assist.

But wait, this boat was a Cobalt? There has to be some mistake. I know of a forum where it's been stated that Cobalts are perfect. So this must have been a Bayliner or Sea Ray with Cobaly badges on it! Cause Cobalts don't break down. And Cobalt owners don't make mistakes (like not throwing out an anchor to keep from drifting into rocks!)!

Tell that to the 20 or so boaters that passed me by when I ran out of gas a half mile from the launch on Sunday. Thankfully the shoreline house I ended up drifting to had a gallon on hand. If you see a waving distress flag and horns blowing, at least stop to see if you can assist. I have every time.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

I spent this past week on the water and was surprised by the number of boats that were under tow. Sunday was our turn to get involved. We came upon 4 pre-teens rowing a 16' tinny with the 9.9 tilted up. We towed them back to their dock, and they were polite, appreciative, and grateful. They had rowed about a mile and had another mile and a half to go. They were not in danger as the waters were calm and all were wearing their PFD's. They got a call back from their parents as we were hooking them up. The parents were grateful as well. Feels good to help out when you can.

 

[ahoy49]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

We have been towed 4 times just this year. Sure glad there are lot's of nice folk out there.



My wife just read this and said this just shows how stupid one of us is!!!LOL
I think she means me.


ahoy

 

[Craig-]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

We have been towed 4 times just this year. Sure glad there are lot's of nice folk out there.



My wife just read this and said this just shows how stupid one of us is!!!LOL
I think she means me.


ahoy

Sounds like you should avoid the open ocean!

 

[ahoy49]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

Sounds like you should avoid the open ocean!

That would be no fun at all. While she was doing the paddling I was fishin!!!!
Who needs a trolling motor????


Ahoy

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

A couple of years ago we were pulling the kids on tubes around our little 700 acre lake.
I spotted a boat stopped out in the middle with their engine cover up and appeared to be looking at the engine, so I stopped and brought the kids aboard and idled over to the boat.
I hollered at him and asked if he needed help and he said no (so I thought).
So I nailed the throttle and took off.
When we stopped over by the beach my teenage son said "Boy dad that was mean"
I said what do you mean, he said asking those people if they needed help and when they said yes you took off and left them.
We headed back over that way but the Sheriff Patrol was already towing them in.
I felt like an a**.
I think about this all the time and wish I knew who they were so I could explain.
Man I feel bad about that one.

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

We just got towed in a few weeks back. Seems the marina where I sent it to get checked out missed a bellows leak in the shift cable. She died and started to take on water. Luckily two guys stopped. They were in a bass contest and towed us in roughly a mile or so to the docks.
If you guys are on this forum I would like to say a huge thanks. It was on the ohio river.

Oh and thank goodness for a great working bilge pump.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

I tow all sorts of "stuff."

PS: The tow harness in the pic stays in my boat all of the time. I probably average about 2 tows a month, but have towed several boats in a single day.



???

 

[Craig-]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

I tow all sorts of "stuff."

PS:]/b] The tow harness in the pic stays in my boat all of the time. I probably average about 2 tows a month, but have towed several boats in a single day.

???

What is that thing? A channel marker?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

What is that thing? A channel marker?

Its a Coast Guard channel buoy. I found it in a canal, far from where it was supposed to be. It was a "Katrina Refugee" and was very beat up. I reported it to the CG, but they couldn't find it, so I retrieved it for them months later. The buoy was no longer usable, but getting it back to them removed it from a place that it wasn't supposed to be, plus it allowed them to salvage the chain, shank, shackles etc.

I think I ended up towing it about 17 miles, if my memory serves me correctly.



???

 

[Mordekai]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

I just joined the towed in club today on my 3 weeks old tahoe, offered to buy the guy that towed us in a tank of gas at the marina since I didn't have cash on hand but they declined and went on their way.

Guess I better train up on what to tow people with as return for karma,

They towed me with their ski eye in the back and attached my tube rope to the bow winch hook. Is this pretty common?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

Use of the bow eye on the towed boat is the norm, because it tends to be stronger than a bow cleat.

As for the ski eye, I would say that it depends on how it is mounted. I would be leary of using a tow post intended for sking, tubing, etc. If it is known that it can take the stresses involved in towing, as opposed to pulling a person or two, maybe its OK, but I wouldn't just assume that it can. A ski eye that is mounted in the transom and properly backed for very heaving drain, might be another story.

If in doubt, however, I would use the stern eyes that are mounted port and starboard in the transom.



???

 

[Craig-]

Re: Pulled one in today !!!!

Use of the bow eye on the towed boat is the norm, because it tends to be stronger than a bow cleat.

As for the ski eye, I would sat that it depends on how it is mounted. I would be leary of using a tow post intended for sking, tubing, etc. If it is known that it can take the stresses involved in towing, as opposed to pulling a person or two, maybe its OK, but I wouldn't just assume that it can. A ski eye that is mounted in the transom and properly backed for very heaving drain, might be another story.

If in doubt, however, I would use the stern eyes that are mounted port and starboard in the transom.
???

The towed boat should trim their motor up some but not all the way out of the water. You need some steering control, remember you have no brakes, so go slow. I saw one guy being towed too fast, he came to a stop after he ran into the tow boat.