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Post by hookedup on Aug 18, 2022 15:30:07 GMT -5
Took a granddaughter and her boyfriend fishing and riding around. Great time, caught fish and beautiful day. Went into Lynnhaven River to get gas (still too expensive) and when I got back into the bay I passed a pontoon boat and noticed two guys waving to get our attention. Turned around toward them and saw some smoke. Sped up and got there, asked what the problem was. They asked for a fire extinguisher and we passed one over. As they got the fire (battery cables) under control I asked what happened: Their outboard died on the way home. Then they tried to use the trolling motor to get back and the cables caught fire (I assume the cables weren't large enough for the load). After the fire was out, I towed them about 5 miles to the dock and one of them went to get money from his truck. I told them it's not a good deed if I get paid for it, wished them well and left.
Now, for those not thinking ahead some lessons: Never go offshore without a radio. Make sure you meet the minimum coast guard requirements - have a fire extinguisher. Really, I suggest exceeding the minimum requirement and have one twice the size required, they are not expensive. If you add something like a trolling motor make sure your cables can handle the load and upgrade if not. Lastly have SeaTow or BoatUS, or a really good plan to get back when a problem occurs as we all know if unprepared it WILL happen.
Just glad we got there before things got out of hand and hope they've learned some lessons today.
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Post by finatic on Aug 18, 2022 17:11:58 GMT -5
Good man Richard. And we all know you can't buy common sense some people are just stupid
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jerryk
Captain
When not online I'm likely on Knot Online
Posts: 609
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Post by jerryk on Aug 18, 2022 17:37:09 GMT -5
Nice job Capt. Richard. You are welcome in my waters anytime. Agree on having way more extinguishers than required, and new law says they have to be less than 12 years old (year of mfg is on the bottom usually). And towing is always a good insurance.
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Post by Twisted on Aug 19, 2022 6:57:04 GMT -5
Well done Captain, nice save. The amount of limited knowledge that is out on the water on any given day is astounding and it is surprising there are not more tragedies in my humble opinion.
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Post by fishnfool on Aug 19, 2022 10:09:14 GMT -5
At least it was a nice calm day.
I towed someone in once, a family stranded. I do get annoyed by like the time a guy who got his sailboat stuck on some submerged pilings because he cut the channeel. This guy waives me over, I ask if everyone is ok, they were, boat not taking on water, just stuck in a hazardous spot. I ask if he needed me to call TowBoat US and he waived me off! No fricking way was I putting my boat/passengers in harm's way because this stupid ass didn't stay in the channel and was too cheap to have even a basic tow boat/sea tow membership or even willing to call them.
I've seen it far to often on the bay, boaters that have the means (radio etc) would rather impose on the generosity of someone else because they are just too cheap and have no regard they are inconveniencing others. Rant over!
Good on you!
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Post by outtadblue on Aug 19, 2022 10:27:38 GMT -5
Well done sir.
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Post by finatic on Aug 19, 2022 13:59:40 GMT -5
Over the years I've helped to many stupid people like Chris is referring to. My new rule of thumb is check to see if there's any danger to the boaters. If not then they need to figure out a way to get their dumbasses out of the situation they got themselves into. No common sense, they probably voted for Brandon.
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jerryk
Captain
When not online I'm likely on Knot Online
Posts: 609
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Post by jerryk on Aug 19, 2022 14:37:36 GMT -5
Brandon is going to give away free towing to anyone who needs it now, didn't you hear that? Part of his plan to try to get his approval numbers up because the free COVID tests, economic stimulus payments, forgiveness of college loans, and the recent inflation reduction bill aren't working--and he can't figure out why giving stuff away and paying for it with tax money isn't working out for him.
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Post by finatic on Aug 19, 2022 15:34:46 GMT -5
Brandon is going to give away free towing to anyone who needs it now, didn't you hear that? Part of his plan to try to get his approval numbers up because the free COVID tests, economic stimulus payments, forgiveness of college loans, and the recent inflation reduction bill aren't working--and he can't figure out why giving stuff away and paying for it with tax money isn't working out for him. LMAO, there you go stupid people
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jerryk
Captain
When not online I'm likely on Knot Online
Posts: 609
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Post by jerryk on Aug 19, 2022 16:27:26 GMT -5
I'm gonna work the system. I can't afford to buy gas anymore anyway, so when I run out I'm going to ask for BrandonTow to bring me back home.
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Post by footy3 on Aug 23, 2022 12:04:27 GMT -5
It is astounding to me that people will drop ten's of thousands of dollars on a boat, and not spend $500 on at least a handheld radio and a towing service. Fire extinguisher is one of those things where it's way better to have one too many than be short one when you need it. Unfortunately, I don't think cheapness/greed is the usual culprit it's ignorance. All you need to buy a boat and go out on the water is a checkbook or decent credit, it's a joke.
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Post by hookedup on Aug 23, 2022 14:47:08 GMT -5
When I think about what I did as a kid on the water, I'm amazed I'm still here. Mostly ignorance on my part. However, these guys were easily in their 30's and NO WAY either had a Virginia Boater's License. They started the licensing several years back. To get the license you have to know (not necessarily follow) boating safety. Sad thing is in over 50 years of boating I've been pulled almost yearly for checks by the Coast Guard, but never by Virginia Marine Police. Guess I should add the Marine Police were docked at my marina for 3 years and I talked to them on land, but never on the water. I know they are understaffed, but you'd think I'd have been pulled once to check things out. Shoot, the Coast Guard has tried to get me twice in the same day - once during the day, and a different group at night.
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Post by finatic on Aug 23, 2022 16:12:52 GMT -5
When I think about what I did as a kid on the water, I'm amazed I'm still here. Mostly ignorance on my part. However, these guys were easily in their 30's and NO WAY either had a Virginia Boater's License. They started the licensing several years back. To get the license you have to know (not necessarily follow) boating safety. Sad thing is in over 50 years of boating I've been pulled almost yearly for checks by the Coast Guard, but never by Virginia Marine Police. Guess I should add the Marine Police were docked at my marina for 3 years and I talked to them on land, but never on the water. I know they are understaffed, but you'd think I'd have been pulled once to check things out. Shoot, the Coast Guard has tried to get me twice in the same day - once during the day, and a different group at night.
Hay Richard that thought could make a good funny post topic. Stupid things we did as kids and would never attempt now. Lol
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Post by hookedup on Aug 23, 2022 18:09:33 GMT -5
Hay Richard that thought could make a good funny post topic. Stupid things we did as kids and would never attempt now. Lol
Not only embarrassing, but I'd have to check the statute of limitations before reviling some things. Game warden showing up at my house (seems someone in a duck blind I was in shot at his plane - wasn't me, really), Police showing up at my house and asking my dad if they could check the car in the garage to see if the engine was still warm (luckily he refused without a warrant), Coast Guard showing up at my house..something about a boat that looked like mine going very fast in a no wake zone (there was thunder and lightning and I was scarred).
Damn, it's a long list. Let's not go there.
Got to add, I had the best dad ever. He rarely got mad at me and I think he actually enjoyed the messes I got into. Later in life he told me some of the stuff he did and by comparison, I was a good kid.
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jerryk
Captain
When not online I'm likely on Knot Online
Posts: 609
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Post by jerryk on Aug 23, 2022 18:27:50 GMT -5
With age comes wisdom. I won't even go into the story where I knocked out, and then revived via CPR, a duck after throwing a stick at it. Honest mistake. Really. I still feel bad.
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