MY MOST MEMORABLE BOATING EXPERIENCE


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Posted by Dan Lind on April 23, 2006 at 00:38:12 from 70.69.178.170 user captain.

In Reply to: Best memory/experience with boats posted by Prue Eckett on April 19, 2006 at 10:49:43:

It had rained overnight, and my Avon RIB (rigid inflatable), tied up to the port quarter of the MARGOLETTA, had about two inches of water in it. Wearing fleece pants, jacket and sea boots, I jumped in, started the 10 HP Honda (Called Sappho The Unreliable)and zoomed out into the bay. I put the boat on a half plane which caused the water to flow towards the stern, reached down and pulled out the drain plug which caused the water to flow out, as planned. Then, when boat had drained itself, I leaned over to reinstall the plug, letting go of the Sappho's tiller. Sappho swiveled hard, over I went, Sappho and the Avon ran over me, giving me a hard knock on the shoulder. The propeller wound itself up in the front of my jacket, killing the engine. Of course, I was under water, but I could see the light. I said to myself, that is where I have to be, so I made a few swimming stokes and got my head above water, but still firmly attached by the chest to the propeller. But, I figured I had a chance, and reached for my trusty Leatherman tool, got out the serated blade I keep for emergencies (I thought this just might qualify) and cut myself free of the propeler. Being most careful now, I hung on to the boat with one hand and freed the propeller from various bits of jacket, and hanging on very firmly, climbed around the end of the pontoon, and up into the boat. Of course, sea water was flowing in though the still unplugged drain hole. I reinstalled the plug, sitting in the very bottom of the boat, and gave Sappho starter rope a good tug with my good arm. Sappho started and we chugged back into the marina very slowly. I tied up beside the MARGO' and climbed onto the dock. A friend on an adjacent boat took one look, and came over with a bottle of Tequila, kept of course for medicinal purposes only. I had three parallel cuts acrose my check, but didn't even loose my glasses.
I figure that must qualify me for TARS Duffer Of The Year Award.


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