[sand flea]

I don't know how much detail to add to this story, but I'll try and keep it short.

Saturday morning I went down to a boatel in Pasadena, Md. to go out on a friend's boat. Now keep in mind that this boat has seen better days; even though it's almost brand new, it's sunk twice. And it's one of those dual engine Yamaha jet boats--fast as hell but hard to steer and not good in rough water.

The first thing we discovered was that my friend had left some lights on and drained the battery. So after jumping it and spending 20 minutes at the dock letting it warm up, we left the dock and promptly lost one engine leaving the marina.

Luckily, my friend had bought an extra battery at the marina so if we totally crapped out, we'd hopefully have enough juice to get restarted. After an hour or so of limping toward the Bay Bridge, we stopped and anchored up and shut off the engine, convinced the alternator had charged it back up. After an hour of fruitless bottom fishing, we started the engine back up (I was able to fire the second one up this time) and we took off.

But after about five minutes at full throttle, the boat started to lose power. The left engine was shot entirely. It would rev but no water would come out the jets and the right engine had lost almost all power. I turned on the bilge, concerned we were taking on water. After slowing down the boat and leaving the bilge on, things seemed better. We headed back to Ft. Smallwood and tried to anchor up one last time.

I walked to the bow and tossed the anchor, lost my balance and went overboard with the line still around my arm. After a split second of realizing the sunlight was fading away as I was sinking, I started kicking furiously to get back to the surface and get the line off my arm. I swam to the back of the boat and climbed on and once I'd stopped freaking out, started laughing so hard that I couldn't stop for a good 20 minutes.

My friend, however, didn't think it was very funny. He said that when I went over he thought I'd hit my head. He just sat over the side and chain smoked for a while until he quit freaking out.

You know, some of us just belong in the surf, and I think I'm one of them.

 

[Eric G]

Let's be careful out there!!

 

[jcreamer]

You are lucky..My dad always called a boat a big hole that you just throw money into..I still want one..I am g lad to see that ou came out of it okay....

------------------
Jcreamer

 

[sand flea]

You really do have to pay attention out there. Luckily I didn't have my cell phone on me...that would have been the 4th one I ruined! Even more luckily, I can swim well and had no trouble getting to the surface and then the back of the boat. I have to be one of the clumsiest people around

 

[SHORELINE]

Flea, I was thinking about you when i lost my cell in the water phone 2-weeks back. The first thing i said was, "call my phone so i can find it" It cost me $70 to get another and i did find it,but it raing no more! As for boats i have one and it looks great in my yard. If you get a boat you are better to use it often or it will never run right. Ask me about trailers there fun too! Thats why i get in the car and go fishing.
Keep dry, Steve

 

[Russ Dadds]

That's an absolute classic one Flea! I'm still laughing my AO!!!!!!!! Next time try going out on a fishing boat with someone who actually maintains they're boat. So I guess you lost the anchor huh?

 

[sand flea]

Nope, the anchor was tied off to a cleat. And I was tied in the middle. I feel like an idiot but I had to share the story with you fellows--I knew everyone would have a good laugh.

 

[H2Ohunter]

Flea I think that it is your friend not the boat. I own two boats, and rarely have these problems. If I have someone meeting me I usually fire it up first. One of my boats is a jet boat and ya it does not handle the surf like a 25 foot center console. Would you use a mickey mouse zebco for Stripper. The jetboat was not designed for fishing in swells. Mine is designed for fishing but in the same waters as a skeeter. I know the title of the site but boats have their place.

 

[turboandy]

I am glad you are not hurt buddy, it could have gotten ugly quick.

 

[jcreamer]

When I moved to North Beach last year I had
an eighteen foot cajun bass boat.. Sometimes it was a pain but I miss it..They can bd a pain but I still want to get another one. Eighteen foot center console. I still like bass fishing too.

[This message has been edited by jcreamer (edited 06-12-2001).]

 

[Salty]

Yipes, glad you're alright man. I can relate though. I remember when I was younger, we had a 28' Owens, one of those big wooden beasts that you commonly see sunk in marshes. It was sunk three times, first time in hurricane Mary back in the 70's, another time, the bilge burnt up and sunk at dock, and after it was towed down to FLA they forgot to put the plugs back in the bottom when they put it in the water. Had an old 351 in that I spent many a day working on and rebuilding and rebuilding and rebuilding. Starter rebuilt more times than I can remember, along with alternator. I remember running out of gas and having to run plastic tubes that came off of the head from the gas tanks to a coffee can and running that gas right into the carb. Also replaced the transom on the darn thing. Good riddance to that old thing. Only good thing I can say about it is that it gave me a lot of good mechanical experience, enough that I later got a job doing some marine mechanic work.

One time I fell off of the back trying to land a fish... and pretty much the same story as yours, freaked a bit, and then laughed my ass off, didn't help that it was in late October and the water was COLD.

There were some good times too though, I guess. Later in life, a 16' aluminum v-hull with a 35 Merc on the back, talk about hauling butt, 35 horses pushing a hollowed out aluminum shell. Don't have anything right now, but I would love to get about an 18' center console or even a bay boat.

I'm glad you're alright though, and I'me sure if you put together all the stories around here like ours, we could write a book.


Tight lines and keep your feet on the sand,

Salty

 

[HuskyMD]

Sand Flea, please post pics of your big catch!

 

[RACN35]

see there I told ya so .........