www.iFourWinns.com

Here's one from the "not too smart" category I thought everyone would appreciate:

Last night when pulling in, there was another family launching (maybe 1/2 hour before dark). The dad gets in, starts the boat, and says "Oh, we don't have much gas". I'm not sure what his definition of much is, but they proceeded to head out. Since we were leaving, I don't know how this one ended up, but there were all of three boats on the water when we left so the odds of finding a tow for them were pretty slim.

_________________
-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Dumb. "We don't have much gas" equals "we're not launching" in my book, unless you're launching at the marina (not near it) where you intend to fill up.

Last year we towed a family in (mom, dad, ~7 year old daughter and dog) who were out in a beat up, borrowed 15' aluminum fishing boat. They had run the tank dry and they had no phone with them. We were literally the only other boat on the lake and darkness was falling by the minute. They were very embarrassed and tried every way they knew to pay us in cash or professional services. They were nice people and I felt bad for them, but they were sure lucky someone was there.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

The one time I ever needed an assist, the first guy to come along was in his go-fast fishing boat with an outboard bigger than his boat. He wouldn't tow me because he "didn't want to foul his plugs". Jacka$$.....

I run into folks every year on Lake Mohave who need a tow back in to the marina. I go out of my way to accomodate them as I consider it good karma. I know that someday I'll need a tow and hope there is someone around willing to help me out.

_________________
2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

I towed a fellow horizon owner this year on his first outing. It was my first or second outing too. I didn't take anything from him, but he did offer up to visit his lake house any time I figure it's good karma too as I'm sure at some point I'll need the favor returned. I definately wouldn't look at the gas guage, see low fuel and procede to leave I would be heading back to the gas station.

_________________
'99 Horizon 200

Karma-Shmarma.

Last year about this time I was out with some friends at the marina getting a top-off of liquid refreshments. We noticed a boat going around the cove backwards. On our way out, of course thinking they were drunk rednex, I didn't give it much thought until coming across them and hearing "Only reverse works". I towed them about 2 miles (nearly the whole length of this lake) to the ramp they were using. In the mean time it started to get dark, and clouding up quickly. I thought Karma would take care of my friends and I.

As soon as we dropped this boat off, they offered money, I politely said no. The driver jumped into the water and swam after me stuffing a $20 among other wet bills in my hand when I finally stopped.

We turned and ran as fast as we could back to the boat ramp I was using, and my friends camper. Mother nature decided it was time to test the capacity of my bilge pump, as well as my nerves. Rain HURTS at 50 mph.... at night! I had never before put this boat on the trailer..... at night.... in a very impressive lightning/thunder storm. I got it on the first try!

We got to my buddies camper where the awning was mangled at about $900 to repair. I felt bad because we thought about leaving the restaurant early, but didn't just to watch the drunk red-necks drive around backwards.


Karma.... You Bitch!

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Last year while stopped for lunch on the river my buddy syas to me "I don't have much gas". It was only I think is 5th or 6th time out with the boat so I told him there was a gas pump about 200 feet up river and to go put some in. Needless to say all of a sudden he was gone so I figured he went to get gas so we head on our way home and no sooner get out of the river and back onto the lake there he his dead in the water. I had to tow him about 5 miles back to the launch we use. That cost him a steak dinner as I think I burned liked half a tank of gas getting him back.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I feel like I've towned in more jet skiis than boats... I always hear about jet skiis running out of gas in my area rather than boats running out of gas...

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I stopped earlier this summer for a family on the lake near the ramp. He had the eng seat up & was looking in. I asked if he needed help. Said "do you know anything about I/O eng?" This was there 1st time out this seasonI said a little I climbed on board he had a 3.0 & his bilge pump was running constantly, he didn't know why/how the water was coming out of the eng. I looked & saw that the blue drain plug had broken off & I found the rest of it in the bilge. Told him that either they cracked it upon reinstall after winterization or just happen to have been stressed from age. He doesn't do any maintenance has boat shop do it. I told him no big deal to replace & that as long as he was just fishing & close to dock he was ok. He said thank you & continued to fish close . I never saw him again so I guess he got out alright. I always will stop & ask to help, just my nature. My wife sometimes says she's gonna "hire me out" in the neighbor hood cause I have all the tools & A LITTLE knowledge about alot.

_________________
2008 H190 Blue W/Red accents 4.3L Merc
2015 Tacoma Access Cab Super White 4x4 TRD Sport
2014 HD FXDC Black Stage 1 Mods V&H Bolt Ons,Naked VO2 AC & FP3.
2011 Polaris 500HO RED]
Life Long Boston Bruin Fan 2011 Stanley Cup Champs!!
#736

For me it equals we're stopping at the gas station

I've had around 6 tows this year and only one ran out of gas. Another didn't bother to check the battery and needed a jump at the ramp. He proceeded to go out and shut the boat off before the battery could charge back up. Lost about an hour on that one. I don't purposely go out looking for people to tow, but won't pass up someone trying to flag me down. Just hope when the time comes, someone is there for me.

_________________
-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

http://www.marineassistct.com/questions.html

Q. If I am on the water and broken down, other boaters are required to stop and help because I am in distress, right?

A. Not really. Distress on a vessel is a term associated with a threat to life. It is the same as hailing MAYDAY on the marine radio, firing a flare or flying the daytime distress flag on your vessel. If there is a medical emergency, if you had been in an accident, if there was a fire, if you were sinking, or any other situation that causes a direct threat to the life of the passengers, then yes, passing boats are required to give aid to the best of their ability and without endangering their own vessel or crew.

If a boater is just experiencing mechanical difficulties, they are not in distress, therefore passing boaters are not required to stop, but many do. It is difficult to EXPECT another boater to stop and tow you in just because your vessel is broken, out of gas or simply poorly maintained. It takes time, fuel and causes wear and tear and may involve liability on the assisting boaters part to offer to tow you in. Many boaters' insurance policies will not even cover them to tow in a broken down boat, due to the increased liability and fact the average pleasure boat is not equipped to tow another boat properly. These are all the same reasons government agency boats will not tow in vessels.

Boaters may consider other options as acceptable means of assisting stranded boaters. They can stop and offer to call for assistance on the broken boat's behalf, take a passenger to a marina to get assistance, and even offer to stay alongside until help arrives. Boaters should never feel as though they are required to tow in a broken down boat, especially if they are not comfortable with the situation or have never done it before.

_________________

2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

Best $100 I've spent has been on Boat US towing coverage, the unlimited option. Had we lacked this coverage it'd have cost us $1200 to get ungrounded a couple of weeks ago. Boat US gets a discount but it was still $850 for it. Well worth the money to have the coverage.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista