www.iFourWinns.com

This past Sunday we were heading back to the marina after a long day at the lake. About 500 yards away I noticed a Cobalt with the engine compartment open and a man and his wife both on cell phones. I stopped to ask if I could help and offered him a tow to the marina, He acted frustrated and replied that he lived about a mile or two up lake and barely took the time to stop dialing the phone. I told him again that I could take him to the marina to at least get him out of the middle of the lake and he made some comment under his breath. He was trying to get his son on the phone, his wife did not even look up from her phone and they were obviously having a disagreement with each other. With my small kids in the boat, a two mile tow late in the day and a rude boater, I wished him good luck and went on. If he had so much as even said thank you for stopping or been friendly at all I would have insisted that I at least take him to the marina. I've been thinking about this since Sunday and I hope I did the right thing, Any thoughts???

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Askieffer
2009 SL242

You can't force them to allow you to tow them. You offered, they declined by their inactions. Your good to go.

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2003 268 Four Winns Vista
F-350 King Ranch Diesel (Tow)
1990 Four Winns Fredom 180

+1

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-Eddie/2007 H200/5.0 Merc 220hp/2004 GMC Yukon

+1. I actually had almost exact same thing happen Memorial Day. We came across a small fishing boat floating in the middle of the river and the guy had the engine cover off his outboard and was working on it. Stopped to ask if he needed a tow even though we were in kinda of a hurry to get where we were going. Guy just looked at me funny and said nothing so I hit the throttle. Figured I offered to help so screw him if he wants to be an a$$.

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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)

+1 also.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

I been on both sides of this, when your broke down on the water, your mind is racing 90 to nothing and your MAD at the world. Dont hold it against him, i'm sure he has been thinking about how he acted aswell. I once was told by a broke down boater that he had someone coming to get him, I gave him my cell phone number and told him to call me if the other guy didnt show. He called me later that night to thank me and said everything worked out and if I need him anytime on the water to call him.

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Agree on all the comments above!

I end up towing folks a couple of times a year - I see it as good karma.

If they don't want help, not much you can do past offering....

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Joe is spot on. He could be a very nice guy. Just in a bad situation. You did good though. Don't sweat it.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

I agree with all above...you did right and that was all you can do. Nobody would expect a two 2 miles and offering to tow to the Marina was right on.

I also agree he may not have been rude intentionally, just stressed......your description kind of paints a picture of what may have been going on and I need not comment more. OK - I will cuz i can't help it....maybe if you had offered to transport some of his stress to the Marina he would have offered you a beer:)

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

In Texas you're obligated to offer help if you know they are stranded. -Dennis

Obligated to stop and offer assistance, which was done here. BTW - that law has spread farther than Texas!

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

I've only towed once. It was a family of 4 with their 2 dogs out in a friend's beat-up 14' aluminum fishing boat. It had a good inch of water in the bottom. They'd run out of gas at dusk and we were the only other boat still on the water. They were too many people, too little boat, too little gas, and too little knowledge to be out there, but they were grateful beyond any reasonable expectation, trying repeatedly to give me money, give my kids free lessons at their martial arts school, etc. It was a long tow and dark when we finally got to the gas dock. They shouldn't have been out there and they eventually realized that - but they at least had the right attitude.

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

I think that you did the right thing by stopping to offer. Whether they take you up on it, or not, is not on you. Towing to the closest marina is a reasonable offer, it's easier to catch a ride on land than in the water.

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-Rob.


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

LOL. I used to love guys like you. When I first started boating on my own (around 16), my friends and I used to commandeer my grandad's old 35' Lazy Days houseboat knowing it had a bad battery. After my mom was nice enough to buy us a couple of gallons of draft beer, we would un-hook the battery charger and take the houseboat out and park her in the middle of Lake Lanier and just drift. After a few hours of fun and sun (and knowing that the battery was dead) we would signal for help and there was always some nice person like you who would come jump us off. We did this a number of weekends until my grandad bought a new battery. Your intentions were well appreciated by the likes of us. Good for you and you are not alone.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Always stop and offer help, leave no dog behind! Where we boat if you are broke down and someone offers you will take the help because if not you might drift into a car carrier. I have towed many boats, luckily never been towed, I have never been turned down. If some one refused the offer they get what they deserve.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
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