www.iFourWinns.com

Thought I'd throw this out as I always try to learn and hope others benefit from my "learning experences" and I appreciate others input (although at 57 I could use a break from learning). We usually boat on Puget Sound so a quick lunch on Lake Washington seemed pretty tame. It was crowded today, we've had a lousy summer until this weekend. As I accelerated into a left turn, a small powerboat accelerated from my starboard side. I knew he had the right of way, but did not see a wakeboarder behind trying to get up. As the small boat passed us my wife yelled there's a person in the water, that vision is etched in my brain. I jammed the throttle back hard, came to a stop about 50 feet from the downed wakeboarder. We are jammed in reverse gear now, and had a slow tow with vessel assist. I feel I should have been more aware, I'm not a hot rodder, but maybe I was going too fast. I suppose if I was a hot shot, I could have accelerated and gone around him, I don't know. My first reaction was to do anything to stop.
Kevin
2005 V-258
Seattle

As well as it should be (either stop or go around WHATEVER you felt was the safest thing to do for the person in the water). I'd MUCH rather spend $ getting a tow, repairing my boat, then to have my insurance company pay because I hurt someone. We all make mistakes, we all lose attention for a moment, we all fail to see everything all the time. Glad your story had a good ending (some $ out of pocket, but no one hurt).

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'90 Horizon 220 5.8

Sorry to hear about the situation, that's one none of us wants to be in. Sounds like you reacted to prevent an accident, like so many others when you do the right thing you end up paying for it Glad everyone came out alive and in one piece.

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2007 Four Winns 190 Horizon Merc 4.3 MPI

Our boat on Crescent Lake in Oregon

As unfortunate as it is, sounds like you were stuck and did what you could.

Were you out in Andrew's Bay much on the weekend? I saw a few nice FW Cruisers out... 248s, 258's, 268's...

That's part of why we stay away from Juanita Bay most of the time. We have friends who live on the like and even they admit it can be a jungle out there.

Juanita Bay is like mini-havasu. andrew's bay is families and 'the boys of summer' (if you like speedos with sparkles). At most folks in Andrews are pretty respectable as compared to Juanita Bay.

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

Thanks all for the support. I'm retired construction trade, so am used to challenging environments, but this really rattled me. Cougarcruiser (Go Huskies) you're correct we were in Juanita bay. A good reminder about "situational awareness".
Kevin
2005 V258
Seattle

I certainly know why boats are named after women. My mechanic just called and said I fried a battery cable end. Go figure?

Glad to hear you avoided a potentially catastrophic situation...

As far as the stuck in reverse. If you have the DP, and you don't pull your boat out of the water, lift the outdrive to the full up position. There is a cover on the top/back of the outdrive with 3 bolts. Take off the 3 bolts(1 on top, 2 on bottom), and pull the cover. Don't lose the bolts in the water!! In there is the shift linkage. With the engine off, key out, power off, yadaa yada yada have someone actuate the linkage from the helm and look to see what's happening. You might have sheared the cotter pin, or hurt the linkage by slamming it in reverse...

Hope this helps
Justin

Thanks for the tip about the outdrive, thats good to know. I just got back from testing the boat, apparently the only problem was the battery cable. I guess two unrelated things happened at the same time; the emergency stop and the battery cable end going bad. I had assumed a cause and effect.
BTW: When I serviced the batteries at the season start, I read here someone suggested getting rid of the wing nuts on the battery terminals. I never got to it. The tech said I had a loose wing nut, so wish I had replaced them.

Glad to hear that there wasn't any major damage... if I read your comment right.

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2007 Four Winns 190 Horizon Merc 4.3 MPI

Our boat on Crescent Lake in Oregon