Scary Story from THT.Com - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

179 · 12-24-2002, 08:30 AM

I just read this story, and I think it gave me some good information. I wanted to pass it on.
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"Well i went out fishing this weekend to a tower marked R off Marco Island,I heard the fishing was awesome there.I got there in 40 minutes and tied off to the tower to block the waves and get some sun shade.As the day went on the waves were getting bigger but i was sheltered buy the tower and the winds were forcast to dissipate in the pm,so i continued to fish.Well 4 pm came and went and buy this time the waves were 5-7 in a 4-5 second interval with some getting to 10 feet!
The i figured id wait till night fall and run then,but 20 minutes later the rope broke from the tower.
I immediatly started my motor and halled ass with the waves.(I have a 20 foot sportcraft cc with a 200 ficht)Now im in seas that i shouldnt be in and start towards shore.The waves were coming over the top of my deep v boat like i was a flats boat,and my heart was racing along with my bilge pumps.I decided to pack my wet suit and put it up front so if i went down it would float to the top,so this made me feel a little better.about then i went past vertical and said f-me im going in,well i slammed on the gas as i was landing the motor was under water and was able to save it,about then i was getting sea sick and i knew if i lost it i might die,so i kept on,and in my head im saying never again god,just let me live!Im thing also if the motor dies, so do i,i had a kicker but was inside cc for emergencys,i wouldnt have time to mount it if main motor went down.I was so sick and tired and was averaging 3 miles an hour,I thought of the commercial (wanna get away) and laughed.I finally made it in and thanked the lord.
Upon inspection of my boat, my thru hull fittings are gone in front were the drains connect to storage bins on the deck,Rear light missing,antenna bracket snapped in two,loads of fishing stuff gone,and one sea sick captain.Lessons learned 1.Never go out that far in a 20 footer
2.change thru hulls to brass
3.change plastic antenna holder to stainless
4.Go look for a 25-30 footer for safety.
5.Buy a boat that has 2 motors and can plane on one in rough seas.
6.Would have died if it was a four stroke,
I needed 100% hp when i went under,not lagging hp,the boat wouldnt have popped out,expecially with the added weight of the four stroke.
Ive never been on the edge of going down on every single wave and it scared the shi- out of me,not only that but its not like its over in 20 minutes it was a 3 hour body blow with adrenline pumping,and no way out except foward(I compare it to the perfect storm).I now have a very very small idea of how they felt."

Duke41 · 12-24-2002, 06:11 PM

Man thats what I call a close call. Now you know why I brought a Mako

GBOUTDOORS · 12-26-2002, 07:56 AM

Now you know why we have a CG to put there lives in danger to save people that should NOT be out in a boat! The four guys that I pulled out back in Oct. did not belong out that day in the 18' cc they were in and it almost cost them thier lives. This guy says he is going to look for a bigger boat but I don't think that will solve his problem of not knowing when to say home!!!!! Just my two cents worth as my veiw of things changed after that day in Oct. as to what kind of people are out there in boats that they know to little about.

JohnR · 12-26-2002, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Man thats what I call a close call. Now you know why I brought a Mako

That's why I'm gonna get a Seacraft

Old boat but a new motor!

Information, Knowledge, Competency, Common Sense, and a PLAN - not necessarily in that order, NEED to be applied out there and this guy did not do it. At first I was thinking, "WTF was he doing out there alone?" And then I thought that it was probably better that way

I'm glad that he made it back and I hope he realizes how close to the edge he was, and that he will do the necessary work ahead of time to miniimize the chances of it happening again...

Van · 12-26-2002, 11:19 AM

Damn Lucky...

one lesson not learned for him is...

RESPECT THE SEA.
This was told to me when we bought our first boat. in the 70's.

BEFORE the seas are at that point GO HOME !!!!

I've done that plenty of times, its just not worth the risk...

redcrbbr · 12-30-2002, 10:23 PM

yeah another dumbass, but did he catch any fish??? inquirering minds want to know

HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!!!