I thought this deserved it's own thread

[Slipknot]

This post was at the end of Jackk's thread ( http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...-prepared.html ) where they ran into trouble out off the Vineyard and i thought it deserved it's own thread.
You can never be TOO careful.


posted by WannaBeInAParker

I just wanted to pass along a huge Thank You to Striped-Bass.com, my buddy fishsmith and the unfortunate individuals who lost their boat.

I was recently fishing off of Gay Head with my 14, 6 and 4 year old sons and began taking on water. Having just read this post a few days prior, I was prepared to get my boys and my boat in safely. Without having this knowledge, I am not sure that we would have made it in safe at all.

Let me share my experience.

We motored out of Falmouth harbor at 6AM, anchored up half way between Squibby and Gay Head around 7AM. When we anchored we noticed that there was water coming into the scuppers on the deck. This has happened several times when we have alot of weight (fish) in the stern of the boat, however we had just begun fishing. I opened up the bilge and was horrified to see that the bilge was complete filled with water and the hose on the bilge pump had broken off at the pump.

My 14 year old and I put on our life preservers (the 6 and 4 year old) already had theirs. I grabbed my portbale VHF and put it on my belt. I noted the lat and long and pulled the anchor. I imiediately hailed the coast guard and let them know I was in trouble and that we were heading back in. I let my 14 year old take the helm and I started pumping out the bilge with a hand pump.

I could tell that we were still taking on water while we were underway. While on the way, I looked at my 6 year old and I could see the fear in his face and I reassured him that we would be ok. He came to tears and said, "Will my tackle box float." That was a relief that he was more focused on his tackle box than his own well being.

The Coast Guard met up with us right outside Tarpaulin Cove. Luckily there were increased patrols due to Obama being on MV. The coast gaurd boarded my boat and immediately took the 14, 6 and 4 year old to the Coast Guard Cutter while 2 Coast Guard Officers stayed on the boat. Through brute force we were able to empty the bilge and find the source of the leak. The seal in the live well pump was gone and water was pooring in as we were underway. The system is designed to take in water as we make way. We shut the seacock to the pump and the leak had stopped. We met up with the Cutter outside Falmouth Harbor and the children were exchanged and we were on our way. My 6 year old immediately asked if we could go fishing now and I told him that we would be going a different day, thanks to Striped-Bass.com and the US Coast Guard.

Thanks Again!!!
Jack Houghton