The King, Killer
01-23-2003, 05:52 PM
I have fished the clackamas for several years and have been involved in the rescue of fisherman A few different times on that river, boat carefully! I have read for several days now the opinion of several people. These opinions are based on some rumor and some fiction. I was close to most of the action that day and here is what I saw. I motored into the Powerline hole on the right side of the river, i saw approximately 10 boats fishing and floating on the left side near the clay bank over to my side of the river. to try to keep from nearly "waking" and "spraying" any one I aimed my sled farther to the right, near the bank into the shallow water. I was nearing A boulder when I saw A second boil near the boulder, knowing I couldn't go to the left of the boulder because of all the boats I chose to pass near the new boil. "Zing" we buzzed buy A submerged sled upside down with only inches to spare, I htought that the way the sunlight was reflecting on the water I couldn't tell that this was A boat and how close I had just came to sinking my own boat. Moments later there was another sled that had also came from down river "reffered to in so many of the opinions" floating next to the submerged vessel. I will call this Boat #2. Knowing that it would have been 12" more inches to the left and I would have hit the sunken boat I watched boat #2. Maybe he tagged the sunk vessel? #2 is A larger Outboard Alumaweld. #2 hovered near the vessel briefly as I drifted backwards towards the mess. I heard #2 ask different boats A couple of different times how long has this boat been hear? Everyone within ear shot shrugged their shoulders. #2 then asked one boat nearest him I shure hope there's no one on board. #2 then said out loud that, the sunken boat is A hazard. Looking around at all the fisherman scattered every where in this hole and I myself nearly tagging the sunken boat, I agread. I kept close to boat #2 along with A few other spectators. We Watched as one of the fisherman in #2 grabbed the sunken boats bowline and tied it to there own bow. Now #2 began working with the sunken boat, slowly pulling on it, angled towards the middle of the river. As I watched I agreed that any where closer to the center of the river, or lower in the hole was far safer for navigation than were it was. I felt that it was just A matter of time before another boat would hit this vessel and be in trouble himself. sometime around then I heard him say again "I shure hope there's no one in it". after A few minutes of pulling #2 cut the motor and one of the fisherman reached out and pulled A boat seat and box combo, from the water and put it in their boat. #2 still connected with the sunken vessel paused for A few minutes then began pulling again. when I say pulling they were not trying to pull A water skier, it was slow like A person would back troll plugs. Just about now the bowline broke. the boat wabbled and one edge came up and broke the surface of the water. Then #2 said aloud with releif " Fe-uw I'm glad no ones in there". At this point I think most of us didn't know that the operator was safe and dry. I now could see that the hydraulics was moving the vessel down river, still in the navigation area. then #2 reconnected to the sinker and began pulling again, this tim to the right. Rite about now another boat pulled up close to #2. This new boat I'll call #1 this is the inboard sled that is in the picture pulling the sinker off from the stump. he said to everyone that he had already got everyone out of the sunken vessel. He also said he has A grappling hook to up right the boat. #2 held the bow up river and #1 tossed the grapling hook into the sinker, #1 backed off asthe boat rolled up right. The fisherman in #2 grabbed the gunnel of the sinker to stabilize it, but it rolled over again. both #1 and #2 tried one more time to right the vessel with no luck. at this point both #1 and #2 disconnected from the sunken vessel. they both hovered below it for A minute or soe, than motored away. At this point it was probably in as safe A place as could be expected, for the safe navigation of everyone else. I heard whistles coming from the top of the bluffs to the left. #2 motored to that edge of river and killed his motor. I could hear from the bank that the owner is up there then a fisherman from boat #2 said "we have one of your seats". after this most of us when't our seperate ways. Now for "The rest of the story". After reading several comments from the members, I did some investigation. Today I when't to renew my guide license at the Oregon State Marine Board and had A long chat about this very situation. The Oregon State police said "There is no Salvage Laws", But if I or another boater see's A submerged vessel and it could impair the safe passage of other boats navigating that area of water, there is no violation, felony, crime, etc. if another vessel attempts to move it. They figure that the risk will be much lower of more injuries occuring before they could get their own vessel there, or an impound vessel to the site to clear the water way. I have spoke to the family and the one boat seat with box and it's contents have already been returned to it's owner. Now everyone else has got their opinion on the right and wrong of all this so here is mine. I myself have assissted in A few rescues of which the outcome would've been grim for the fisherman if no other boat was near. so as I see it boat #2 had as much up to date knowledge as I did when we both arrived on the seen. If boat #2 woud not have attempted A possible rescue or maybe what was possibly A body recovery, I would have. because If this was my boat and my son or daughter could still trapped inside I would hope that #2 would be coming up river right behind me. Some of the other ten boats could have helped but only one stood up and made an effort for some one else's well being not me or the other fisherman in that hole. I think that out of the 10 boats in the hole some knew that the owners were safe, and some did not. Also taking time to move the boat out of the way for the rest of us to have safe passage. My opinion is that there was no salvage attempt, come on how could A guy even get A boat home without A trailer. I would'nt leave my good sled to take A sunk boat that probably wouldn't fit my trailer any way. Why take the risk there's.
Well that's all my single finger typing can produce for one night I hope you all leave one for me ! The king Killer
Well that's all my single finger typing can produce for one night I hope you all leave one for me ! The king Killer