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I had a close call yesterday on the big CR.
After work yesterday I was taking some family members out to go play with a new 3 person tube I got but hadn't used yet. We were going to play over on the back side of Sandy Island out of Kalama marina. I had checked the boat the day before and everything seemed fine. We left the marina and all was well. I started crossing the river in front of a large ship but not pushing it by any means. He was at least 200 yards away when I started out. I was doing about 4300rpm (about 30+ mph) as I passed the jetty just outside the marina. I was crossing at an angle to give more room between me and the ship and the becuase the southern tip of the island is down river from the marina.
I was about mid river when all of a sudden the engine quit. No sputtering or missing, just died. I tried restarting it and the engine didn't even crank over. It appeared that I didn't have any electricity. I checked the battery and all conections were tight. I tried starting it again, but still nothing. Luckily as soon as I had lost power I turned the boat towards the WA side to try to get out of the ship's path. I was directly in front of him. Quite a ways in front of him but I wasn't moving very fast. It felt like I was not moving at all.
OH GOD that thing is coming straight for us. Again luckily I was far enough ahead of him and we had enough momontem to carry us out of his direct path. We were far enough ahead that he must of seen we were have problems and he did change his course a little bit(no horn blowing or major deviation on his part). I didn't notice the course change of the ship as as I was too busy trying to get get the paddle out to help get us further away from him. My family told me later that the ship changed course a little bit.
As my brother-in-law was paddleing like mad I removed the engine cover. There was the problem. The main power cable from the ignition to the starter was broken.
As the ship passed us about 100 feet away I jumped on the VHF and called the Coast Guard. I just bought this radio Saturday, another lucky thing. They responded quickly and politely. They asked me a few questions since I didn't remember the correct procedure when calling for assitance. I forgot to tell them a few things. I read the procedure the day I got the radio but under the stress of the moment I didn't remember it exactly. OOPS.
Another lucky thing, another boater was near by and we caught his attention and he was kind enough to tow us back to the marina. I contacted the Coast Gaurd back to let them know that I had received a tow and they asked me to notify them when we were safely docked. Hey, it was really reassuring to talk with them on that radio.
At the dock I tried to pay the guy for towing me in but he would accept. He was a really nice guy and I asked him if he was an Ifisher, but he wasn't. He kind've looked like a few of you guys out there. I couldn't thank him enough. I called the Coast Guard back to let them know I was safely at dock and they thanked me. I THANKED THEM. Even if they didn't do anything, like I said, after contacting them on the radio the tension level went way down.
I was very lucky today. I created some of my own luck because I kept a cool head, thought quickly and correctly, and alot was just plan luck.
For a split second there I thought I might be killing my family. I could almost see us being sucked under the bow of that ship. I had my sister and her family, my daughter and granddaughter with me.
Fortunately it never became a REALLY close call but it certainly could've VERY quickly.
Sorry for the long post but I just want to remind some of you - never think that going out on the big CR is something to be lax about. Always pay attention to river, the traffic and have an emergency plan of action. Boat defensively.
I am not expressing my self like I want to but -
Be safe and try to stay alive.
[ 07-30-2003, 07:55 AM: Message edited by: Conspiracy Theory ]
After work yesterday I was taking some family members out to go play with a new 3 person tube I got but hadn't used yet. We were going to play over on the back side of Sandy Island out of Kalama marina. I had checked the boat the day before and everything seemed fine. We left the marina and all was well. I started crossing the river in front of a large ship but not pushing it by any means. He was at least 200 yards away when I started out. I was doing about 4300rpm (about 30+ mph) as I passed the jetty just outside the marina. I was crossing at an angle to give more room between me and the ship and the becuase the southern tip of the island is down river from the marina.
I was about mid river when all of a sudden the engine quit. No sputtering or missing, just died. I tried restarting it and the engine didn't even crank over. It appeared that I didn't have any electricity. I checked the battery and all conections were tight. I tried starting it again, but still nothing. Luckily as soon as I had lost power I turned the boat towards the WA side to try to get out of the ship's path. I was directly in front of him. Quite a ways in front of him but I wasn't moving very fast. It felt like I was not moving at all.
OH GOD that thing is coming straight for us. Again luckily I was far enough ahead of him and we had enough momontem to carry us out of his direct path. We were far enough ahead that he must of seen we were have problems and he did change his course a little bit(no horn blowing or major deviation on his part). I didn't notice the course change of the ship as as I was too busy trying to get get the paddle out to help get us further away from him. My family told me later that the ship changed course a little bit.
As my brother-in-law was paddleing like mad I removed the engine cover. There was the problem. The main power cable from the ignition to the starter was broken.
As the ship passed us about 100 feet away I jumped on the VHF and called the Coast Guard. I just bought this radio Saturday, another lucky thing. They responded quickly and politely. They asked me a few questions since I didn't remember the correct procedure when calling for assitance. I forgot to tell them a few things. I read the procedure the day I got the radio but under the stress of the moment I didn't remember it exactly. OOPS.
Another lucky thing, another boater was near by and we caught his attention and he was kind enough to tow us back to the marina. I contacted the Coast Gaurd back to let them know that I had received a tow and they asked me to notify them when we were safely docked. Hey, it was really reassuring to talk with them on that radio.
At the dock I tried to pay the guy for towing me in but he would accept. He was a really nice guy and I asked him if he was an Ifisher, but he wasn't. He kind've looked like a few of you guys out there. I couldn't thank him enough. I called the Coast Guard back to let them know I was safely at dock and they thanked me. I THANKED THEM. Even if they didn't do anything, like I said, after contacting them on the radio the tension level went way down.
I was very lucky today. I created some of my own luck because I kept a cool head, thought quickly and correctly, and alot was just plan luck.
For a split second there I thought I might be killing my family. I could almost see us being sucked under the bow of that ship. I had my sister and her family, my daughter and granddaughter with me.
Fortunately it never became a REALLY close call but it certainly could've VERY quickly.
Sorry for the long post but I just want to remind some of you - never think that going out on the big CR is something to be lax about. Always pay attention to river, the traffic and have an emergency plan of action. Boat defensively.
I am not expressing my self like I want to but -
Be safe and try to stay alive.
[ 07-30-2003, 07:55 AM: Message edited by: Conspiracy Theory ]
