Shipwreck weekend..... almost
Well I went boating this weekend with my mom, my nephews and a friend who shall remain nameless(Tom). We had a great time we pulled the tube behind and took everybody for a ride. We must have spent about 6 hours out on the lakes. and then it happened....
Those of you familiar with Florida can back me up when I say powerful thunder-storms live here and can be upon you in a moment. Well anyway we were about to head back in noticing the darkening sky. We stopped to pick up the last tube rider and collect our toys when the boat refused to start. This isn't really that uncommon in a boat. I was a mechanic for a lot of years so I really didn't think that much of it. I tore up the deck covers and jumped down only to find my alternator belt had sheared off and my batteries were dead. It was then that the wind started really blowing. I asked Tom to set my anchor so I could continue to work. After 5 minutes of assessing the situation I still wasn't real worried I had a spare belt I could throw one on in about 15 minutes. Went to grab my tools and realized they had been sacrificed at the pier in order to make room for the extra people.
Now I start to feel the pressure....
To make matters worse the wind was blowing so hard that the anchor wouldn't set. All around there were flashes of lightening and crashes of thunder. We were being pushed into the cypress trees and the swamp area and the waves were about 2-4 feet. Well after cursing the gods of the sea we called a tow service and they were hesitant to come out in the lightning storm that was going on. As a matter of fact they were saying we had to wait until the lightening stopped which seemed ridiculous when the boat was about to be impaled on cypress roots and pushed into alligator alley. Well we were pushed right into the edge of the of the cypress swamp when the anchor caught on an underwater downed log. We were bumping repeatedly into a giant cypress at the outer edge of the swampy area but at least we weren't being pushed any further into the swamp. My nephews were terrified at this point.
Well we waited it out and after about 40 minutes Terry The Tow Guy" arrived. He grabs the tow rope hooks up I hook up to my boat when he starts to pull me out, the tow rope gets caught on his motor. He's now drifting into the swamp and my boat is kind of holding both boats in place via the log in the water. The tow guy tries to untangle the line and winds up slicing his thumb to the bone on the prop and is bleeding bad, which always looks even worse in the rain. Now a little frantic I climb out into the water across the boat and untangle the prop. It took me about ten minutes in the water to untangle and I wound up having to cut and leave my anchor behind. I climbed into Terry's boat and we towed her back in. Over 4 miles back to the marina. 1 & 1/2 miles through small channels with traffic, hiding from the rain under the overpasses, which added an additional fun layer of stress right at the end of the ordeal.
We got towed back and everyone of my family was fine. My nephew got seasick from the rocking and Terry "The Tow Guy." clearly needed stitches but refused to go. In retrospect everyone said it was a great adventure but it kinda of ruined Sunday for me. Now I have to have the boat pulled and I have to inspect the undercarriage and motor.
It's always fun while it lasts.
Much thanks to Tom who shall remain nameless, without whom my beer cooler would have remained more full. And to Terry who was willing to bleed for his cause.
