Well i when out last night with plans of a great night of fishing. I got the boat ready filled with gas.Bought a few new rods so that i could take my girlfriend out. I even had some drinks and snacks packed. Not to mention bate. After my 50 min ride to the lake I launched at a ramp that i had never used before. before i unhooked the boat I cranked the motor and it did not want to start.After a few min i got it started. I launched and had her park the truck by this time its about 11 PM.

I took the boat out in a big circle while she was parking.It was looking like a great night to be on the lake I couldn't wait to get out and drop some lights in the water. Then silence the motor cuts out..... I was in the middle of the Chanel just floating... Over the next ten min I tried and tried and TRIED to get the motor re stated to no avail. By this time I am floating even farther away from the ramp with the current pulling the boat. I finally gave up on the motor and realized that a better start finding a way back or Id be spending the night floating around.So i start looking for something to row the boat back and you guessed it no paddleI ended up taking the cover for the rod holder hatch off and using that to paddle. Not fun! That kicked my butt. After about ten min of rowing with a hatch cover i made it back. My girlfriend did not say a word when I got back to the dock. I think that she knew that it was not a good time. Needles to say that was the end of my night a threw the bait out strapped the boat down and headed home. I spoke very little on that ride home.

well moral of the story have a paddle in the boat or even better a troller motor.

Dude that SUCKS big time!!!! I can laugh about it cause it happened to my brother and law and I, the motor on our rental boat worked fine for the 6 miles upriver we went but then wouldn't restart. Luckily WE had a paddle but for 6 miles we hurt bad.

I totally agree about the trolling motor.

Fatman

HaHa it's happened to all of us at one time or another in different variations,I have 2 paddles,2 batteries and the trolling motor. An adventure to laugh about later.

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Hardcore Slabber !!!!!!!!

many years ago while a friend and i were duck hunting. the outboard quit about 2 miles from the launch. we tried and tried to get it started with no avail. my friend grabbed a paddle and started to paddle. i started digging around under the decoys at the front of the boat. he stopped and looked at me and said you can help if you like i really dont want to paddle 2 miles all by my self. i just kept digging. he said what are you doing? about that time i turned around with a trolling motor that i had stashed under the front deck in my hands. he just smiled and said thank you lord. i have always believed its better to be prepared for something to happen and it never happen than to be unprepared for something to happen and then it happens and leaves you stranded.

Maybe water in the gas. I just installed a water seperator in my gas line just for that reason. I don't want to get stuck out on the water!!!

we all ben ther and don that . a frind of mine went up river . when he got ready to go his motor wouldn`t crank .at 6:PM. he got home 10:00 PM that night . found out that the emergency kill switch had come out enough to kill the motor ..never know it could be something as simple as that

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i will alwayes recover and fish
www.stricklandupholstery.com

how do i check for water?? i filled the tank on the way to the lake it had only a little left in the tank from a week ago.

It happened to me too. Night fishing on Juilette in front of the steam plant, couldn't get the motor cranked to come back to the boat ramp and had no trolling motor so we had to paddle back. Got back to the ramp at 4 in the morning slap dang worn out. I feel your pain.

Bluegill

I work for a fuel company and we have a paste you can put on a stick and water will show up. If you are interested call me or send me a private message.

That gives the phrase (up $hit creek w/o a paddle) a new meanin
Glad you made it back safely.I never launch a boat w/o atleast 1 paddle,but 95% of the time I have 2,so my fishin partner can help paddle if needed

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