Last year, not too long after I first start learning how to fish, I was out and it got dark and late - probably 9:30 or so during late spring. When I went to crank my motor, the battery just started giving out. It was too dead to turn the starter. The battery had gone bad and wasn't charging correctly, but I didn't notice.
After trying furiously for thirty minutes to pull start it with a rope I rigged up from my anchor, I finally gave up. Fortunately, I did have a strong flashlight, and I used it to try to flag down any boat that passed. Problem was, I was in a cove, and few boats were around.
It got later and later, and I was getting a bit worried - not really looking forward to sitting stranded on the lake all night. Finally, another boat came down the lake. As it passed, I held my hand over the end of the flashlight, making SOS flashes....only they were pretty far away - probably 350 yards away. But I kept at it, I sure got excited when I saw them slow down and turn around.
Sure enough, they came to see if they could help me. Turned out they were fishing a tournament, but insisted on using their fishing time to tow me to the dock, which was at least two miles away. They would not take any money, but just wanted me to pay it forward. We pick on the "green carp" boys, and maybe some of them are careless, but many are not. Meant a lot to me for these fellows to take a significant amount of time from their fishing tournament to help me out.
I have had the pleasure of towing others since then, and it's sometimes inconvenient, but always worth the while. And, although I'm always willing to pay for help, I would never want to charge someone else for my help. The way I see it, if they're in a bad enough spot to need the help, then they're having a bad day already - no need to make them pay for it, too.
M R Dux, BarryG, kycreek, Retired2Fish, flintcreek, Nutbush, Dollfly, USMA65, TerryD, crappy fisher and 5 others LIKED above post
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Good deal. I bet you would have wanted a set of jumper cables that day. It might have done the job.
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Nothing any more fun than having the ramp blocked by some guy who hasn't bothered to check out his boat since last spring. I can't count on all my fingers the numbers of times I have loaned or used my jumper cables to get somebody started so they could get out on the lake.
I will qualify my being helpful: a fisherman or a boat with kids, I will ALWAYS try to help. A boat or pontoon full of obnoxious drunks is usually on their own unless I think their situation is dire enough it might get them hurt.
I pulled in an over-loaded pontoon full of drunks some years ago. It was a trip of almost 2 miles and I never even got so much as a "Thank You". Those memories tend to stick in the back of my mind.
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I've been towed before and I have towed others - it all comes back to you in spades!
Jumper cables are certainly worth having along, but they are better for helping others than helping yourself when theres no battery left.
After several incidents ive resorted to having a charged battery along for insurance. At least now I can jump start my own boat.
I have not had to be towed yet but have been close! I have towed others. Would not want to leave others stranded on the water or be stranded myself so I try to be sure my equipment is ready to go and able to get back. I agree that what goes around comes around.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a retirement plan...FISHING!Trapperpete52 LIKED above post