Very Scary Moment

**Mac Daddy** · 11-07-2015, 11:26 PM

My scariest day of fishing was February 18th 2012, it was late in the day and we had about 15 crappie. We were fishing the Little Red River out from Bald Knob AR and decided to run back up the river to try one more spot before calling it a day. We were the only ones on the river at that point. The water was 43 degrees, the air temp was around 45 with a 15 to 20 mph wind, we were in 20+ feet of water. This particular boat has an inboard jet drive and with the chop on the water from the wind it began to get rough. At about 20 mph the bounce from the rough water caused my reverse bucket to come unlocked and fall down which threw the boat into reverse, this in turn forced the back of the boat up out of the water, but the forward momentum drove the front of the boat under water. In an instant the boat rolled over and began to sink. We got the life jackets out and laid across them and began to breast stroke toward the bank that the truck was on. We only had about 40 yards or so to go to get to the bank but quickly hypothermia began to set in and our arms and muscles began to become ridged, and it became almost impossible to swim. My best friend who was a little closer to the bank made it. I on the other hand I tried to grab a tree limb and catch my breath, I felt like I had run a marathon I was breathing so hard. But when I tried to reach up to grab the limb, I couldn't lift my arms up, and my life jacket floated off and I was in serious trouble. By now I can't move my arms enough to swim any more and the water is at my lower lip. I hollered at my friend that I was in trouble and he looked around, and God's grace found a straight limb just long enough, 15 feet, to reach me if he walked back into the river up to his chest. Once out of the water I collapsed on the bank but my friend wouldn't let me stay down and forced me to try to keep moving, the pain in my back and legs from the hypothermia was excruciating just to move. But I got up and started to try to get up the river levy. It was over a mile back to the truck and being wet and with the wind chill it was extremely cold, but we made it back to the truck. It seemed like it took days to get warm again and cough up the water droplets we sucked into our lungs while trying to swim. We should all wear or life jackets at all times. I recovered the boat 3 weeks later with most of our fishing stuff still in it and had it running within 30 minutes and it's still going today. And I fixed the reverse bucket though. On a side note my best friend who saved my life, was just recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I wish there was something I could do to save his.

**bleedingduck** · 11-08-2015, 02:19 PM

I've sunk a boat or two, got my motor hung in a hollow log in the middle of a swamp at dark, run out of gas and/or spun a prop while exploring miles from the beaten path, and hit something at 4:30 in the morning that poked a whole the size of my finger in the hull (pulled the plug and ran hard 15 minutes back to the landing letting water out as fast as it was coming in). However, the only time I can say I got truly scared in a boat was Friday afternoon. On the way to the duck camp, running a narrow bayou lined with Roseau canes, I came around a hairpin with my gatortail on step. In the middle of the turn I met up with a center console fishing boat. He shut down, I cut hard right and let off the throttle, keeping enough throttle to try to turn. I had the boat turning, but listing so baddly I figured I'd sink when I hit him. I straightened up and let off at the last minute and braced for impact. His momentum carried him just enough as I cruised by him. I bet I missed his transom by less than 6"! We almost hit each going 25! I caught my breath, made sure my dad was still breathing, politely asked the guy to next time stay on his side of the bayou and made my way to the camp... Close call!

**PawPaw Gene** · 11-08-2015, 09:36 PM

Bleedingduck that was close. Here we have many canals to fish with each one having many side canals. I see boats come around those corners on step like they are the only ones in the world. I've made it a habit of getting off step at most intersection and the others I slow to barely stay on step (15 mph) until I see all is clear. It's a wonder we haven't had more accidents. A while back someone came around a blind corner only to run into a work boat at WOT. Don't know if he survived but he was critical after the accident.

"gene"

**prefers shiners** · 11-08-2015, 10:15 PM

I had never been to the "ski course" at Henderson so one day decided to check it out.......since it was my first time to be in those narrow canals I was idling with my big motor slowly and watching the depth finder every now & then....I had just entered an "S" curve and a young guy in a big bass boat coming from the opposite direction came flying at me wide open.....all I remember is the fright on his face as he was fighting the steering wheel.....as I was going very slow, all I could do was steer right into the hydrilla and speed up......I kept waiting on the contact but somehow we missed each other.....the other guy never checked up....I decided I didn't need to go to the "ski course" after all........I did have my life jacket on....with the kill switch attached........

**green shiner** · 11-08-2015, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by prefers shiners

I had never been to the "ski course" at Henderson so one day decided to check it out.......since it was my first time to be in those narrow canals I was idling with my big motor slowly and watching the depth finder every now & then....I had just entered an "S" curve and a young guy in a big bass boat coming from the opposite direction came flying at me wide open.....all I remember is the fright on his face as he was fighting the steering wheel.....as I was going very slow, all I could do was steer right into the hydrilla and speed up......I kept waiting on the contact but somehow we missed each other.....the other guy never checked up....I decided I didn't need to go to the "ski course" after all........I did have my life jacket on....with the kill switch attached........

do you always attach your kill switch to life jacket?
sometimes I put mine in a loop around my wrist. its a lot easier to put on and off.

**PawPaw Gene** · 11-09-2015, 12:14 AM

I clip mine to my life jacket which I never take off while I'm in the boat. Easy on easy off, but it works great as I've stood up a few times without disconnecting it and BAM, the motor stops.
"gene"

**prefers shiners** · 11-09-2015, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by green shiner

do you always attach your kill switch to life jacket?
sometimes I put mine in a loop around my wrist. its a lot easier to put on and off.

yes....always to life jacket....it is too short to do the wrist thing and turn the steering wheel.....maybe if you have a tiller that would work....

PPG.....my guess is that all of us have done that.....and on cool days the jacket keeps you warm......

**shadow** · 11-09-2015, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Bleedingduck that was close. Here we have many canals to fish with each one having many side canals. I see boats come around those corners on step like they are the only ones in the world. I've made it a habit of getting off step at most intersection and the others I slow to barely stay on step (15 mph) until I see all is clear. It's a wonder we haven't had more accidents. A while back someone came around a blind corner only to run into a work boat at WOT. Don't know if he survived but he was critical after the accident.

"gene"

pawpaw, there was an accident at Rockafeller earlier this year, a few months ago if that, where a boat collided with a work boat and one of the guys died and I think the others were brought to a hospital, didn't here if they made it or not but I think they came out ok. I ALWAYS slow down for blind corners also!

**cjleger337** · 11-09-2015, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Just a reminder, those silly little kill switch lanyard that you attach to yourself could come in handy in such a situation. I run with mine 95 + percent of the time but have caught myself forgetting now and again. I started a new habit lately, when I unhook it from my vest strap I hang it on the steering wheel. That way I'm reminded to attach it again.
"gene"

I agree, the crazy thing is that even though my motor doesnt meet the requirements for legally having to have a kill switch, I have one sitting in my dry box with intentions of putting it on for about a year now. I need to make it a point to get it completed.

Thread: Very Scary Moment

Thread Tools

Display

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions