Thread: Where did?

Originally Posted by Snubbys

Looks like y'all have about as many electronics as BRM will have on his new ranger demo boat

I'm Positive he has me beat by a mile. Lol

This was back in the early 70s so I am sure the electronics were not as good back then. To make it even worse my brother in law was towing his brothers boat that had blown the motor- both fiberglass. I was the scout running ahead to see if all clear. I know, not my brightest moment, but back then I figured I could have gone under a barge and come out the back and swam to shore....lol. When I was 25 I said I probably wouldn't live to 30. Some of the things I did it was surprising that I did, much less make it to 66.
The 4th of July this year there was a kid on the river north of Whittington that was running out in front of barges to scare the girls that were in the boat. Luckily the law saw him and pulled him over.

Man I'm glad they got him off the water. We see that stuff happen more often than you would believe. Fisherman are rarely an issue unless someone decides to anchor in the middle of the channel. Jet skis and ski boats seem to have a death wish. We had a boat on bay springs drop a skier lest than 200' in front of us a few months ago. My captain was on the bridge and told me when I went full astern that it wouldn't make a difference. Luckily they got him out of the water at the last moment but it took me almost another 1000' feet to stop past where he was. And I was only making a few miles an hour. Southbound loaded on the MS River, it's a good mile to stop.... If she lets you at all. In my experience, those that go into the big river inadvertently, don't come out. She doesn't like to give up her dead. Our sister ship had the body of a jumper from the upper Baton Rouge bridge go under a barge unknown to them, they found it when they broke the tow.........in St. Louis!

That being said, I was once bullet proof too! Lol





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That being said, I was once bullet proof too! Lol I know what you mean. The big red S on my chest has turned to light pink over the years.

Originally Posted by Snubbys

Good thing to have reliable electronics for navigation. I will never forget a few years back working on a bridge over the Quachita river in Monroe, LA we were working nights core drilling holes for new guardrails. All of a sudden about 2am the sky lit up. There was a barge coming under the bridge and turned his lights on (guessing for safety). They got about 100 yards past the bridge and shut the lights back off and continued on their way in total pitch black darkness. I was amazed by this, I just assumed before then at night they ran with the lights on all the time. Nope, they rely on the GPS and map charts for navigation.

If you want to make friends with a tow boat pilot shine your spot light on the wheel house When he hits you with his light you will never shine a spotlight on the wheel house again. Lmao


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