South lake
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Messages
- 222
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C
We have an island on our lake named safety island. I never realized how it might have got its name until yesterday.
I was asked by a friend to help his sister-in-law sell a 1977 Glastron Carlson jet boat. He knew that I had bought and sold several boats over the years and some of those boats were niche boats like my last, a C-Dory. I had used the internet and did targeted marketing to people that were interested in the particular boat I was selling. The reason he asked for my help was because his brother-in-law had Alzheimer's and he thought I could get them the fairest and highest price. And he was right. Within a few weeks I had several potential buyers lined up from around the country.
Now before listing the boat I had taken it to a dealer who had maintained the boat in the past and asked that they go over the boat, thoroughly check out the mechanics, and prep it for the water, making sure it was ready to go. They serviced it and informed me that "everything worked but the horn" and I picked it up.
I should have known they did a less than complete job when I backed the trailer into the lake and found that the battery was still disconnected and after connecting it found that it didn't hold a charge. So I had a new battery installed, took it back to the lake and started the boat on the trailer. It started up, idled perfectly and I now thought it was ready to sell. I didn't take the boat out for a run that day because the wind was up and the lake was too rough.
Yesterday a couple from Minnesota came to Ohio to see the boat, cash in hand. It was a beautiful day for boating with a clear blue sky and no wind. The lake was virtually deserted because the weekenders hadn't arrived. We put the boat in the water, and the young guy buying it was driving. He had grown up boating and was experienced with jet boats. The couple were falling in love with the boat. I was sitting in back and once we cleared the no wake zone told him he could open the boat up. We took off, pressed back in the seat and were quickly out in the lake. And then it happened. The woman looked back at me, pointed to the floor of the cockpit beneath my feet and said water! I looked down and water was quickly coming in from the back of the boat.
Everything happened fast. I handed them life jackets and we put them on. We were too far out to turn back as the boat was taking on water too fast. I directed the young man driving the boat to safety island and we made it into a small cove that had contained boat docks years ago. Though the docks were gone it sheltered us from waves. The whole island is surrounded by rip rap to prevent erosion. The engine died as we got 20 feet from the shoreline. the boat driver and I each took a position to keep the boat from slamming into the rocks too hard. We all got on shore and tied a line to keep the boat close.
The bilge pump was working. Lifting the engine cover, what we suspected the issue was turned out to be true. A hose was not properly clamped and had popped loose. It probably had stayed on when the boat idled but as soon as the throttle was opened up came loose and at that point the engine was pumping more water into the boat than the single bilge pump could handle. Had we turned off the engine immediately, the bilge pump might have kept us afloat but not being close to land we decided the best bet was to keep moving toward land.
I called 911 and the State Park responded. they sent out a boat with a two man crew. By the time they got to us the water in the boat was going down thanks to the bilge pump and the new battery. They towed the boat back to where we had launched from and we got it back on the trailer, pulled the plug and again looked at the engine. A check of the dipstick and it looked like the oil had water in it.
After the park ranger completed his report, insuring that we had the proper safety gear on the boat, etc. we went back to my house. The couple bought the boat. The price changed but still a fair price for the seller and I think a fair deal for this couple. They will get the boat fixed up and have a great story to tell their kids.
So why am I sharing this experience on the Tugnuts site? Two reasons.
First, I never had a boat take on water like this and I was amazed at how quickly this turned into a situation that only had about 10 minutes before we would in all likelihood have sunk the boat and been in the water. Even though we guessed correctly what the issue was, the engine compartment of this boat was almost impossible to get into from the cockpit and even if we did there was no sea-cock to close. All of those safety things the coast guard requires in their inspections are as important on a small ski boat as they are in one of our tugs. Maybe more so. Having some way to call for help, in this case a cell phone is essential but a handheld waterproof vhf radio would have been better.
Second, know the dealer and mechanics who service your boat. I've taken my boats to the same service people for years. I know them, they know me, and they are meticulous in servicing boats. I don't look for the lowest price. My safety could depend on it. The dealer that serviced this boat and I will have a conversation Monday. I want him to understand that his failure to do a complete inspection of this boat put three people at risk, cost the couple selling the boat money, and certainly doesn't generate a reputation he would want in this boating community. What his reaction and response will be should be interesting. Writing it off as just noise from an unhappy customer won't be sufficient.
So now I can guess how safety island got its name. On this day I was certainly glad it was there.
I was asked by a friend to help his sister-in-law sell a 1977 Glastron Carlson jet boat. He knew that I had bought and sold several boats over the years and some of those boats were niche boats like my last, a C-Dory. I had used the internet and did targeted marketing to people that were interested in the particular boat I was selling. The reason he asked for my help was because his brother-in-law had Alzheimer's and he thought I could get them the fairest and highest price. And he was right. Within a few weeks I had several potential buyers lined up from around the country.
Now before listing the boat I had taken it to a dealer who had maintained the boat in the past and asked that they go over the boat, thoroughly check out the mechanics, and prep it for the water, making sure it was ready to go. They serviced it and informed me that "everything worked but the horn" and I picked it up.
I should have known they did a less than complete job when I backed the trailer into the lake and found that the battery was still disconnected and after connecting it found that it didn't hold a charge. So I had a new battery installed, took it back to the lake and started the boat on the trailer. It started up, idled perfectly and I now thought it was ready to sell. I didn't take the boat out for a run that day because the wind was up and the lake was too rough.
Yesterday a couple from Minnesota came to Ohio to see the boat, cash in hand. It was a beautiful day for boating with a clear blue sky and no wind. The lake was virtually deserted because the weekenders hadn't arrived. We put the boat in the water, and the young guy buying it was driving. He had grown up boating and was experienced with jet boats. The couple were falling in love with the boat. I was sitting in back and once we cleared the no wake zone told him he could open the boat up. We took off, pressed back in the seat and were quickly out in the lake. And then it happened. The woman looked back at me, pointed to the floor of the cockpit beneath my feet and said water! I looked down and water was quickly coming in from the back of the boat.
Everything happened fast. I handed them life jackets and we put them on. We were too far out to turn back as the boat was taking on water too fast. I directed the young man driving the boat to safety island and we made it into a small cove that had contained boat docks years ago. Though the docks were gone it sheltered us from waves. The whole island is surrounded by rip rap to prevent erosion. The engine died as we got 20 feet from the shoreline. the boat driver and I each took a position to keep the boat from slamming into the rocks too hard. We all got on shore and tied a line to keep the boat close.
The bilge pump was working. Lifting the engine cover, what we suspected the issue was turned out to be true. A hose was not properly clamped and had popped loose. It probably had stayed on when the boat idled but as soon as the throttle was opened up came loose and at that point the engine was pumping more water into the boat than the single bilge pump could handle. Had we turned off the engine immediately, the bilge pump might have kept us afloat but not being close to land we decided the best bet was to keep moving toward land.
I called 911 and the State Park responded. they sent out a boat with a two man crew. By the time they got to us the water in the boat was going down thanks to the bilge pump and the new battery. They towed the boat back to where we had launched from and we got it back on the trailer, pulled the plug and again looked at the engine. A check of the dipstick and it looked like the oil had water in it.
After the park ranger completed his report, insuring that we had the proper safety gear on the boat, etc. we went back to my house. The couple bought the boat. The price changed but still a fair price for the seller and I think a fair deal for this couple. They will get the boat fixed up and have a great story to tell their kids.
So why am I sharing this experience on the Tugnuts site? Two reasons.
First, I never had a boat take on water like this and I was amazed at how quickly this turned into a situation that only had about 10 minutes before we would in all likelihood have sunk the boat and been in the water. Even though we guessed correctly what the issue was, the engine compartment of this boat was almost impossible to get into from the cockpit and even if we did there was no sea-cock to close. All of those safety things the coast guard requires in their inspections are as important on a small ski boat as they are in one of our tugs. Maybe more so. Having some way to call for help, in this case a cell phone is essential but a handheld waterproof vhf radio would have been better.
Second, know the dealer and mechanics who service your boat. I've taken my boats to the same service people for years. I know them, they know me, and they are meticulous in servicing boats. I don't look for the lowest price. My safety could depend on it. The dealer that serviced this boat and I will have a conversation Monday. I want him to understand that his failure to do a complete inspection of this boat put three people at risk, cost the couple selling the boat money, and certainly doesn't generate a reputation he would want in this boating community. What his reaction and response will be should be interesting. Writing it off as just noise from an unhappy customer won't be sufficient.
So now I can guess how safety island got its name. On this day I was certainly glad it was there.