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From the time I was young we fished in small boats and I have learned to have a healthy respect for the water you fish on and how fast things can change. On my trip to Wade lake one evening I had a group of four that wanted to head up to the end of the lake where I had found a hot spot for catching fish from shore. It took me two trips to get them there it was probably around 6:30. Winds were lite from the northeast. The dad that was with me goes can you smell that? It smells like rain. Not a cloud in the sky. Ten minutes later the wind was howling from the northwest at 30 and we had three foot waves. Not going anywhere in my little boat. An hour later winds at 40 and big white caps. I looked at family and said I think that they need to start walking, he said, "You know when the sun sets the wind usually lets up. 8:30 winds now at 50 sustained, they stayed at that till one in the morning by the way. Temperature had dropped 20 degrees and I told them to start walking now and that when it backed off I would come and get them in the boat, they tossed all their gear in the boat and headed off. Sun has set and wind just barely backs off, no white caps but big waves for a twelve foot boat, put my pfd on for first time as adult and pushed off from shore. The first wave came a foot over the back end of boat, I was trying to get started, motor flooded from extreme rocking. Flipped on sump and blew out water motor finally starts, come around corner and see family staggered out laboring along lake, not easy hiking. Pulled up to back two and tossed pfd's, they got in and we head across lake, winds pick back up to 50 I can see white caps behind me. As we make shore I jerk up motor and we jet up the beach. Family is waiting for us there and my son-in-law tells me we have to turn around and go get the other two. Not at 50 I tell him, lose the white caps and we will go. I send two guys around lake with flashlights and warm clothes. Meanwhile guy with bigger boat has been sitting in camp whole time watching, hops in his and goes across and gets other two, when he beaches he has six to eight of water in bottom of him boat. Thanks big boat guy. They say hindsight is twenty twenty, I guess I shouldn't have been so focused on saving my stuff, I could have had a unpleasant encounter with hypothermia as much as drowning. Should have just tied down boat to shore as best as possible and walked out with family. If it was still floating in the morning great, if not Oh well. Getting dark and just T-shirt on makes you make rash decisions. Any suggestions on what you would have done?
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We all can make a guess at what we would do but the fact it you don't know until your in those shoes. I have been on the water when storms hit and it got ugly. My boat is different because it can't take on water and sink. It can get almost unbearable to ride on but it isn't going to sink.
I have beached it several times in bad weather and rode it out. One time I was in an area that has a lot of kayakers and the wind came up bad. They rent the kayaks to anyone. Well these people were in trouble with the big waves and wind. They grabbed on to my pontoon and I took them to the shore. I told them to stay there until the weather let up. I also told them I would let the rental company know they were beached.
You did what you did at the time and that is that. I don't fault you what you did because you made it and no one was injured. Now it is just a story to tell in camp. Glad you made it ok. Ron
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I am glad everyone got back to camp OK . Like on the movie JAWS . I think we need a bigger boat .
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The pictures from the other thread look so calm and perfect, glad it turned out ok.
I'm pretty good about taking more than I need, like towels, jackets, rope, bungies, head lamps, and other misc items, after this I think I'd be tempted to find room for a tarp too. Beach the boat and just wait it out with shelter.
But then again, if I knew the lake and knew people were waiting and worrying, I might hike it or take the boat, depending on the wind direction and all that. I think you did well, and the sump pump sounds like it was a good investment.
Also, I don't know how the cell reception is there, but a phone app like MyRadar that shows Doppler weather and the direction could be handy for the future. See if any rain is headed your way and how much more is coming.
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Wow good suggestions .
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I was at CJ once in the narrows when out of no where it got ugly! I have a 19 ft Lund and I was parked at Cottonwood. Right as I headed out of the narrows there were two small boats headed for Cottonwood. 2 adults and 2 little kids in the first one and 2 adults and one kid in the other. The first guy asked me to cut the waves and let them follow but I could tell the kids were scared as hell!!! I told them to go around the corner at Cove Arm and pull up on the bank instead. All the kids and the wives got in my boat and and the two guys followed me back in there boats. It went good until we got to the entrance of Cottonwood. One of the guys panicked a little and hit the gas a little to hard but only dented the boat a little.
All parties involved were wearing life vests which was amazing!
The best part about it was one of the little boys thanked me and said, (your boat is awesome)! That made my day!
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You were there Angel that day . Good Job .
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