Went out to the lake yesterday (lk.Michigan) and it was rockin 3 to 5's and we ran around a bit before tucking in behind the south pier head. We have an 1984 18' outrage. We swam a while then laid out on the pier watching boats go out and immediately turn around and then I took a little nap in the sun.
We were getting ready to get going and I watched a rental boat go out. The rental boat is basically two surf board with seats, bimini top, and either 30 hp or 50 hp motors. You are pretty much sitting on the board feet out in front and a joy stick control. Two person boat. I thought "boy that is not a good idea" and kinda kept an eye on there location/direction. We then went back to the boat and pulled anchor and headed in. I told my partner to just leave the anchor out on the deck until we got in the channel because it was tossing us around pretty good. Got into the river and got the anchor put away. I told Mike that I had a realy bad feeling about the rental boat and he agreed so we decided to go have a look. Side bar- I love big waves, but I have a huge amount of respect for lake michigan!- We put on our inflatable PFD's and head out to the north. I would think it has now built to 4-6's by now. Don't see the rental boat but it would be realy hard to see in these waves anyway since it has all of 4 inch freeboard. Then we spot the two people waving us over as the sit atop the over turned boat! One not wearing a PFD. We threw her a PFD and a line to tie tot he rental. Pulled along side and got them aboard.
It is realy, realy hard to tow an upside down boat in big waves but we did get it back into the channel and then to cove where two other guys helped us right the boat for the rest of the tow into town.
I thought about calling the coast guard but since I had them aboard and in tow and no one was hurt I didn't. I did issue a security call on the radio as we aproached the entrance.
So that was my Sunday afternoon!
We were getting ready to get going and I watched a rental boat go out. The rental boat is basically two surf board with seats, bimini top, and either 30 hp or 50 hp motors. You are pretty much sitting on the board feet out in front and a joy stick control. Two person boat. I thought "boy that is not a good idea" and kinda kept an eye on there location/direction. We then went back to the boat and pulled anchor and headed in. I told my partner to just leave the anchor out on the deck until we got in the channel because it was tossing us around pretty good. Got into the river and got the anchor put away. I told Mike that I had a realy bad feeling about the rental boat and he agreed so we decided to go have a look. Side bar- I love big waves, but I have a huge amount of respect for lake michigan!- We put on our inflatable PFD's and head out to the north. I would think it has now built to 4-6's by now. Don't see the rental boat but it would be realy hard to see in these waves anyway since it has all of 4 inch freeboard. Then we spot the two people waving us over as the sit atop the over turned boat! One not wearing a PFD. We threw her a PFD and a line to tie tot he rental. Pulled along side and got them aboard.
It is realy, realy hard to tow an upside down boat in big waves but we did get it back into the channel and then to cove where two other guys helped us right the boat for the rest of the tow into town.
I thought about calling the coast guard but since I had them aboard and in tow and no one was hurt I didn't. I did issue a security call on the radio as we aproached the entrance.
So that was my Sunday afternoon!
