Met the recovery company at the lake at about 10 am this morning. When we got there there was a black aluminum Lund with a small outboard that appeared to be anchored right on top of my boat. Of coarse we grabbed the Binos and wrote down his OH #'s and took pics as they sped away looking guilty as all heck... When we got there the boat was completly submerged and you could barely see the trolling motor a few feet under the surface. We wrestled the boat for a good 3 - 4 hours and finally got some floats underneath it and got it pumped out we floated it back to the Hollenback ramp and trailered it successfully. I want to suggest anybody ever need assistance on the water call Rob at Alum Creek Towing and Recovery.
My next challenge is to decide whether or not it is worth getting this boat back on the water... I pulled the plugs on the 70H.P. Merc and cranked a good 2 -3 gallons of water out of the cylinders. It will not turn over by the ignition, I had to jump the starter solenoid with a screw driver to get it to crank. The deck of the boat is seperated from the hull in several spots, seats are gone, Safety equipment gone, spot light, lantern, mag lite Dad's old Buck knife.... man the list goes on and on and on. I have not even taken inventory yet but as all fisherman I kept alot of gear on my boat at all times. Who knows how much gear I lost to scavengers and the bottom of the lake. Luckily all 4 of my poles were recovered with no further damage than a broken tip on my Lesser quality trolling pole.
My 8yr. old son is anxious and ready to get on the water again, My 7 yr. old will go out again but I have a feeling it will not be with out a fight... throw him in and let him swim right? I don't think I am going to accept fear as an excuse for staying home, I am afraid it will cause him to miss out on a lifetime on the water so ASAP I am going to force him back out there somehow.
ODNR has not really been much help asides from making sure that we got back to the ramp, got the boat out, and have all the info their supervisor is going to require for their report... Their answer to everything is basically that they can not prove anything... I am really frustrated with that.
But all in all I hope this Idiot realizes how wreckless his actions were and I am greatful everyone is safe and free of injury. I guess it is just time to decide whether or not this hunk of fiberglass is worth reviving... When is it time to count your losses? After the starter solenoid, the fiberglass work, replacing the lost tackle, the hours of wrenching on it, or the recovery bill that is more than I paid for the whole rig dam near... If you need me I will be in the garage tearing stuff apart and drying it out. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Please if you don't already have Boat insurance call first thing in the morning and get some... It is soo much more than "a cheap old fishing boat"
Thank god no one was hurt or worse.. Just curious, what kind of boat / motor and what was the weight capacity on your boat ?
It was a 14ft fiberglass with a 70H.P. Merc It is rated for a 70H.P. and 900lbs. it was myself a 7yr old. and an 8 yr. old... No where near an unsafe load...
if you need some gear i have lots of stuff hanging out in my shop. i have 25-30 lanterns and if you need 1or 2 you can have them. make up a list and post it i bet the guys of this site will amaze you. i have a 35 h.p. outboard if it would help you you can have it does run and it is totally rebuilt, i don't use it and it is not for sale it is a 35 h.p. evinrude 1957. i probably have more stuff too ! good luck !
Sorry to hear about the tow bill, did ODNR get all of the other guys info in there report so it can be made public and you or your attorney can file a small claims case againts him for reckless OP? maybe you can recover some or all of the 2K you lost in the deal and some pain and mental stress it caused you and the 2 young boys. sounds like somthing channel 10 tv mite help with or shed light on the subject im sure 3 near drowning will grab there attention..just a thought rant..
I have seen boats sink right at the ramp before....one wave or 2 over the back end and that's all it takes for some....my dad's was one......although i didn't see this but sure heard about it....and a checkmate with a 150hp mercury....people sitting in it waiting for the return of the owner to park the car and trailer same as my brother and dad's boat.....a couple waves and down they go....14ft boat with a 70hp??? just seems a little much to me, unless it is real deep....sorry for your loss....sure would like to see some pictures of the boat and recovery though
Can't figur out how to post but I have several I plan on sharing... gonna go spend sopme quality time with the wife though. She aint seen me much this weekend in the light of current events.
You may want to take a video camera with a good zoom out to the lake. I'm sure the guy is a regular and does it to other people all the time. You should ba able to catch him in the act....
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You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
You may want to take a video camera with a good zoom out to the lake. I'm sure the guy is a regular and does it to other people all the time. You should ba able to catch him in the act....
You know Snake, I feel like he is and that is why ODNR is not holding him responsible... That is not a bad idea at all
i have a big magnet i keep on my boat for dropped keys into the water and such. would be willing to take you out there and try to at least find your Dad's knife. might be worth a try.
Just heard what happened sorry to hear of the loss but glad all are safe. I rarely fish there on weekends anymore unless up north just for that reason. Boaters out there with no clue or respect for other boaters. Only gonna get worse with the new ramps and docks and word spreads. As mentioned let us know what you are in need of and i am sure most if not all will get replaced by the great people on the site. I live in Delaware as well p.m. me if you want i also have alot of tackle and items i can get together for you.
Recovered the sunken ship!!!
Recovered the sunken ship!!!
....14ft boat with a 70hp??? just seems a little much to me, unless it is real deep....sorry for your loss....sure would like to see some pictures of the boat and recovery though
Good People
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