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Gave My First Tow...

Vikingstaff

Vikingstaff

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I was out with my youngest son and nephew tubing. Afterwards we were just cruising around the lake. Could barely see what looked like someone waiving their arms in distress in the distance - those must be my teacher eyes!   :D  Detoured their way and sure enough their main engine died on them.  Their trolling motor couldn't control and propel the boat on the windy-chop we were getting across the lake. Just two older gentleman out fishing on about a 12-14' fishing boat. They said they had been drifting for about two hours across the lake trying to flag down various boats during that time. I think they had drifted about 2.5-3 miles from the sounds of it.


Bringing them across Houghton Lake:


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Dropping them off at the west shore DNR boat launch:


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With our lake being larger, I am glad it was a clear day and no storms rolled up on them.  That would not have been good at all.
 
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Nice job!  


I've towed 4 boats.  Nice to have those deeds banked in case I need them to return the favor someday!
 
That boat looks so small to be on that lake. Especially on a windy choppy day. 


What goes around comes around. Do a good deed you'll get it back one day..........
 
Good job!


This is a reminder why you need to have a whistle, compressed air  horn, smoke, flares, or whatever, to give a visual/audible distress signal. We have 2 extending oars that are bright orange and qualify as visual signals. I also keep a whistle at the helm. You never know if your electric horn may die. 
 
Great job.  That's a golden rule: ALWAYS help those other boaters out who are broken down.  You'd want them to do it for you.
 
1Blderbob said:
Yes great job. Helping a fellow boater is definitely a golden rule to be followed. On a funny note though, sure would have been a funny picture of that boat pulling a large pontoon.
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I basically cracked that joke with them when I dropped them off at the DNR boat launch.  Jokenly I said, "if you ever see me out there stranded, tow me in".  


They laughed and said they might need to get one of these first (pointing at my Mercury).
 
Vikingstaff said:
I basically cracked that joke with them when I dropped them off at the DNR boat launch.  Jokenly I said, "if you ever see me out there stranded, tow me in".  


They laughed and said they might need to get one of these first (pointing at my Mercury).
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So they had a small Johnson?
 
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Actually saw several boats being towed on Saturday on HL. While anything can happen out on the water, it seems that some people don't bother with maintenance. 
 
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