The article below relates what can happen when too much alcohol is
involved in boating, as witnessed by my son Joe and I. It appeared in
several online fishing mags. Several of you read it and suggested that I
pass it along to the Lists. There's a lesson in this for youngsters and
oldsters alike, and it is definitely fishing related.
JIMMY D
“BOOZE, BOATS & BAD WEATHER – A DEADLY MIX!”
Several years ago, my son Joe and I were bass fishing just off Lake Waco
in Reynolds Creek, a protected slough, and out of the wind. The weather
had been fine when we launched, but had rapidly deteriorated, with lots
of strong wind and white-caps starting to make their way down the “big
lake”. Lake Waco is like that. I’ve seen it rain, shine, sleet and snow
all in one day while bass fishing. That’s what we Texans call “Texas
Weather”. With the weather getting worse and having absolutely no luck
with the bass, we decided it was time to get back to the ramp, which was
a little further back in the slough.
Just before heading back, we were commenting that a person would have to
be NUTS to go out on the big lake in such rough weather. Almost
immediately afterward, we saw a fifteen-foot run-a-bout, flounder by out
on the big lake. It was running wide-open and bouncing up and down like
a rubber ball, slap-slap, on the big waves. If you’ve ever stood on the
deck of your bass boat with the waves hitting you in the knee caps, you
know how rough it was. We were both totally astonished by what we saw.
There were four young people, probably in their twenties, in the boat.
All were extremely overweight. One of the guys, who must have weighed at
least three hundred pounds, was kneeling on the bow with a beer in his
hand and the two girls were standing up in the bottom of the boat,
waving their beers. The guy driving the boat also had a beer. The waves
were crashing over the bow and all four seemed totally oblivious to
their peril. Just as we started to head for the ramp, a large wave came
over the bow of their boat and totally swamped it. The boat actually
made a dive toward the bottom of the lake as they were thrown out..
Among the beer cans, there must have been a couple of cases of them,
their tackle, and life preservers, etc. all floating around, we could
see their heads bobbing up for air. None of them were wearing a life
preserver! There was nothing for us to do but go and help. Two other
boats happened along and we were able to pull the people out of the
water and into the safety of our big bass boats.
The run-a-bout was now floating upside down with the bow and about half
of the boat sticking out of the water. My son Joe tied a line to the bow
ring and all three boats headed to the ramp on Reynolds Creek, with Joe
and towing the partially submerged run-a-bout. Joe and I pulled the
run-a-bout to the side of the ramp. Then we and the other boaters pulled
it up onto the beach, upside down to let the water drain out, then
flipped it back over, refloated it and tied it off to the dock.. That
was a monumental task, and you guessed it, none of the guys and gals
from the run-a-bout offered to help.
The cold wind was really rough on the four and I had Joe put them in our
4-door pick up, turn on the heater, and cover them with emergency
blankets that I always carry, to help ward off hypothermia. Then Joe and
I took them to the ramp where they’d put in, so they could get their tow
vehicle and come back and load their boat. They were all very quiet
during the whole ordeal, and never said “thank you for saving our lives
or gave any acknowledgement of our help. All they were interested in was
getting more BEER!
Their total lack of concern over the eminent danger they were in has
stuck with me over the years. What a great lesson for my son about the
dangers of alcohol and boating. This made a lasting impression on Joe.
Without nearby fishermen coming to help us, Joe and I would have swamped
our own boat with the added weight of the four, plus the waves. All of
us put our lives in great risk that day in the rough water. This is as
fresh on my mind today as the day it happened, many years ago. Thank the
Lord the other fishermen were there because the choices Joe and I had
without them were not good.
