Boat in distress question

[pikergolf]

I towed a fellow fisherman in yesterday, dead battery, he was about three miles from the boat launch. They waved me down using a coat and air horn. Sadly before I helped them, they had waved another boat in who came within 50 yds, had a look and decided they had better things to do and left without exchanging a word. Second time on this lake I have towed someone in that others had ignored. The first time I had relayed my story to a friend and he told me he was pretty sure it was illegal to not help on the water. I did not look into it then but after yesterdays events I Googled it and found this. Would it apply in the circumstance I outlined? Just curious.

https://driveaboatcanada.ca/assistin...0in%20distress.

[AlbertanGP]

I would think it would apply. Although seeing it enforced could be an issue. Karma will catch up with the first boat. We all need help sooner or later on the water.

[mapleleafman3]

I'd say that applies to the circumstance. It is very general verbage though. I wonder if there is a fine or loss of license for it? In any case, that first boater is a douchebag. If hope he finds himself in the same situation and nobody helps him. Karma.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Not to justify it, but it could be that the first vessel decided that, in their assessment, that no one in the stricken boat was in a life-threatening situation.

The problem is, on the water, a life-threatening situation could arise very quickly. Hence the rules about providing assistance.

Good on you, Pikergolf, for doing the right thing. Like AlbertanGP says, we all need help sooner or later.

[pikergolf]

Most definitely a douche nozzle move, 16' heavy boat and heavier folks in a coulee reservoir 3 miles from help an hour before dark. Hard to fathom just driving away. I will be getting booster cables for the boat as well.

[superuke]

We spend our summers at Slave Lake for the last 28 years. Every year we have had to tow someone back to safety. This year two times. Main cause battery failure and out of gas.
We always carry a small container of spare gas and a battery booster pack. See attached photo. I have never seen a boat with boaster cables so if the battery is dead they would need a tow. What gets me boat costs 50 grand plus and no battery booster.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by superuke

We spend our summers at Slave Lake for the last 28 years. Every year we have had to tow someone back to safety. This year two times. Main cause battery failure and out of gas.
We always carry a small container of spare gas and a battery booster pack. See attached photo. I have never seen a boat with boaster cables so if the battery is dead they would need a tow. What gets me boat costs 50 grand plus and no battery booster.

I've been packing mine on the boat as well. You're right, one rarely sees booster cables on a boat.

On some outboards, at least you can pull start them. My 60 HP Merc has a pull start kit under the top cowl.

[Ricki Bobby]

Pretty sure any outboard with a flywheel can be pull started

[Tungsten,]

Isnt there a certain voltage required to pull start an EFI outboard?

[-JR-]

If you can't paddle a boat ,one should always have a second engine or electric motor for back up .
Saying that . Does any one know if you have to have paddles in a boat that you can't paddle because its to big and you have a second engine or motor .

[dodger]

This province has too many azz hats and boating seems to have brought many of them onto the water.

Good on you pikergolf. Any body of water in AB can turn ugly in an instant.

Dodger.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Tungsten,

Isnt there a certain voltage required to pull start an EFI outboard?

I don't think so, it should work as long as your alternator is still working (and you don't have some weird thing going wrong, like having a short in your battery or starter).

[stubblejumper01]

Originally Posted by superuke

We spend our summers at Slave Lake for the last 28 years. Every year we have had to tow someone back to safety. This year two times. Main cause battery failure and out of gas.
We always carry a small container of spare gas and a battery booster pack. See attached photo. I have never seen a boat with boaster cables so if the battery is dead they would need a tow. What gets me boat costs 50 grand plus and no battery booster.

I also carry a booster pack and I have used it a few times for my own boat.
Occasionally the first fish of the day is a keeper so I turn the live well on and off quite a bit and my Hummingbird seems to draw a lot of power. I mostly use the electric trolling motor and probably don’t run the big motor long enough to keep the starting battery up. Also I found out that I had a push to turn on light that I bumped on a windy day and didn’t notice. I also make sure to turn off the master switch now too

[Bushrat]

I remember one time on Vancouver island, probably 35 years ago. We rented one of those old clinkers. We got out a few miles and the thing quit. Couldn't get it running again. Tried to flag other boats, they ignored us. Tide was going out and so were we. About an hour before dark a huge big fancy yacht, Stars and Stripes flag billowing in the wind turned and came toward us. They lowered a boat down off the lower deck, powered over to us, threw a rope and towed us to their boat, tied ours to a lower deck outrigger, dropped the stairs, invited us aboard. Sat us down in the dining room, fed us crab and poached salmon with all the fixings, cheesecake desert. Couple hours later dropped us back down to our boat, towed us to the dock with their 20 something foot 'dingy'. They were from California. Wonderful people, our heroes that day.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

I remember one time on Vancouver island, probably 35 years ago. We rented one of those old clinkers. We got out a few miles and the thing quit. Couldn't get it running again. Tried to flag other boats, they ignored us. Tide was going out and so were we. About an hour before dark a huge big fancy yacht, Stars and Stripes flag billowing in the wind turned and came toward us. They lowered a boat down off the lower deck, powered over to us, threw a rope and towed us to their boat, tied ours to a lower deck outrigger, dropped the stairs, invited us aboard. Sat us down in the dining room, fed us crab and poached salmon with all the fixings, cheesecake desert. Couple hours later dropped us back down to our boat, towed us to the dock with their 20 something foot 'dingy'. They were from California. Wonderful people, our heroes that day.

Heck I would follow them around and have a few more boat issues .

Always help others out cuz sooner than later it will be you needing assistance.

[Penner]

Towed a number of folks back to shore. Pulled a number of folks out of the ditch and out of the snowbank.

It’s just the right thing to do.

[Ronji]

I have towed so many people home at our lake I cannot count.
And have provided gas to just as many.
Every one was extremely thankful. One person dropped off a cold case of beer the next week.

Its just the right thing to do, as you never know when it will happen to you.

[catnthehat]

I would never and have never left someone stranded on the river , even if I get a call late in the evening ( which has happened more than once). Everything else stops when it comes to assisting someone in trouble!
The exception was this summer when we saw a boat on the wrong side of the channel in the mud.
Put the glasses on it , RCMP boat
Waved to them, they waved back and thumbs up.
My partner and I figured they had another boat coming for them. Which we met about 10 minutes later.

Even my ol' Doubletime with it's super shallow draft would have a hard time getting to them , no idea how they were going to get it off that bar!
However, they were just a short Bushwhack up the river valley to the Suncor site
Cat

[Big Sky]

So, if you're out fishing and the boat that's in distress is a wake boat, is it okay to leave them?

Asking for a friend.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Big Sky

So, if you're out fishing and the boat that's in distress is a wake boat, is it okay to leave them?

Asking for a friend.

Depends on whether or not he buzzed you when you are marking a good school of 'eyes!

Cat

[AK47]

I towed a broken camper boat once in lake Koocanusa. Took me 30min to get it where he launched but it felt so good to help somebody. Can't believe somebody would just leave a fellow boater stranded and not offer a help. Sick.

[.257Weatherby]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

I would think it would apply. Although seeing it enforced could be an issue. Karma will catch up with the first boat. We all need help sooner or later on the water.

Karma will be the player to those who pass on a boater in distress...
Unless of course the possible Good Samaritan's boat is of a smaller size and assisting would place them in harms way should they assist.
The op didn't mention the sizes of vessels assisting or in need of assistance, not that it really matters, but it does paint a bigger picture.
Rob

[H380]

I've see a few guys on the lake I fish that have totally no scruples when it comes to courtesy when boating , from passing to close to anchoring directly on front of me ( 40 yds ) in my line of trolling...didn't impress the 2 little grandsons I had with me .. on my latest trip I was.ablebto help out a belly boat fly fisherman just before I loaded my boat to leave . A guy came up to me as I was entering g the water with my trailer and asked if I would go back part way across the lake with my boat amd tow in his fellow belly boater . The guy had put a hook into the tube and it was losing air fast . I didn't hesitate and when I got there I discovered he was about spent cause he had surgery not long ago and now had 2 artificial knees ..tube was in bad shape and we got him back to the dock...those same 2 grandsons were with me and theywere grinning when we helped him out , maybe some day they will di the same ..we should never be in too big of a hurry to lend a hand , karma is a true thing ..

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[roper1]

I've helped guys out on the lakes & the river. Just seems like people need a little help once in a while. Did pull a family in a 16' fibreglass off Minnewanka once was a time I thought someone might be in real danger. That & a guy in an inflatable too wore out to reach the launch & was headed for the weir.

[Tygarian]

How does it even make sense to pass on someone who is in distress. No justification for all at all.

[Ballertrawler II]

I had a couple of experiences where I have helped and where others have helped me.

to me it is just common courtesy and safety. I got stuck on wabamun because I ran out of fuel... stupid of me, (new boat and didn't check fuel before I went assuming it was full but it was not) and so i went to closest shore to see if I could hitch a ride or something and a fellow came out on his dock and I thought uh-oh he is going to be upset as I am invading his privacy but he waved me over and gave me fuel and refused to take any payment and I found out he likes whiskey and I said I would bring him a bottle and he said only if we sit down and share it...

I have tow rope and booster cables because sometimes the main battery is dead so I boost from trolling motor. Going to be installing battery isolation switch and boost/charging circuit in the off season.

Those booster packs would also be a great idea as I have one I carried on my motorcycle.

For those that help i appreciate you!



So how can I not stop when Karma has been so good to me...