TOOT TOOT

TOOT TOOT......


In our travels me and Willa notice a lot of small boats in canpgrounds we visit. There are Porta botes, Zodiac, Sea Eagles, canoes, kyacks, and a mired of inflatables and row boats of about every shape and size and they all have one thing in common. THEY ARE SMALL AND RELATEVILY HARD TO SEE. (I include my boat in this list as well)


With this in mind I shall relate what happened to us yesterday in Sabastion Inlet here in Florida.


Me and Willa was happily trolling for Blue fish in the inlet. We use a system whereby Willa is looking aft and I am looking forward and we communicate as to location and speed of all craft approaching us from either direction. We were chugging along at about four knots and Willa informed me that there was a large boat approaching from our stern at about ten knots. He was ''mushing along'' with his bow high and his stern leaving a three foot wave behind. One person in the boat and he was ''fiddleing with something'' in the boat. (probably a cell phone). We held our course and figured he would pass us on the left as prescribed by rules of the road. Willa watched him as he approached and warned me that he was speeding up and she didnt believe he had saw us. Before he got dangerously close I gunned the 6 HP motor and turned port and got out of his way with a little room to spare. He never varied his course and passed ''port side to'' about ten yards from us. Had I not changed our course, HE WOULD HAVE RAN RIGHT OVER US AND NEVER SEEN US. As he got along side he looked up and seen our small boat and he immediately shut down his power and made a hard right, away from us. He looked at me kinda sheepishly and waved. I just smiled and waved figuring he was probably a EX Marine or something and immediately forgave him for his error.


''That could have been ugly''


''yep, real ugly had we not seen him''...


MORAL TO THE STORY …..........


CARRY ONE OF THOSE CO2 BOAT HORNS if you have a small craft that you use in waters with larger boats. You are small and hard to see and people tend to not notice you because of your size and the height you have from the water.


I will go to Wallyworld today and get one to go in the boat and keep it handy. Also, use my system of one watching backwards and one watching forward for approaching large boats that probably will not notice you. Always be prepared to take evasive action immediately if necessary and do not call someone a bad name if they come close to you because they may come back and ''run you over'' for the fun of it.


Be safe on the water cause I can not afford to lose a reader..