eastont
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2008
- Messages
- 511
Last October during Canada's Thanksgiving weekend, I had a bunch of my family join us for the weekend. Since I had just bought a new to me 36' Carver, my eldest daughter suggested we go for a boat ride on Sunday morning....great idea.
So on Sunday morning after breakfast my wife prepares the turkey and puts it in the oven, then off we go for a boat ride. After about 15 minutes my same daughter suggests we go to see Bolt Castle as many have not been there. So of I go around Grindstone Island on my way to the American Narrows...as we're boating along, my wife says "We can't be too long the turkey will burn"
So like a good husband I decided to take a short cut that will cut about 30 minutes off our trip. It's between 2 islands and is usually about 4 1/2' deep, and I figure even with 13 people on board, I'm only going to draw maximum 4'.
Just after I make the turn the boat shudders and come to a complete stop. Oh yea, I should mention that the depth finder does not work.
The starboard engine has stopped and the port is still in gear but we're going nowhere. My wife says to me "Isn't there at least 4' of water under us?"...suddenly my brain comes to life...yes there is at least 4' of water except when the river is down over 2' that leaves 2' and too shallow for us.
So after about an hour of trying various techniques i finally get the boat off the shoal and back to the channel.
We did get to show our guests Bolt Castle but the vibrations made for many spilled drinks...hahaha
The lesson learned....keep abreast of water levels.
BTW...it was a perfectly cooked turkey when we got home. And I'm helping our economy by paying for new props, shafts, struts, bearings and lots of labour.
So on Sunday morning after breakfast my wife prepares the turkey and puts it in the oven, then off we go for a boat ride. After about 15 minutes my same daughter suggests we go to see Bolt Castle as many have not been there. So of I go around Grindstone Island on my way to the American Narrows...as we're boating along, my wife says "We can't be too long the turkey will burn"
So like a good husband I decided to take a short cut that will cut about 30 minutes off our trip. It's between 2 islands and is usually about 4 1/2' deep, and I figure even with 13 people on board, I'm only going to draw maximum 4'.
Just after I make the turn the boat shudders and come to a complete stop. Oh yea, I should mention that the depth finder does not work.
The starboard engine has stopped and the port is still in gear but we're going nowhere. My wife says to me "Isn't there at least 4' of water under us?"...suddenly my brain comes to life...yes there is at least 4' of water except when the river is down over 2' that leaves 2' and too shallow for us.
So after about an hour of trying various techniques i finally get the boat off the shoal and back to the channel.
We did get to show our guests Bolt Castle but the vibrations made for many spilled drinks...hahaha
The lesson learned....keep abreast of water levels.
BTW...it was a perfectly cooked turkey when we got home. And I'm helping our economy by paying for new props, shafts, struts, bearings and lots of labour.
