saltwateranglin
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2001
- Messages
- 39
Four or five years ago I was running a 20' Grady W/A and was on my way for spring weakfish at Port Mahon Delaware public ramp. I arrived just before dawn to find only one other trailer there. He was out and I had the dock all to myself (plenty of time to do it right huh!). I hooked my bow line, off with the stern clamps, and backed down the ramp to a swift incoming tide that was heading up the Mahon River. The boat came off the trailer very easily on the steep ramp and kept on sailing! To my surprise, the bow line had come loose and now my beautiful Grady was on a voyage up the Mahon River at a good couple knots, headed right for the crabbers moored boats. It was 56 degree water and the air was near the same but I only had one choice...strip to my skiveys and swim! With the swift current I made it in about three or four minutes, just getting in the boat in time to fend of the crabbers boats (those guys have been known to not take kindly to us rec boaters anyhow). Once in and still heading up stream, I found it difficult to start the boat from the adrenaline rush going through my body. It was several minutes but I finally got her going and headed back to the dock. <br /><br />As I arrived shivering like a leaf, there were now about 10 or 12 guys a 2 women there all laughing there a$$s off, standing beside my clothes sitting on the dock. After 3 attempts to dock my boat in the swift current, I was back, finally able to get my clothes on, and get some fishing done. Thank goodness I was rewarded with a cooler of fish by early afternoon. 