Watch those trolling motor pedals

[ifallsguy]

Out for a cruise a few nights ago. While heading into a bay to cook up dinner, we came upon a boat drifting, noone on board. The Admiral saw a guy jumping around and waving on the beach. We idled down to hear him shouting out, asking us if we could either get him to the boat or tow it to shore. We did get a line on it and brought it up to shore.

And then we found out the REAL story.

The guy was out fishing for walleye and needed to heed the call of nature. He said he looked around to make sure the coast was clear, stood up on the bow, unzipped and was about to answer the call of nature when he stepped on the control for his electric trolling motor. He said he must have hit the full reverse because all of the sudden he was off the boat and in the water. No PFD on and no swim platform/ladder. So after a few minutes of trying to get back onboard, he decided it was the better part of valor to swim to shore (he said maybe 200 feet) and hope someone would come along.

He wasn't drinking adult beverages and just had a misstep, so to speak.

He offered up the fish he had caught as thanks. We were going to cook up dinner anyway, so invited him to join us. Great meal, a couple of laughs and noone hurt (well maybe his pride).

Just remember to turn off those trolling motors when answering the call...

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

Funny you mentioned that...

My buddy and I were fishing a local lake. Instead of starting the big motor, I just flipped her in Hi-Bypass adn we scooted accross to the other cove and dropped anchor. We fished a while. "Buddy" said... well... you know.... And he assumed the position stood on the back of the boat. Told him I was going to get us a little closer to the tree lined shore. Guess what was still in Hi-Bypass??? Yep... I hit the peddal and over the transom he went... hehehe I laughed and laughed... I was laffing so hard I was in tears. I applogized, and he climbed back in. He wasn't really happy but... Accidents happen. it only happend ONCE... I checked the peddal from then on... Even when it was only ME in the boat...

It was funny at the time... So... whats a feller to do????

Ah... good times... Good times...

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

Hahaha...if you did it on purpose it wouldn't be funny. But LMAO!

 

[tuffshot]

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

I use a jug for natures call, and step down to the center of the boat.
When going over the side the water temperature usually effects flow. :redface:

 

[j_martin]

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

I use a jug for natures call, and step down to the center of the boat.
When going over the side the water temperature usually effects flow. :redface:

Yeah, and deep too.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

Many corpses are fished out with their zippers down.

I put a swim ladder on my new boat first thing--not for the children swimming but for my safety-especially thinking about night fishing alone in the winter. On another high-sided boat I keep a hooking swim ladder against the gunwale so I could grab it, deploy it and get back in the boat--that one for duck hunting. And it's not just for being alone; I don't think my wife and/or children could pull me in, and my friends would be too tempted to use the gaff.

All's well that end's well, but leaving the boat could have easily been fatal. OP should have swum to to shore and boarded there.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

OP should have swum to to shore and boarded there.

Why in the world would the original poster want to jump out of his boat and swim to shore? He was retrieving a drifting boat for the guy on shore who had fallen off the drifting boat ......

 

[Dave Barnett]

Re: Watch those trolling motor pedals

Ole coffee can works for me.