boating mishap

challmec · 09-29-2010, 05:54 AM

I am inclined to write about my first encounter with the bottom of the Lake this past weekend. I have been boating for years in the Western US on Lake Mead and Mojave and just started boating on Winny last year. It is entirely different as I was to find out last Sat.
While looking for a calm area to anchor over by the Long Island Bridge I thought to beach the boat on what I thought to be some sand. Instead I bent a prop on a hidden boulder in shallow water and had to be towed back into Melvin Village Marina where we keep our boat. A very humbling experience to say the least. After installing an overhauled prop we are now back in business. The people at Melvin Marina are and excellent bunch that were very helpful in assisting us in getting back in safely and making quick repairs.
I have also gained a lot of respect for this Great Lake and hopefully will be enjoying some fall cruising during the coming month.
This is a great place and thank you to all that contribute to this forum!!

Piston · 09-29-2010, 06:27 AM

I'd say a congrats is in order!

Now you don't have to worry about hitting bottom for the first time again!

I'm just glad you were going slow and damage was minimal.

Slickcraft · 09-29-2010, 07:59 AM

Re-builders and sellers of props/out-drives/lower units continue to benefit from the rocks and boulders dropped by glaciers at the end of the last ice age. Glad to hear that your damage was minor.

As you found out venturing into unknown shallows is risky. If for some reason it is necessary to do so, having a helper on the bow watching for rocks is a good idea along with drive part way up and slowest forward speed.

Have fun in the fall, our favorite time on the lake.

Dave R · 09-29-2010, 08:12 AM

Glad to hear it was just a prop repair. Based on what I saw at Lake Powell (it was 145 feet below "full lake"!), it would seem to me that there would be countless unmarked hazards lurking in western lakes due to the tremendous fluctuations in lake height.

This Summer, I backed into an unmarked rock while driving my boat off of my trailer, at a launch ramp I've used at least 50 times, and it ended up triggering a rather shockingly large insurance claim.

09-29-2010, 05:54 AM	#1
challmec Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Thanks: 21 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	boating mishap I am inclined to write about my first encounter with the bottom of the Lake this past weekend. I have been boating for years in the Western US on Lake Mead and Mojave and just started boating on Winny last year. It is entirely different as I was to find out last Sat. While looking for a calm area to anchor over by the Long Island Bridge I thought to beach the boat on what I thought to be some sand. Instead I bent a prop on a hidden boulder in shallow water and had to be towed back into Melvin Village Marina where we keep our boat. A very humbling experience to say the least. After installing an overhauled prop we are now back in business. The people at Melvin Marina are and excellent bunch that were very helpful in assisting us in getting back in safely and making quick repairs. I have also gained a lot of respect for this Great Lake and hopefully will be enjoying some fall cruising during the coming month. This is a great place and thank you to all that contribute to this forum!!

09-29-2010, 06:27 AM	#2
Piston Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Upton, MA/Alton Bay Posts: 81 Thanks: 20 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	I'd say a congrats is in order! Now you don't have to worry about hitting bottom for the first time again! I'm just glad you were going slow and damage was minimal.

09-29-2010, 07:59 AM	#3
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and West Alton Posts: 3,217 Thanks: 1,173 Thanked 2,001 Times in 915 Posts	Re-builders and sellers of props/out-drives/lower units continue to benefit from the rocks and boulders dropped by glaciers at the end of the last ice age. Glad to hear that your damage was minor. As you found out venturing into unknown shallows is risky. If for some reason it is necessary to do so, having a helper on the bow watching for rocks is a good idea along with drive part way up and slowest forward speed. Have fun in the fall, our favorite time on the lake.

09-29-2010, 08:12 AM	#4
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,974 Thanks: 246 Thanked 736 Times in 438 Posts	Glad to hear it was just a prop repair. Based on what I saw at Lake Powell (it was 145 feet below "full lake"!), it would seem to me that there would be countless unmarked hazards lurking in western lakes due to the tremendous fluctuations in lake height. This Summer, I backed into an unmarked rock while driving my boat off of my trailer, at a launch ramp I've used at least 50 times, and it ended up triggering a rather shockingly large insurance claim.