Excellent point! The fist thing the USGG teaches folks in the Safe Boating Course up here is that if you're going to offer assistance, Make sure you have the skills and equipment to do it without becoming the next victim. A quick check as I was running for the service boat verified that I had both points well covered.

Great Job !! I think it's part of the responsibility of being a boater. Water kills and we need to always render aid when possible.

I have gone into the water 2x to save people. Once during a race in Miami and once when a Fountain crashed right next to me off of Ft. Lauderdale ejecting two. The first I don't ever really discuss and the second has an infamous pic floating around here from the aftermath.

I came up on a cat being towed in by a bass tracker during this years Tickfaw 200.
He was having a hard time because of the rough water from boat traffic, so I took over for him.
Most passing boats were courteous and slowed down, but there were those that think their boat doesn't make a wake at 70 knots.
They are wrong....
Please be nice and idle by when you come up on a boat being towed in - they are having a bad day already without having to worry about their cleats being torn off their boat.

I have towed three boats back to shore and one jet ski. None were capsized and that I don't know if I could handel but I would at least get the people back to safety. I live on the St. Lawrence river so one tow back was my cousin who called with a motor that wouldn't start after he got out. The best one was the jet ski. I was sitting on the deck and saw the jet ski buzzing around for awhile. It was getting late and sun was going down and they were just floating for awhile. I watched and after they drifted down from my house and did not start the JetSki I figured I better check because it was getting dark and not much boat traffic. I headed out and found them and it was the right decision because they had sucked the tow rope from a tube they were towing into the impeller. The funny part of the story is that one of the people on the JetSki was my assistants daughter. They made it back safely but my assistant was not pleased since the boy operating the jet ski was not in the best condition shall we say to be driving. The JetSki was taken without her knowing.
I have been towed back once after my temp. Alarm went off after just getting out for the first time of the season. My water pump went and I got to drift down stream until a fisherman brought me back to the dock. The lesson I learned from that is always drive upstream on your first outing!

Nice. I remember that place when it was Shepard marine. My dad dry docked there ( shepard, Ross now Sutters) until he passed a few years ago. Great place!!

Do not be at at bar when your buddy calls and asks for help while he is DOA under the Bay Bridge....nothing worst than having to sober up quickly knowing that you need to be there for your friend.... 'Waitress, I need a coke to go please"

I also agree.. Always at least stop to ask... you never know what they need.
Though we have joked when we see a big cat or expensive boat stopped with hatch up, "that's a $5k stop!" Then wave to see if they need help... admittedly, I was hatched up a few times with my 25ol when I first got it down here in the south as I was victim to "vapor lock" a couple times till I figured it out and fixed it. I called Eddie Young as soon as I bought my next boat with same engines to solve that problem before it happened again.

I do have a question along this topic??

myth or fact:

I have heard that if you offer a line to someone who needs a tow, you are responsible if something happens to them (pull eye out or break boat somehow) , on the other side, if you accept their rope, then you are released of any fault that occurs while your towing them??

Just thought I would ask..

A number of years ago a boat that just left the gas dock exploded tossing all the occupants into the water. We were nearby and ran over to the area and pulled three occupants into my friends boat. It's amazing how difficult it is to get someone into a boat without a ladder or swim platform. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt but the boat burned to the waterline and sunk in minutes.
ed

Good job Stroke. I been towed, helped, towed others, helped others, I never had to "save a life" fortunately, but always willing to land a hand. Often I get "stuck" helping boaters at the ramp, at times the boater is a rocky or no one around willing or has the know hoe "how to help". Towed in out several "pretty much sunken" cars, boats that were half full of water, etc. got a sail boat off a sand bar a few years ago, warm waters. lol... no immediate danger, but while most of us are ready to help, I also see boaters that just fly by and ignore the situation. I feel like getting their key and toss is in the water. Good job Too. Nice read. :)

It's great to hear about boaters helping boaters, and Tom that was beyond the call of boater help. You set a standard for boaters that should be followed. Not only was your help incredible but the part I like probably the most is your father passing this on to you and you to your son. The satisfaction and gratification you must of felt telling your son and hopefully your dad must of felt great. Cheers and good karma to you.