I ran out of fuel on LBJ this spring, on a monday morning. Guess I used more than I thought over the weekend. There were zero boats on the lake. We were trolling to the gas dock,which was right beside the rent house we were staying in, and saw a pontoon boat headed our way loaded down with dock building supplies. We flagged them down, which didn't take much effort, and they were glad to help. But we did have to flag them down. They towed us til they were ready to turn off, we untied, and headed to our dock which was a couple hundred yards away.

The best thing to do is take the motor cover off. I had a gear selector cable break a couple of years ago on Tawokani. The Hybrids were biting good, and we decided to put it in gear manually, and go fishing. I was asked about 15 times that day if I needed help. When I told them what happened I got many comments on how hard-core we were, and that they'd have just gone back to the ramp, and went home. Point is, that motor cover being off makes a huge difference. But a paddle, rag, or even arms waving in the air goes a long way to getting someone's attention. And like most anyone, I'm more than willing to help anyone who needs it. But we see so many wierd things on the water these days, how are we to know unless someone signals us?


Jay

No offense, but the guy was in a GAMBLER with a 250XS....if it's not running 85+, he's in distress.

Doesn't take a wise man to figure that out.

How many people sit down on the deck and crawl around the lake with all the horsepower in the world hanging high and dry off the back?

Common sense, boys.....use it. Sometimes the obvious things are just that, but we overlook them for unobvious reasons.

lol...signal for distress.....

"Nah, I'ze just seein what kinda juice these batteries hold....doing a survey for consumer guide, that's all!"


.....here's your sign.

I disagree.
I broke down on Hubbard this year; about a mile from the ramp. I was content to just troll back to the ramp. I saw several boats along the way that were fishing. None of them made an attempt to help me because I did not make an attempt to get help from them. I trolled all the way to the ramp. I was in a 21ft Stratos with a 250 on it so don't give me the "fast boat sitting still line." If you want help, you have to ask for it.

Key being....about a mile from the ramp.

I'm talking about the guys that flew buy him earlier on in his adventure.

If my ace was at marker 19 on Amistad, it's a whole different story.

If you're a mile from the ramp, anybody that is in relevant decent shape could row back to shore, wind permitting.

I hear you...but those guys did not know I was only a mile from the ramp. If your not trying to wave me down, I'm not stopping. I have stopped and helped several boaters in my time on the lakes. All of which have flagged me down.

In addition: (going to stir up a hornets nest with this one)

Define distress - it is the law that you stop and render aid to a boater in "distress."
Distress - A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.
Distress synonyms - suffering, pain, anguish, agony.

That jet ski that was pinned against the bridge pylons was within 400 yards of the ramp, but due to the waves and conditions, he was in distress.
NO OFFENSE! The boater trolling around the lake not flagging down anyone is NOT in distress.

I'm not saying I would not stop and help if he had flagged me down, because I would.

Oh....so I guess if my life is not in danger I'm not supposed to send out a distress signal?

Maybe we should come up with a "I'll live, but I sure could use some help" sign.

LOL! well, smoke signals, flairs, those will work as well.

All I am saying is give an ounce of effort to get people's attention if you want them to help you out.

I pulled some guys out of the middle of Tawak a few years ago that were in distress...and when your in distress you know it. they were yelling and waving. I got there as quick as I could and watched as the boat turned over and the backend went down. Just the nose left poking out. both were not wearing life vests.

I stopped to help out SLIDER during one of our tournaments because he needed a jump. He flagged me down. Drunk guys on Lewisville at midnight...flashlights waving everywhere. Family trying to paddle a pontoon from teh pump station back to state park on tawak.
Just wave! How hard is it?


Oh, and what ever you do, don't troll within 50 yards of me mumbling hate and expect me to turn around to give you the time of day. Want help, ask for it.

I can understand waving, but then some idiot will get on here and say "I thought he was just saying hi!".

I see your point, but if I see a Gambler out in the middle of a lake (where nobody generally stops to fish) and his pretty 250XS is hanging high and dry, it won't take him waving to make me think somethin ain't right....that's all I'm trying to say.

Guys, Let's not beat the horse to death, Tha gambler was less thn a 1/2 to 1/4 mile to the ramp. As I said before I should stopped and asked. But I didn't I feel bad for the guy in the Gambler.

I feel if your broke down you should try and flag some one down.

I agree... but he should have waved. :p LOL!

RC-

Nothing against you....if I'm within sight of the ramp, and you drive by, I wouldn't hold it against you if I still had juice in my batts.

Again, my anger would be directed to those who passed me 3 hours ago when I was out in the middle of the lake.

Points taken. Horse dead.

Awwww!

Hey Gambler 250,
You're talking now taking to one of the A-holes you commented on in your post. I did see you when you past the bridge and for someone who was in dire needed help you sure were one quite individual� I never once saw you once wave me down, honk your horn, holler for help or do even one thing that would lead me to believe you we�re in distress� Do you think I read minds or some thing? I see people on the lake doing all sort of stupid [censored] so what would be any different then someone trolling under a bridge, heck for all I know you we�re fine. Sounds like to me you�re just someone that wants to bitch and complain about your problems and without even trying to help you�re self. But NO it�s me that�s made out to be the bad guy!! You need to take reasonability here Pal not me!!

I have never nor will I ever leave a boater in distress, period!! For heavens sake if you have a problem like that scream it form the hill tops�Don�t go throwing mud at others because that�s wrong. Anyone that knows me knows I would never disregard a boat that needs help. Heck I�m angered that you would make comment like that about me. But you my friend we�re not in any trouble that day or else you would have let it be known to me in some way fashion or form you need help!!

for future reference, here are the circumstances under which I will stop and offer any assistance within my capability including a tow to your ramp:

1. occupant(s) waving both arms back and forth over their heads.
2. occupant(s) waving a towel or shirt or life jacket or any other object that looks *to me* like a signal.
3. I hear your shouts, or whistle, or multiple short blasts from your horn.
4. cowling off motor.
5. occupant leaning out over the stern to work on the prop or lower unit.
6. motor tilted up to reveal missing or mangled prop or mangled lower unit.
7. occupant(s) paddling a boat obviously not made for paddling.
8. boat drifting with occupant passed out or not visible on board.
9. boat swamped or overturned or otherwise obviously damaged.
10. black smoke (as from a fire) billowing from boat.
11. boat drifting apparently out of control toward spillway.

#1 just means wave your arms - you don't have to jump up & down, or look "frantic" - it's just a way of signaling that most people seem to understand.

This isn't an exclusive list, if I notice something makes me think you're in distress, I'll stop.

Some things that won't lead me to think you need help (absent any of the conditions listed above):
1. occupant sitting on front deck operating trolling motor, even if there's no fishing rod or cell phone in his hands.
2. occupant sitting or standing in boat looking around doing nothing.

If something so obvious to you isn't so obvious to me, all I can say is, you have my sympathy, and I mean that sincerely. Had I known, I would've stopped. Personally, I usually find that when I assume that everybody thinks exactly the same as me, things often don't turn out like I hoped. But that's just my own personal experience.

[btw, this is just a general comment, I wasn't on Joe Pool that day.]