We came across this boat during our 4th of July hike to Fort Whitman on Goat Island.
They were barely stuck when we first saw them, but within a few minutes it was clear they weren't getting off until the tide came back up. I can't imagine the port prop and shaft survived,
If this is you, our hearts go out to you, it must have been a rotten day. (make a comment, tell us what happened below, if you want to)
One of four gun emplacements at Fort Whitman on Goat Island.
"A rising tide lifts all boats." Ever heard this old saying or something like it? Most of us have seen a derelict boat on shore somewhere, half submerged, half part of the driftwood. Those boats are long past rising on a flood tide.
Lets think about when that boat went aground. Did the skipper intentionally run-aground? Doubtful, maybe a storm, maybe mechanical failure, possibly. In all likelihood someone made a decision or series of decisions that eventually led to grounding and eventual loss of the vessel. I suppose you are now thinking, that's so obvious, and your post is boring me, get to your point. Okay,
Okay, here is a real life boating decision I made that others may relate to. When planning our departure time from Shelter Bay on Swinomish Channel I consulted my tide forecasts noting that low tide would be around noon. I also noted that numerous skippers have reported shoaling and groundings within the buoyed channel near Goat Island where I was headed. So my decision was to delay departure and time my transit so that I would arrive at the problem area, at or after low tide.
Now some may think that was dumb thinking, intentionally looking for thin water, and waiting until the water was the thinnest, of course your going to get into trouble. But they're wrong, I was thinking if I do run aground, the rising tide would soon release us and away we go. If on the other hand, we went ahead and left early and still ran aground on a falling tide, we could suffer damage as the water fell further, our stranded boat with its five and half foot deep keel could tip over and when the tide rose we could down-flood before the boat righted and essentially become another derelict.
So my decision to wait a few hours may easily have resulted in another enjoyable outing, versus who knows!
Lets see, how does the saying go? "all skippers have run aground, or will run aground, and the rest are liars" or something like that.
While were on the subject of decisions and choices. I would be remiss if I didn't expand a little beyond driving my boat into the dirt, but I will avoid lecturing. You can just add your own thoughts while glancing over the list below.
Decisions and Choices we make
PFD's "life jackets," everyone has them, but do you insist wearing them at certain times?
fire extinguishers?
anchors
routine maintenance
alcohol/drugs
second skipper (huh) can others besides you run the boat when you fall overboard
checklist(s)
float plan
non swimmers
handling fuel on board
first aid and medicines
emergency plan, supply's
go or no go into poor conditions
wake or no wake (huh)
Try adding to this list, I'll bet you can.
It's October and I'm going out this weekend, how about you?
