Another capsize...

[jmprice]

By Cindy Clayton
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 1, 2009
Two people who were clinging to their nearly-sunken boat were rescued this morning from the James River, fire officials said.

Dispatchers received a distress call at 1:35 a.m. about a boat that was in distress near the James River Bridge, according to a news release from the Newport News Fire Department.

Both of the department’s fire boats were launched and began to search near the bridge, the release says. A crew on shore with binoculars spotted a light north of the bridge and directed the fire boats to search there.

When the firefighters headed north, they found the boaters and rescued them.

The lights that the crew from shore had seen through the binoculars were the boat’s dash lights, fire officials said.

The boaters declined medical treatment after being taken to shore, the release says. The boat was towed to a nearby ramp and placed on its trailer.

The boaters were wearing personal floatation devices, but had forgotten to insert the boat’s drain plug, fire officials said.

[RickyF]

Really glad it was not another tragedy!!

[john2254]

No way - forgot the drain plug????????????

Are we getting ready for a sequel to DUMB AND DUMBER after this week's escapades on the water.

[Paul Michael]

WOW!!!

Rule one - Drain plug
Rule Two - Check Drain plug.....

[Phishphinder]

Don't want to forget the butt plug:thumbup:

[A Disciple]

I saw one at crab creek this morning. Pulled her out and was draining water when we pulled away.

[Tom Powers]

Any experienced trailer boater who has not forgotten to put the plug in at least once either (a) does not store the boat with the plug out or (b) does not use their boat all that often or for that many years.

My kids have been trained to ask if the plug is in. The reply is always followed by and thank you for asking. . .

[hookinfinger]

In the old days after forgetting to put my plug in and almost sinking, I made a list.
I had it laminated and it was right next (glued) to my ignition switch.

# 1 Drain plug in ?

#2 Drain plug in ?


Etc;



Dennis:))

[justfishin]

Nice Dennis ! Lol I always check twice even if I know for sure that sucker is in there but yea I did it on a jon boat back in the day though .....

[rattler]

you will only do that once. look at a boat as you would the FA/!8 you are about to fly. Water is air, just thicker. I will not go out with a capt. that did not look over HIS boat before a trip.

[Mike McCabe]

God bless our 1st. responders.


Mike-Red Eye
24 Topaz

[Bust it Big]

The real head scratcher..."rescued at 1:30AM in the James". What is in the James at 1:30AM? Schoolie Striper that would be considered illegal???

[larryhorne]

Where is he when you need him?:hammer:

[SwampfoxVB]

one for the Darwin Awards!

[A Disciple]

The real head scratcher..."rescued at 1:30AM in the James". What is in the James at 1:30AM? Schoolie Striper that would be considered illegal???

Monster Catfish, I once spent the night up there with some guy freezin my butt off in a jonboat with blacklights and 8 matching Ambassedeurs on ugly sticks soaking eel chunks. We left the house at dark thrity and didnt come home till noon the next day. My wife was pissed. We were up in there around Chipoaks creek. Lots of water to get in trouble in up there. Glad they were OK.

[cigar_stub]

Any experienced trailer boater who has not forgotten to put the plug in at least once either (a) does not store the boat with the plug out or (b) does not use their boat all that often or for that many years.

My kids have been trained to ask if the plug is in. The reply is always followed by and thank you for asking. . .

I forgot to put the plug in ONCE on my bass boat back in Oklahoma. Thankfully it just meant an embarresing trip back to the dock, nothing more. However both me and the guy I was fishing with (also a boat owner) felt like dunderheads. Now, the plug comes out at the ramp and gets put back "in the driveway" when hooking up the trailer. Just last week when getting ready to back the boat up to launch at a ramp one of the guys going out with me asked if the plug was in and when I replied yes, he apologized for asking. I told him "Don't apologize and do me one favor. Never stop asking!" When I go on someone else's boat, I either ask or just look to see if it's in when I do my own force of habit walk around.

I also tried to launch one time without taking the straps off. You ever see the old cartoons where a guy morphs into the back end of a donkey? That was the picture in my head as I pulled the trailer back out to take them off. My only respite was when the guy launching next to me, between laughs, said "Don't feel bad, I did it it once myself".

[BUDC]

Any experienced trailer boater who has not forgotten to put the plug in at least once either (a) does not store the boat with the plug out or (b) does not use their boat all that often or for that many years.

My kids have been trained to ask if the plug is in. The reply is always followed by and thank you for asking. . .

There is a "C" option also:
C: or lying.:yes:
budc