Page 23 - Mid America Boating - March 2023 issue

Boat Smart

over the rocks without damage and he vessels underway from two different direc-
continued on a southwesterly course. The tions and a helicopter had been dispatched
morning’s charter was concluded so I had my from their air station.
customers bring in their lines, and I hauled
With all the resources headed toward the
Is it fact or fi ction? the anchor. sinking vessel, I was sure we would be able
As we began making our way toward the
to save the lives of those aboard. The posi-
harbor, I noticed a cruiser off in the distance tion given by the paniced boater was not an
come to a quick stop. At the same time, there exact location but, with fi ve different craft
was a frantic MayDay call to the Coast Guard. approaching from different directions, we 23 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ]
The caller stated he had hit something and likely would reach it in time.
was taking on water faster than his pumps The sheriff’s boat was the fi rst out of our
could expel it. He was sure his vessel would harbor followed by Harbor Beach Coast
sink. He also said he had been on a course to Guard’s 25-foot trailored boat.
Port Austin’s harbor. Since I had to dock my charter boat and
get aboard my towboat, I was the last to get
underway from Port Austin. I heard radio
communications from the Tawas Coast
Guard 47 footer as they came across the
By Capt. Fred Davis lots of discussion and like all the others; it bay. The helicopter was now overhead and in MARCH 2023
describes a true incident that occurred a few contact with all resources.
Captain Fred Davis, who dedicated himself to years ago. The sheriff’s boat had gone to the last posi-
decades of continously promoting boating safety, I had been fi shing near the Port Austin, tion given by the sinking boat but found no
wrote hundreds of boating columns for Mid-Amer- Michigan lighthouse and observed a large sign of the vessel or its occupants. The helo
ica Boating and other publications on the subject cruiser heading for the dangerous reef the was the fi rst to spot it as all fi ve responding
that were published during his lifetime. Captain lighthouse is intended to warn boaters resources reached the area at the same time.
Fred passed away in 2019, but many of his discus- of. I immediately picked up my radio and The cruiser, a 34 footer was resting safely on
sions about boating safety remain timeless. Here is attempted to call the boater to alert him of a sandbar about 100 feet from shore 2 miles
one of his many columns pertaining to the univer- the hazard but my calls went unanswered. from the position it had last reported.
sal message about outfi tting a boat for safety The vessel continued toward the reef turning A fi sherman who had been fi shing nearby
before you launch it for another season. only slightly north when he noted the break- in a small boat had heard the frantic calls
ers on the rocks. Joined by fi sherman aboard for help from the cruiser. He was somehow
I frequently have the pleasure of meeting my boat we waved and tried to signal the able to tow the boat onto the sandbar thus
many of my readers, and enjoy their vessel as it approached the dangerous area. preventing it from sinking. He relayed that
comments while out on my charter boat Miss The captain waved back as the cruiser sped The cruiser I observed was in dangerous there were only 2 persons aboard, not the 9
Port Austin. A question often asked is, “How by within a few feet of the lighthouse. Of the water on a course toward Port Austin, so I reported, and they were both safe.
do you get your ideas?” Another is, “Are the four antennas on his bridge one had to be was certain it was the one calling MayDay. None of the resource craft could reach the
stories fact or fi ction?” and “Did that really for a marine radio, but he failed to turn it on. I directed my course to intersect his think- boat in such shallow water so it was neces-
happen?” Well here is a story that will draw The fortunate skipper apparently skimmed ing we might be able to assist by providing sary to send my crewmen out from shore.
life jackets or a life boat should the vessel They put the two people in their life raft that
go down. was fl oating behind the damaged boat than
Assured the vessel in sight was the boat pulled it ashore. The damaged vessel was
in trouble; I tried to hail him on the radio. pumped out and holes were plugged. When
The vessel taking on water answered just as it was secured, we towed it to Port Austin’s
the cruiser I had been observing crossed my harbor for repairs.
bow. It became evident there were two differ- The boat I had seen earlier made it to port
ent boats. The one I had been watching was without incident. When I told the captain of
not the vessel in trouble but perhaps could the other event and how close he had come
have been. to the dangerous reef, plus explained how
The MayDay calls from the sinking vessel we had tried to hail him on the radio his
reported he thought he was in about 40 feet response was, “I made it in didn’t I.”
of water and there were 9 persons on board. Stranger incidents have happened and will
Upon hearing this transmission, I immedi- continue to happen giving me the oppor-
ately called my offi ce and instructed them tunity to write columns that make readers
to have one of my crew load extra pumps in wonder “Is that Fact or Fiction”. MAB
the towboat and prepare to get underway as
soon as I reached the harbor. I also request- Perils of the Freshwater Seas, an anthology of
ed the sheriff’s marine offi cers be notifi ed I stories and experiences written by Captain Fred
would assist. Davis is available for $22.30 (includes shipping)
The Coast Guard relayed they were getting E-Mail: padavis2006@comcast.net

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