Huge Thanks to the United States Coastguard

[spoonfed-1]

Thanks to the guys of the Sodus Coastguard station from Team Spoonfed/NK.

We started out fishing the Sodus proam Saturday morning at 5:30 am.

We ran east about 6 or 7 miles to some fish we were on prefishing Friday afternoon.

We got just about there and set rods. We had a good stiff west wind and a healthy Lake Ontario chop going. My boat design is a self bailing cockpit. It has a low transom to accommodate the outboards so in a sharp chop it's not uncommon to take waves over the transom. 95% of the water exits the 4 drains in the back of the boat but theres always a small amount that gets down into the bilge. Over the years I've grown accustomed to hitting the rear bilge pump switch once an hour or so and will typically pump out 10 or so gallons of water in conditions like we had Sat. morning. We trolled through the area and the fish we were on Friday had moved. After awhile I decided to pick up and run further west and get on some other fish we had found while prefishing. Before we did I hit the bilge pump switch and it pumped out water just like always. It ran for a while and when she stopped I turned off the switch. Everything is normal. We picked up ran west and set back up. We were into them right away and started hitting fish. About an hour later with 4 fish in the box I looked to the back of the boat and noticed a couple inches of water over the side drains and it wasn't going down as it should. I knew something was seriously wrong and got the crew pulling lines and riggers. The back of the boat was riding way to low in the water and the kicker wasn't pushing the boat as it should. I went to the back and opened a hatch and saw the water in the bilge was just about to the floor. I hit the bilge pump swith and nothing happened. Only thing I could think of was we must have hit something and put a hole in the boat on the run back west against the waves. In the meantime I got the 200 running and turned the boat into the chop and eased her up to about 9 mph just enough to get the bow in the air. Didn't want to hit her to hard and flip the boat with all the water in the bilge rushing backwards. Put out a mayday call and the Coastgaurd answered right away. Also a proboat in the area cleared there lines and immediately came to assist. Many thanks to Capt. Brian on Tall Tails from Mexico. Anyway we were under way and headed towards port being escorted by Brain and the situation seemed to be stable so I asked the coast gaurd to stand by. Within a short time I realized the situation was possibly getting worse so I asked the Coastgaurd for assistance. They responded and within a short time were on the scene and quickly and efficiently got the crew off my boat and onto theres. A guy from the coastguard then boarded my boat with a pretty heavy duty gas powered pump. This all happened while we were still underway in five and six footers. The young man that had boarded my boat with the pump didn't waste any time getting it going when he opened the hatch and saw the amount of water that was in the bilge. Anyway he got most of the water out and we proceded to enter the peerheads with the Sheriffs dept clearing the way of other boats. I turned the corner and the coastguard already had a trailer in the water at the launch. I drove the boat right up on the trailer and it was secured but left in the water. They also gave my crew a ride back to the marina to get my trailer and Chris Yards truck and we pulled the boat out. I inspected the hull and was suprised not to find any damage.

Thanks to the super quick and precise action by the United States coastguard this situtation was secured to a point that it did not get any worse and there were no injurys or loss of property. They were a super bunch of very trained and skilled men and women whose only concern was the saftey of the occupants of my boat.

A very sincere debt of gratitude goes out to each and every one of them from Team Spoonfed. I hope they enjoy the Salmon Fillets over there in Sodus.

My team and the observer from Lucky Enuff also were a huge help in that everyone remained calm and did everything possible to get out of this unfortunate situation.

After putting the boat back in the water at Krenzers we found the boat to be seaworhty and took out the bilge pump. All the problem was caused by a piece of crap got sucked up into the pump causing the malfunction. Just goes to show that even after years of no issues anything can happen at anytime. Got another bilge pump on order and will be going in as a spare emergency pump.

Now for the good news. We weighed in the four fish that were in the box and Sunday morning we proceeded to take out our anxiety on those remaining Kings going 9 for 11 and boxing out at 9:00 am salvaging a 7th place finish with a 203 point box, Big Brown for Sat. and 2nd place in the overall Lake cup race. Not to shabby for sinking on Sat.

After weighing in on Sunday we ran over to the Coastgaurd station to deliver some Salmon fillets. When we walked in I was asked what happened did she break again?

My response was I told my crew we had to limit out early because we usually start sinking around 9:30. We all had a good laugh and we were on our way.

Already looking forward to next years proam series to start.

Happy fishing

Glen

[Time Out]

Glenn,

Glad all worked out for you. There is not a worse feeling to have on the water then you are sinking. Those Coasties are amazing when under pressure. Way to come back on Sunday and end up 7th.

[Outcast]

Good job on the boat and the fishing. Very stressful time and from what I heard on the radio, everyone was calm and collected. Not easy in that situation. Good for you.

I'm sure there were many teams joking about getting beat by the boat that sunk!

Way to stay calm.

[Gill-T]

Scary stuff. I see Tanaka makes an eleven pound, gas operated pump that might give piece of mind to us boaters. I think I found my Christmas gift. At 31 gallons/minute is that fast enough?

[TOP SECRET]

Glad everything worked out, I heard the call and went over to my GPS to try to figure out where you were, I marked your spot and asked my team if they were ok with going to help... by that time people had already responded... great bunch of guys out there this weekend! Luckily you had an outboard, if that was an inboard you would have been in some real trouble. I know one thing for sure... about 5 secs later I checked to make sure my bilge pump was working

Way to smoke em on Sunday too!!!

Nick

[seasquirrel]

spoonfed-1. Wow glad it all worked out and all is safe. One of the biggest things I like about fishing out of Oswego is the coat gaurd station is right there when and if you need them. Great job on all who assisted. Couldnt be a better bunch of guys fishing lake o

[Fishtails]

Glen,

I'm just so glad everything worked out for you and your crew. You guys are first class and I wish we could have spent some more time hanging out this season....maybe this season in Mexico? Just goes to show something like that can happen to anyone at anytime. The Coastguard did one heck of a job Congrats on a very strong season, you guys deserve it

[skipper19]

I think I will add a high GPH bilge pump to the tool box with alligator clips for battery hookup and a big flexible hose I can throw the whole pump down the bilge in a hurry..just in case that happens...I have seen foreign objects floating around down there and wondered if someday it could cause a problem. One can never have too many backup systems. What a great post to bring up for a real eye opener as to what can happen even to seasoned mariners to create a chaotic situation.

Mark

[Yankee Troller]

I heard the Mayday call also. I was on the phone with Billy V. My heart stopped! After listening to the GPS coordinates I figured I was more than 5 miles East of you. It was a scary hour or so listening to the conversation. Glad your OK bud!

[Billy V]

Glad you're OK Glen...like Rick said, we were talking on the phone when we heard it and we were just so far away. The whole boat went dead silent as we listened to your ordeal unfold on the radio. We were really glad to see u afloat back at the dock!

[Tall Tails]

I am Glad everything worked out for you Glen! I am sure there were some tense moments aboard! Like I told you Saturday evening I am very impressed with your Wellcraft, after watching it Handle the seas and the extra weight!!

I can tell you there were some tense moments and few waves we watched you take during the ride in, that made us all hold our breath until the Coast Guard arrived on scene.

See you in the Bay!

Brian

[spoonfed-1]

Heres our box from Sunday morning.

Glen

[jason]

glad to see you and your crew made it back safe.

[tcon]

Always good to hear a story with a happy ending. My friends son from work just got accepted into the Coast Guard Academy. He's pumped !!

Tom

[choo-choo]

Spoonfed-1 I just read about your ordeal,and it gives me the chills . I will add a manual pump and a high gpm pump with alligator clips for emergency use. Also,would it be a good idea for me,and everyone else for that matter,to actually "wet test" my bilge pumps ,by pouring a bucket of clean water in the bilge before leaving the dock?I currently just throw on the switch,and listen for the bilge pump motor hum before heading out.What do you think? steve

[spoonfed-1]

Well Steve,

I will usually run the pump before I leave the dock as the automatic bilge pump switch leaves a couple inches of water in the bottom when it shuts off. I more or less use this as a quick check as well. I am also kinda fussy about keeping the bilge clean as I have relativley good access to the area. Out on the lake I assumed when the pump stopped pumping , all the water had been expelled. Instead, I figure some crap from the bow area had been flushed back with water that usually doesn't ever reach it. It's been quite a few years I've been doing this without issues but as you see it only takes one time to create a serious situation. Also this is an old pump and from what I understand the newer pumps have screens in them to help prevent this type of thing. The experience has definatley convinced me a backup system is a great idea. I will install a backup high volume pump, 1500 gph, mounted slightly higher than the original. Had this been in place I don't believe this would have happened. It will be fully automatic with it's own outlet. The cost is minimal and the benifit is large. I don't think a wet test is a bad idea but a backup system and clean bilge would probably be better.

Happy fishing

Glen

[muskybob]

Glad you had a happy ending and all made it safely back to port. Congrats on the 7th finish too. I'm kinda anal about keeping papers, fly packages, and rubber bands off the floor of the boat, but I guess it's a good habit to get into. Thanks for the reminder.

[choo-choo]

Glen... Thanks for the input and advice. I'm going to remove my pump and check it for a screen,and replace the pump if it doesnt have one .I'm gonna add a backup pump, and a manual pump too. Also, I plan on filling , then draining the entire bilge area ,while the boat is on the trailer,to hopefully flush any debris that might be in there .Then i'm going to be real careful about any ,and all debris, while on the boat, that might end up down in the bilge area . Man, i'm sure sorry you had to go through that nightmare , but as musky bob noted,"thanks for the reminder".It is a great wake -up call for all of us.....also....great job on those fish!!!! you guy's are awesome!!!! stay well and continued great fishing for ya's....steve

[waterlogged]

Glen,

Very glad to hear everything worked out and there was no disaster. Things can go very wrong when people in general don't stay calm and think things through before taking severe actions. I am happy everything worked out and you had a very respectable finish in the Pro Am. I really enjoyed your comment about the 9:30 sinking time. It shows what a great sense of humor you have and cna breathe easy having survived a perilous situation.

I have to agree with you on the skill and professionalism of the Coastguard men and women. When we needed assistance on Luck Enuff a few years back in the Oswego Pro Am they were totally remarkable. We (people in general) don't give them enough credit or respect for what they do. all most can do is think why are they hassling me when they get stopped for a safety check. I for one am glad and respectful that they are looking out for my (our) safety.

Glad you, your crew and craft are no worse for the experience.

Clarke

[Rodwrap]

Is there a fee/ fine for such service calls"?

[spoonfed-1]

No. I was completely legal from top to bottom. Pays to have up to date flares and all required saftey equipment.

Glen