Don't really know how too start this but want too put it out there just too make people aware.... My sons been home for about a week and he and I used too fish a tourney down on the Ohio River on the Cumberland pool out of Chester WV.... We were both excited too be back on the river again together like the many times we have done over the years.....
Took off heading down river going too our first spot and about a 1/4 mile before it we hit something that lift us up in the air which kicked from going straight too 90 degrees and the boat started too come over, at that point it was skipping like a rock on it's side which seemed like an eternity and according too the guy who saw it was very ugly...... My son was ejected out of the boat right before we came too a stop and was about 15' from the boat (not hurt but had the WTF look on his face) While the boat was on it's side skipping I was half in half out and bent over the side submerged with the steering wheel and console preventing me from being ejected...... When the boat came too the upright position I flopped back into the drives seat, motor still running (had the hot foot gas pedal which brings it back too an idle when you let off) But the engine was still in gear and I shut it off got my son back in the boat at which time I realized I'm friggin hurting big time.... Felt like I broke both hips (No broken bones or any other damage other than bruising and pulling muscles) Laid down on the front deck too survey damage and the boat that stopped too help us collected some things out of the water and was asking if we needed an ambulance (which at the time I was thinking where the hell you going too find one that floats lol ) Took about 5 minutes too gain my composure and survey the damage which really couldn't see any and the motor started and no vibration in the prop..... The guys followed us back too the ramp put it on the trailer drove home and parked it and then went too the ER..... Got there around 6:30 and @ 0100 I was leaving with a your lucky no damage and you're going too be one sore SOB for a while..... They weren't BS'ing about that......
So other than sore as hell, I'm thanking GOD it wasn't any worse than it was..... In hind sight and talking with Ryan neither of us saw anything floating and the guys behind us looked and didn't see anything either so at this point I'm at a loss for what we hit...... I've been running up and down this stretch for 2 decades and this is a first for us..... Just glad my Son is ok and no injuries other than bruising..... Talked with a couple of guys today and basically when ever you get kicked off of the pad (part that sits in the water while on plane and running) it'll torque one way or another usually in conjunction of the direction the prop is turning....... The guy that witnessed it doesn't understand why the boat didn't come all the way over on us..... He said it looked like it was then just righted itself..... So someone was looking out for us last night.....
Ryan was wearing his life vest (always does) and I was as well although mine is the inflatable kind and it worked flawlessly (Mustang brand gotta give them a shout out!!!!!) closest thing too an air bag I ever want too experience.....
So my take away is ALWAYS wear that life vest, and no matter how many times and how good visibility is you never know when shits going too hit the fan......
PS the one thing that bothered me after the fact was the motor was still running..... There is a kill switch that a lanyard is attached too which I attach too my life vest if you get thrown out of your seat (or boat for that matter) it shuts done the ignition killing the motor..... I guess since I never really left the seat the lanyard never pulled off of the switch, but the clip did snap off (at the vest) of the lanyard when I hit the throttle/gear shift and was hanging out of the boat..... Weird how something's play out like that.....
Took off heading down river going too our first spot and about a 1/4 mile before it we hit something that lift us up in the air which kicked from going straight too 90 degrees and the boat started too come over, at that point it was skipping like a rock on it's side which seemed like an eternity and according too the guy who saw it was very ugly...... My son was ejected out of the boat right before we came too a stop and was about 15' from the boat (not hurt but had the WTF look on his face) While the boat was on it's side skipping I was half in half out and bent over the side submerged with the steering wheel and console preventing me from being ejected...... When the boat came too the upright position I flopped back into the drives seat, motor still running (had the hot foot gas pedal which brings it back too an idle when you let off) But the engine was still in gear and I shut it off got my son back in the boat at which time I realized I'm friggin hurting big time.... Felt like I broke both hips (No broken bones or any other damage other than bruising and pulling muscles) Laid down on the front deck too survey damage and the boat that stopped too help us collected some things out of the water and was asking if we needed an ambulance (which at the time I was thinking where the hell you going too find one that floats lol ) Took about 5 minutes too gain my composure and survey the damage which really couldn't see any and the motor started and no vibration in the prop..... The guys followed us back too the ramp put it on the trailer drove home and parked it and then went too the ER..... Got there around 6:30 and @ 0100 I was leaving with a your lucky no damage and you're going too be one sore SOB for a while..... They weren't BS'ing about that......
So other than sore as hell, I'm thanking GOD it wasn't any worse than it was..... In hind sight and talking with Ryan neither of us saw anything floating and the guys behind us looked and didn't see anything either so at this point I'm at a loss for what we hit...... I've been running up and down this stretch for 2 decades and this is a first for us..... Just glad my Son is ok and no injuries other than bruising..... Talked with a couple of guys today and basically when ever you get kicked off of the pad (part that sits in the water while on plane and running) it'll torque one way or another usually in conjunction of the direction the prop is turning....... The guy that witnessed it doesn't understand why the boat didn't come all the way over on us..... He said it looked like it was then just righted itself..... So someone was looking out for us last night.....
Ryan was wearing his life vest (always does) and I was as well although mine is the inflatable kind and it worked flawlessly (Mustang brand gotta give them a shout out!!!!!) closest thing too an air bag I ever want too experience.....
So my take away is ALWAYS wear that life vest, and no matter how many times and how good visibility is you never know when shits going too hit the fan......
PS the one thing that bothered me after the fact was the motor was still running..... There is a kill switch that a lanyard is attached too which I attach too my life vest if you get thrown out of your seat (or boat for that matter) it shuts done the ignition killing the motor..... I guess since I never really left the seat the lanyard never pulled off of the switch, but the clip did snap off (at the vest) of the lanyard when I hit the throttle/gear shift and was hanging out of the boat..... Weird how something's play out like that.....
