St. Clair can be tough

[WishingIwasfishing]

Thought I would share my morning(yesterday) experience out on St Clair.

I made it almost out to the Belle Humps when I noticed my boat feeling heavy. So I stopped and opened up the battery compartment and sure enough there was water in it. So pumped it out and decided I better turn around and head back to 9 mile launch. Well I went no further than 50 yards and I had water coming in at my feet. I tried to pump it out but bilge couldn't keep up. Long story short it did not take long before I was sunk. Called Coast Guard and they showed up and took me ashore while another vessel waited with my boat for a recovery boat to show up.

Long story short I have fished out there for more than 38 years and this was the worst situation I have been in and at times was a little unnerving but realized that as long as I stayed with the boat it should turn out fine.

PLEASE always wear your life vest and be prepared for ANYTHING!!!!

On a side note I am getting a NEW BOAT!!! Really looking at the Phoenix and Rangers.

[Hollada]

Wow!  Glad you're OK.  Any idea what you hit?  Or is that a delam?

[mikesmiph]

Good thing they don't really sink. Glad you're ok.

[21XDC]

  EWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

[WishingIwasfishing]

Wow!  Glad you're OK.  Any idea what you hit?  Or is that a delam?

Not 100% sure, I know I hit some waves LOL, but more than likely delam.

[WishingIwasfishing]

Good thing they don't really sink. Glad you're ok.

That's what I kept telling my self, as long as I stayed with the boat I would be fine knowing it wouldn't completely sink.

[LennyB]

Wow! Good thing it was summer time.

[WishingIwasfishing]

Wow! Good thing it was summer time.

Trust me I thought about that a lot!! Early spring or fall would have been MUCH worse!!

FYI from  my 1st call to 911( if there's a next time I will have CC phone # and a GREAT marine radio) until the Coast Guard showed up was just over a 1/2 hour.

[LennyB]

I just called the Detroit Coast Guard office and ask for the Marine # and local phone # for calling in an emergency and here's what I got:

1) Local Radio Channel for the Coast Guard is channel 16

2) Local Patrol Boat's direct Phone # is: (313) 331-3119

3) Detroit Office phone # is: (313) 568-9525

Plan to put this in my phone and a copy in the boat now.

[Team houston]

Forgive my ignorance and I think I have an idea, but what is delam?

[dartag]

Forgive my ignorance and I think I have an idea, but what is delam?

I believe  Delamination of the Gel Coat to the Glass.   

[WishingIwasfishing]

I just called the Detroit Coast Guard office and ask for the Marine # and local phone # for calling in an emergency and here's what I got:

1) Local Radio Channel for the Coast Guard is channel 16

2) Local Patrol Boat's direct Phone # is: (313) 331-3119

3) Detroit Office phone # is: (313) 568-9525

Plan to put this in my phone and a copy in the boat now.

That is some GREAT information and I hope people will follow your lead on this!!!

[WishingIwasfishing]

Forgive my ignorance and I think I have an idea, but what is delam?

I believe  Delamination of the Gel Coat to the Glass.   

You are 100% correct. It can also be delamination from one layer of fiberglass to another(by my understanding).

[djkimmel]

Whoa!! That's a big hole - not good at all!! Glad you're okay though these things are always traumatic (been too low in the water myself the last time I had an outboard snap off in the Detroit River - the US Coast Guard Belle Isle station was just across the river from me but they wouldn't come and help me out... even after we had two freighter wakes flow completely over top of the boat!?!).