Page 49 - Discover Summer 2021
P. 49
Under Tow
Sea Tow is There When you Need Them
By Charles Alexander
For most of us lake folk, there’s you’ve lost control of the boat,” Captain
nothing better than a day out on the water. Barry warns.
Likewise, for most of us, there’s nothing
Captain Rick told about the call he
worse than being stranded out there with a
got one day from an embarrassed member
crippled boat.
who pushed away from the dock without
It’s no fun sitting in a stalled boat first starting her boat, only to learn that
under the blazing sun; neither is it to be she had left the boat key in the house.
aboard one that has run aground during Thanks to a good strong shove, she had
a sleet storm in the middle of winter. If drifted far enough away from the pier that
you’ve ever tried rowing a pontoon, or she couldn’t snag it with a line, and she
anything larger than a kayak, you know wasn’t up to the swim.
that it’s to be avoided.
Frequently the “kill switch” (now
Most mishaps on the water can be referred to as the “engine cut-off switch” )
prevented with a little forethought and is the cause of the boat engine not starting.
preparation. The captains of our local Sea Likely as not, the captain of the vessel
Tow franchise offered some sound advice: has accidentally pulled the switch off… or
there is corrosion inside the switch. As a
When you are going out in your
safety feature, boats and PWC (Jet Ski’s
boat, always start it while it’s still in the
& Sea Doo’s) will not start unless the
slip. And, while docking, never kill the
engine cut off switch is securely attached.
engine until you are in the slip and all lines
It is now a federal boating law that the
have been secured. “If you turn the engine
cut-off switch must be fastened to the
off before you are completely docked
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