Page 50 - Discover Summer 2021
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Under Tow CONTINUED
operator or his/her clothing when underway. Besides risking running over the tow
The operator of the vessel frequently will line and getting it tangled in his prop or in
accidentally pull the switch loose and not Barry’s prop, it appeared he had forgotten
realize it. he was still attached to the Sea Tow boat by
a substantial size line. Fortunately, he read
Before you go boating after your
the urgency in Barry’s gestures and put the
vessel(s) have been serviced or winterized,
throttle in neutral before any damage was
make sure that you or your mechanic has
done. “Both boats would have capsized,”
replaced the boat plug, closed any petcocks,
Captain Nancy said, had he sped away
and checked to see that all the hoses are
instead of stopping.
secure and in place. These items not being
properly reinstalled can result in your PWC In its efforts to promote the wearing of
or boat sinking. life jackets while on the water, Sea Tow has
developed a program whereby boaters can
Most of Sea Tow’s calls for help
borrow a life jacket if they don’t have one.
involve dead batteries and empty gas tanks:
These loaner life vests are at launch ramps
“If you’re going to the 4th of July fireworks
around the Lake or anyone can call Sea Tow
make sure you gas-up first,” Captain Rick
to request them.
recommends. “Most gas gauges on boats are
not accurate. Make a mental note of how The local Sea Tow Captains have
much boating you’ve been doing since your had some interesting and even harrowing
last fill-up. Even if your boat’s gas gauge isn’t experiences in the course of their duties.
working at all, you know you can’t run the
Captain Barry, a real estate broker
boat all week and still have a full tank of gas.
most of the time, has earned the name
Also, your high-powered radio is capable of
“Captain Midnight” by his fellow Sea
running down the (boat’s) battery.”
Tow captains because of his many late
If you ever need Sea Tow’s service it is night rescues. He is the owner of Weichert
recommended that you sit back and “enjoy Realtors Bridges & Company in Moneta
the tow”. A person trying to be helpful when he isn’t rescuing boaters. “I love being
can sometimes compound the problem. For out there at night,” he says, but he leaves
example, Captain Barry was towing a boat you wondering if that is a tongue-in-the-
when the owner (unbeknownst to Barry) cheek statement when he adds: “Especially
managed to get his disabled boat started. when I’m up near Hardy Bridge where
To get Barry’s attention, the man pulled up there are no homes, no markers, no lights
victoriously alongside the Sea Tow boat. and no moon… nothing but total blackness,
48 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2021
