Quad
Jetboaters Commander
- Messages
- 505
- Reaction score
- 665
- Points
- 187
- Location
- No Lake, CA
- Boat Make
- Boatless
- Year
- NA
- Boat Model
- Other
- Boat Length
- Other
A few days ago, we decided that we wanted to do a brief camping trip as a family before school starts, since we've been stationary at home for a good chunk of the summer.
This is the first time we've considered camping near the ocean, and we thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to bring our dinghy to do some exploring. To do that, I needed to haul it out at our town's launch, a few miles down the coast.
Now, before I go any further, I'd like to point out that the previous evening, I was commenting to the Admiral that the dinghy's 9.9HP Tohatsu is amazingly fuel efficient, and seems to only need one 3 gallon tank per season. I'm sure you already know where this is going.
I head out in 2-3 foot waves, trying to make a beeline for the ramp and beat the Admiral. About 3/4 of the way there, the engine sputters. No matter, just make sure the tank is level and give it some gas. That worked for about 15 seconds and the engine gave up.
Fortunately, I was offshore from a summer camp and the campers+staff were having some event on the shore. One of the staffers saw me struggling to row toward them and shouted that they'd be hauling me in. A few minutes later, 2 of the counselors were in a beat up dinghy of their own on their way to haul me in.
10 minutes and some good chatting later, the camp topped up my small tank and sent me on my way.
I'm immensely grateful for the help of others, and it was somewhat humbling to receive help after providing help/rescue to many others over the years we've lived on the water.
This is the first time we've considered camping near the ocean, and we thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to bring our dinghy to do some exploring. To do that, I needed to haul it out at our town's launch, a few miles down the coast.
Now, before I go any further, I'd like to point out that the previous evening, I was commenting to the Admiral that the dinghy's 9.9HP Tohatsu is amazingly fuel efficient, and seems to only need one 3 gallon tank per season. I'm sure you already know where this is going.
I head out in 2-3 foot waves, trying to make a beeline for the ramp and beat the Admiral. About 3/4 of the way there, the engine sputters. No matter, just make sure the tank is level and give it some gas. That worked for about 15 seconds and the engine gave up.
Fortunately, I was offshore from a summer camp and the campers+staff were having some event on the shore. One of the staffers saw me struggling to row toward them and shouted that they'd be hauling me in. A few minutes later, 2 of the counselors were in a beat up dinghy of their own on their way to haul me in.
10 minutes and some good chatting later, the camp topped up my small tank and sent me on my way.
I'm immensely grateful for the help of others, and it was somewhat humbling to receive help after providing help/rescue to many others over the years we've lived on the water.
