Boyne Thunder Poker Run Marshal Boat To The Rescue

[Jason Johnson]

Thanks to a couple of volunteers in a 31-foot Sonic in the right place at the right time, Lawrence Coelho won’t forget the day his 28-foot DCB almost sank in Lake Michigan.

https://speedonthewater.com/in-the-news/safe-boating/safety-features/6239-boyne-thunder-poker-run-marshal-boat-to-the-rescue

[Rattlesnake Jake]

Excellent article Jason. :clappingsmile:clappingsmile

[cfm]

I agree. Cool!

[Blue Oval]

Thanks again. Wally had a Coast Guard Helicopter, two Coast Guard boats, a DNR boat and a sheriff boat helping. Wally could not stop towing the boat or it would sink. The Coast Guard was not able to get their pump started at all. Very smart not to put that in the article. They closed the channel down for them. Wally pulled the boat thru round lake making a 3 to 4ft wake. Crazy day for Wally and Deb.

[Padraig]

Good story with a happy ending!

Padraig

[GRH]

That's boating as it should be! Good people willing to help....My hat's off.....

[Wrinkleface]

Wally & Debi R some of Connie & my best friends! Kudos 2 them! Stepped up HUGE!:clappingsmile

[Blue Oval]

They did a good job clearing the channel.

[drpete3]

taken just after I passed them. Literally 100 ft past me

[snowhammer]

Awesome work!

[Z06]

Thank you for the compliments, I believe all of you would have done the same. Thank you to Bob Mathers (Blue Oval) for the initial contact with Jason Johnson about this story. Lawrence called me right after getting my phone number from Jason, it was a good talk and he is very grateful. The entire tow we only used hand signals due to my boats open exhaust and Lawrence was busy monitoring the bilge, so his call was a very welcomed closure.

When we are serving as marshal boat, we have our lifelines vests on and engines idling in preparation in the case someone should need our assistance anticipating every second may count, and this time it did. Fortunately Lawrence's crew member had a line already looped thru their boats bow eyelet as we approached and I knew they needed a tow, however as I backed up to their bow, their line was a 15 footer, so Debi thru me another 15ft line, I wanted a longer line but no time to spare, I tied the quickest knots I've ever tied and immediately started to pull slowly increasing as they provided hand signals. Then Debi called 9-1-1 to report to USCG and I started analyzing the situation. After her 10 minute 9-1-1 call ended, I called for USCG assistance on my Icom hand held VHF as I wanted a source of immediate communication to the USCG and the response was immediate. Then thinking of what could go wrong, I partially raised the engine hatch for additional heat escape, Debi asked why, I told her if we loose power, we could loose both boats in 150 ft of water & miles from shore. Her response was "untie the line if we loose power", I said "those knots are way too tight now", she said "then cut the line", I said "we have nothing on the boat to cut that line if it starts to go down", you can imagine the resulting responses. I now have the shears on the boat that I just used this week to cut the line off my stern eyelet. Once the Coast Guard assistance arrived, even thou I was still towing, I was so much relieved. Once we were escorted thru the Charlevoix piers, round lake, and into shallower waters on lake Charlevoix the USCG flawlessly took over towing Lawrence's boat into Irish Marine.

Thank you to the USCG Charlevoix, Charlevoix Sheriff's, and Michigan DNR for their assistance.

Lesson learned, if things were to go really really bad, you may need a way to cut a line.

[Blue Oval]

I had a chance to thank them Wally. They pulled me over Sunday for a random inspection. I waited until they were done. Then identified myself as the ring leader of the Marshal Boats. I thanked them for their help. Once again, great job Wally and Deb. Give me a heads up when you head north, I owe you a few beers!!