My Life at 9200 rpms: Last gasp of a drowning man?

     Sunday dawned with no wind on the lake.  Son Kevin launched the small boat, a 12 foot Porta Bote, with newly minted six horse outboard attached.  

     I've been in the boat for jaunts (slow) up and down the lake shore, fly casting for bass.  But we never opened her up.  

     There were finally 10 hours on the engine and its break in time was up:  full speed ahead.  This was a first.  He was alone.  The "all stop" emergency cord dangled in the stern.  

     The "all stop" plastic clip has to be in place  for the engine to run.  The object of the clip, which is attached to a short tether and snaps onto the driver's pants or vest, is to stop the engine if the driver goes into the drink because he's yanked the clip from the engine.

     For this run, Kevin tightened a screw in the throttle handle that disabled another safety feature.  This feature automatically engages a spring that returns the throttle to low idle speed when the handle is released just like a motorcycle throttle.

     As he sped along at top speed--15 to 18 m.p.h.--he changed course slightly. The swerve was minimal but that was enough to cause the boat, which has a dry weight without engine or seats of 65 pounds.  

     He was thrown unceremoniously and unexpectedly from the boat into 15 feet of water. In the condition he left it, the unmanned Porta Bote, like most motor boats, travels in circles.  He recovered enough in the water to see the boat bearing down on him head on.  

     As it was passing, he was able to grab hold and haul himself back into the boat and shut down the engine.  Without adrenaline and mental quickness, he could have been run down and likely  raked by the propeller.  Hence the working title of this post. 

     We have some new, (read "standard") rules now:

     1.  Any one driving the motor boat must wear a life jacket.

     2.  The emergency stop clip must be attached to the driver or his life jacket.

     3.  The driver must be aware that slight changes in course at high speed in this water craft can have big consequences.

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     LVADs can go boating and fishing but must take good care.  Disaster lurks because we are not waterproof.  If the electric power is interrupted, it might be our last gasp.  Tight lines, fly fishers.