Near Deadly Encounter

Over the Memorial Day weekend we nearly lost a member of our 'Dead End Canal Yacht Club' to a boating related near miss accident. 'Minnesota Ollie' had to damage his boat to miss another vessel pulling a water skier in the back bay. If the skier hadn't let go of the rope and dove into the water, he may have been a statistic.

Ollie and his boat and his passengers were soft aground at the end but the ski boat didn't inquire as to their well being. They just picked up the skier and his equipment and took the tongue lashing before speeding away. “They were very young on a very expensive little boat,” said Ollie's wife.

Thankfully, a group of boats arrived to help pull Ollie's Tritoon off the sand bar. Most had been passed in a recklessness manner as they traveled North in the back bay. “What a bunch of nice people,” Ollie said. Everything looked like it worked out fine until I started getting chest pains.”

“I don't know how to drive that boat,” said Ollie's wife. “Several young people climbed on our boat and helped drive it back to the Coast Guard Station where we met the San Carlos Fire Station Ambulance. It took us to Lee Memorial Health Park where they took care of Ollie.”

“I was feeling much better even before we got in the ambulance but they wouldn't let me go because they said those squiggly lines showed something. Later, the Doctor said I had a mild heart attack but I don't believe it because I bike two hours a day and swim 3 times a week and my cholesterol is perfect,” said Ollie from his intensive care bed.

“They're going to do more tests and maybe they'll let him go on Friday,” said his Daughter Inge who had flow in from Minnesota.

Interesting point in fact, Lawyer Jerome said at the bar. Under Maritime law, those skiers could be charged with manslaughter if Ollie had died. They made a youthful mistake, we argued!

Maritime Law is different than landlubber law, Jerome retorted. When he put on his eye patch, we understood he had gone full Sea-Lawyer mode! A Sea-Lawyer is commonly known for the stubborn resistance to any other argument and the willingness to argue until the cows come home, without end!

He's a handy person to have aboard when buoy racing sailboats because he can argue against any perceived foul allegedly committed by the vessel on which he sails. The Sea-Lawyer usually wins because the rules committee is tempted by the beer keg and surrender to his argument no matter it's flaws. “Take it up with the Masthead next meeting!”

We didn't have to rely on our Sea-Lawyer because Ollie is fine. It was a close call for all involved but it turned out okay. Only Run-aground felt bad about the whole episode. Bad that he wasn't on Ollie's boat so he could SUE the owner of the ski boat as he's done many times before. “You are responsible for your wake,” Ralph said proudly. “There are millions of dollars floating around the Gulf and back bay every weekend just begging to be snatched up!”


Be careful out there!
This blog/column is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All images are merely for humor and not meant to comment on subject. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Do not read while operating a vehicle or heavy machinery. Keep sending those great questions and comments! (Contact) boatguied@aol.com

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