Strangest Thing in the ICW

[crowsox]

We were cleaning fish at Charlies one day and a shrimp boat came down the ICW headed towards POC with about 7-8 hogs laid out on the bow with an old boy standing behind them holding an AR in one hand, a cold one in the other, and a smoke in his lip just like it was no big deal. There was blood dripping all over the deck and they were leaving a blood line behind the boat that every shark within 20 miles could probably smell

[capt. david]

if ever in doubt which side to pass a barge on they monitor channel 16. sure all these post sound funny until your boat is flipped over and someone gets hurt or even killed!

[TKoenig]

Jumping a SCB F22 about 6' out of the water. buddy picked up the new boat and wanted to run it. so we're cookin down the ICW about 75-76mph. get about a mile past charlies and can see a tugger comming up. Not thinking anything of is since they usually just putt we stay on it. untill we get about 50yds away we can see he is rollin coal and throwing good 5ft wakes. by that time it was too late to do much, so we shut it down, went airborne and cringed the burn bar and steering wheel. in my mind i was ready to kiss my arse goodbye, but lo and behold we were still going fast enough to pack air and the F22 set back down rather soft. so we got back on the throttle and away we went. got about 100 yds away and shut er down, cleaned our drawrs, and said heck if the hull woulda split or motor blew that woulda been the time. guess it was a good buy!

[Bull Red]

I know about those tugs and 6 ft wakes. I had to jump one in a 14 ft aluminum flat bottom at POC years ago when one caught me by surprise. I thought that boat was going to fold in half when we hit.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by crowsox

We were cleaning fish at Charlies one day and a shrimp boat came down the ICW headed towards POC with about 7-8 hogs laid out on the bow with an old boy standing behind them holding an AR in one hand, a cold one in the other, and a smoke in his lip just like it was no big deal. There was blood dripping all over the deck and they were leaving a blood line behind the boat that every shark within 20 miles could probably smell

lol nice

[TAfishing]

Jumping big wakes can be fun and scary all at once.

Back to the question at hand I once was trailering my boat at Texas City Dike when a barge passed by. I am a huge fan of soft trailer my boat so I get the bow on the front roller and use the winch to crank the rest up. As the boat is about 1/3 on the trailer all the water by the boat ramp emptied out and left the boat hanging in midair. I was so baffled as I "knew" I put the bottom roller under water. Then a 24ft Dauntless next to me says "OK water is returning we are good to go" Before I know it the water level returns +2ft and my shoes/pants get soaked.

I know that boats create water fluctuations, but I have never dealt with it while trailering. Something to think about.

[capt. david]

boats move through the water by displacement. larger the vessel more water displaced.

[TrueblueTexican]

Lots of places on Texas coast where big containers and barges will throw a serious wake or form surfing zones inshore as many have found to their surprise - seen many a swamped boat over the years as a result, Trinity ship Channel and South Padre jetties are notorious for grounded/flipped boats as a result of displacement, at POC jetties the twin engine tender boats can throw a serious wake - but most of them will slow down for small craft as long as the fairway isn't dicey.

I always look to see how low in the water a ship is sitting when one moves through - if the hydrodynamic nose is submerged - better get ready --

[Number_Five]

Man these are some good stories!

TA that would have freaked me out, 1/3 up the trailer is about 2/3'ds too short for my liking!

Koenig....that's a perfect reason NOT to go 70+mph in a boat...anywhere...the budget for new underwear isn't that high! LOL

Crow....what's so weird about that! AR's and shrimpin' boats go together like peas and carrots!

Bull, I've had that happen in a kayak trying to get to the other side of the ICW..I was already across though, so it was a heck of a ride!

Great posts guys.

Five

[Copano/Aransas]

Originally Posted by Number_Five

It was....and when I say high and dry...I mean no water...nada...zilch...zippo.

Funny thing was I was so comfortable driving in the ICW I had the jack all the way down, not thinking in the least that I'd be trying to run on dry land! LOL

Five

See what happens when you put the jackplate all the way down. Good idea to keep it at 2-2 1/2" while tugs are around, or keep your hand by the blinker switch on the steering wheel.