THINGS ALWAYS COME IN THREE'S? -

 Last Sunday we recovered the little DONZI (See story HERE), that had worked off it's lift in Osage Beach and sank.  We believe the high winds of late last week were at least partially responsible for that incident.  Well, we are STILL picking up some pieces from that storm!  Since Sunday, we have recovered two more small boats that were set adrift during that time and only recently discovered / reported. They too were heavily damaged.  On Tuesday the 14th, we received a call from Captain Tim McNitt of ATLANTIS to assist in recovery of a small STRATOS Bass Boat which had drifted away and was grounded against a rock bluff on the north shore by the wind.  The owner did not discover the boat missing until Tuesday, contacted the Water Patrol.  The Patrol located the vessel grounded across the lake from it's home mooring and (along with the owner) decided to re-float the vessel  - - - without checking for additional damage.  Once re-floated the flooded bass boat turned turtle.  (The starboard side had been pounding on the rocks, which of course resulted in the boat being holed near the stern below the water line, so it promptly flooded and flipped when refloated.  The officer contacted us (a little late) to assist - - -  After the patrol towed the boat back across to a ramp near it's mooring, we assisted ATLANTIS in flipping it and trailering it.

Capsized Bass Boat prior to recovery

Righted and preparing to trailer

Water pours from the 3 inch gash in the stern

#3 Yesterday, we recovered a 24ft Sea Ray that had also drifted off it's lift during the storm and pounded HEAVILY against a Sea Wall (and several other things) for days - It drifted in to a cove across the lake from it's home on Wedensday evening and was tied off to a dock and reported to the Water Patrol.  They contacted us to impound it as they were unable to locate the owner.  It was heavily damaged.  Yesterday morning we recovered and towed it to one of our docks.  After some investigation, we were able to locate the owner.  The vessel was insured and we will be turning it over to the Insurance Company in the next few days.

HUGE HOLE IN BOW 

SWIM STEP GROUND OFF BY SEAWALL CONTACT

STERN DAMAGE

NOTE:  WHEN THE GREAT GODS OF WIND AND WAVES ARE ANGERED - - Often there is little that we can do - -  but,  I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT HAD ALL OF THESE VESSELS BEEN PROPERLY SECURED ON THEIR LIFTS FOR THE WINTER - - THEY MAY NOT HAVE SUFFERED A TOTAL LOSS - - - - or possibly been lost at all - -

TIE OFF THY FRICKING BOAT!