20 ft Bass Boat versus Dock, Main Channel, 12 mm,

AND THE WINNER IS - - - - -  THE DOCK!!!

June 3, 2012, sometime shortly before 1:00a.m., A 1999, 20 ft NITRO Bass Boat hit dock near 12 mile mark, Majestic Condo's.  A near-by fisherman reported hearing a crash near the condo docks, which resulted in 4 Missouri State Highway Patrol boats, Sunrise Beach Fireboat and EMS along with TOWBOATU.S. responding to search the area.  Initial quick search of docks and area around 12 mile mark came up with nothing except chunks of fiberglass on dock.  

Just as search was about to be suspended, (some 20- 30 minutes later), MSHP located boat (with all lights off) just off Ozark BBQ.  They determined this vessel with 2 POB to be one that struck dock.  The driver was reported to have been ejected from the vessel after striking dock and picked up by the other occupant, who was able to pilot the boat back and retrieve him from the water,  they then left the scene.  Both POB were arrested.  The occupants appeared to have only very minor or no injuries, and refused treatment by EMS after being checked out by on-scene SUNRISE BEACH 1st Responders on SUNRISE BEACH FIREBOAT #1239.

OUCH!

VESSEL WAS IMPOUNDED FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION & HOLDING

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND - STARTS EARLY

THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND SEEMS TO HAVE BEGAN EARLY -

EARLY THIS FRIDAY WE HAD A 34FT RINKER SUNK AT THE DOCK AND LATER  A TWO BOAT COLLISION WHICH SEVERELY INJURED A FEMALE PASSENGER ON THE PONTOON BOAT THAT COLLIDED WITH A 28 FT SEA RAY JUST BEFORE 10:00 P.M., NEAR ATLANTIS ISLAND.  THE INJURED WOMAN WAS FLOWN TO COLUMBIA, MO.

34 FT RINKER SUNK AT DOCK IN OSAGE BEACH

FIRE/RESCUE & WATER PATROL BOATS SURROUND THE DAMAGED PONTOON BOAT  JUST OFF ATLANTIS ISLAND AROUND 10:30 P.M.

DAMAGED PONTOON, 1 SEVERE INJURY

LABOR DAY WEEKEND ROUND-UP

A combination of weather change, some dark nights, wind and a little to much to drink kept us pretty busy over the labor day weekend.  Friday was very quiet, but Saturday, Saturday night in to Sunday the pace picked up.  We had numerous routine tows which included three (3) BUI tows on Saturday evening and early Sunday morning.  Our featured jobs were:


1.  A 1988, 33 ft CRUISERS, sunk at the dock when the un-used Generator cooling line parted, flooding the vessel.

Our main feature recovery was eerily similar to a larger one from Fall of 2009 (See HERE)

A 36 ft DORAL Cruiser ran aground (actually ARock over a seawall) at the 38 mile mark.  This mishap occurred late Saturday night.  We were dispatched to the scene @ 2315 hours.  Captain Delton Jones arrived on scene shortly after mid-night, evaluated the situation, secured the vessel and we made plans to re-float it on Sunday morning.  There were some moderate injuries involved.  (See MSHP Report HERE).  At 1100 hrs on Sunday morning we arrived back on scene with 2 Towboats and a shore party. Captain Jones had spent the morning patching and plugging the large hole in the bow and preparing the vessel for removal.  Captain Tim McNitt of Atlantis Dive, secured air bags on the stern to lift the running gear off the rocks below and to help to re-float her.  Pumps were loaded aboard (just in case) and around 1300 hours TowBoat #1, Captain Meyer and TowBoat #2, Captain Anderson commenced a tandem heavy pull.  AT 1315 hours, (after a rather scary FULL POWER pull by the towboats - - - She was re-floated to the cheers of a very large spectator gallery - -.  Captain Jones's patches held FIRM and she did not take on any water forward and only a minor amount from the rudder seals in the engine compartment which barely triggered the bilge pump.  She was quickly towed to Silver Sands about 1.5 miles away and loaded on trailer and hauled to holding lot in Camdenton. In all a very successful recovery.

STORMY WEEKEND and It got a little Drunk out -

This weekend produced a couple of quick early morning storms on Friday and Saturday with strong wind gusts, heavy rain and damaging some docks in the Lake Ozark area.  Saturday evening into early Sunday morning produced quite a number of BUI arrests for the State Water Patrol Troopers, with the last one being taken on a free ride in a Patrol Boat @ 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning - - - -

Large Dock @ Monarch Cove (2mm) had broken loose early Saturday morning.

The gangway to the above pictured dock was ripped away.

JULY 2011 - ROUND-UP

FIRST ASSISTANCE CALL FOR 2011 (Jan 2, 2011) Sunk at Dock

JULY is usually our busiest month, last year (2010) we ran 85 assistance calls during the month.  FOR JULY 2011 we had a 7% increase in calls for a total of 91 cases.

On a different note: JULY is also the month in which we have the most BUI tows.  In JULY of 2010 we had a total of 13 BUI related tows, and by the end of JULY of 2010 we had accumulated a total of 30 BUI tows for the 2010 season.


JULY 2011 showed a dramatic DECREASE in both the monthly BUI tows, and the "year to date" total at the end of JULY.  We had only 5 BUI related tows this July, resulting in a whopping 60% drop over JULY 2010.  Also our "year to date" BUI total of 20 so far this year, results in a 1/3 decrease over the same time last year.


Based on our 2011 results so far, I would believe the total number of BUI arrests by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (Water Patrol Division) will also show a similar decrease - - - -

"CHECKPOINT" "Operation Dry Water"

Operator (orange pfd)  of Pontoon boat just taken in to custody after having
failed a field Sobriety check, and no other persons aboard that qualified as
"Sober's", the vessel will be towed to safe mooring or impounded -

This Saturday evening's, broad daylight, Sobriety checkpoint in the mouth of Anderson Hollow Cove (Party Cove) netted quite a number of BUI's. 

 As it was FULL daylight and over 11 Patrol Boats (with lights) spaced across the cove and in plain sight, it was a "NO BRAINER" that when you crossed the line - - - "Your gonna get stopped and checked".  In spite of all the obvious warning signals - - there were 7 BUI arrests out of a total of 103  boats stopped during the over 2 hour checkpoint.  There is a "LOT" of "haranguing" in the local media regarding the stepped up BUI enforcement both on and off the water - - and I am not about to get in the middle of the argument, but I can say this - - - IF you have been drinking, and IF you think you may be over the legal limit (.08, same as DUI) and IF you are exiting an area where you can see an obvious "CHECKPOINT" - - (you know, those PATROL BOAT thingy's , with RED and BLUE FLASHING  LIGHT thingy's ) -  STOPPING every boat that goes past them) over a 1/4 a mile away - - - AND YOU DRIVE RIGHT UP TO IT - - (you know, kinda like,)  "I'm invisible, they can't see me, I'm gonna drive through  - - AND you get stopped and HAULED OFF for BUI - GUESS WHAT - YOU REALLY KINDA HAD THAT FREE RIDE IN A PATROL BOAT COMING - -

I believe, that maybe due to exposure to the elements, a few drinks, (and some really loud music emitting from your $8,000.00 sound system thrown in) (I know, that's a cheap system)  gives some people a sort of "brain freeze" that being faced with the OBVIOUS - - nothing will happen to YOU and when it does, it becomes the legal limit law or the OFFICER's fault that you were stopped!

Bottom line - no matter how you view the law or the checkpoints, this one, hands down is a prime example of stupidity - - IT was advertised there would be a CHECKPOINT, it was BROAD DAYLIGHT,  it could be seen from a 1/2 mile away, and it IS NOT illegal to "drop the hook" and kick back for a bit - - you know, maybe sober up??  IF YOU GOT CAUGHT UP IN THIS ONE - - OH, WELL, NEVER MIND - -

Memorial Weekend = Routine Tows and a few BUI's

2011 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND REPORT:
The Memorial Day weekend was pretty much un-eventful for us.  We logged about 18 total Assist calls, which included 5 BUI tows, one minor taking on water and one 37ft Sea Ray which picked up about 50 foot of 3 inch, "Wave Break" anchor line which had parted and floated to surface.  The line was floating on the surface in the high traffic main channel, still attached to the wave break anchor which weighs a few thousand pounds.  Unable to see the line in the rough water, the Sea Ray ran over it and fouled both props,  firmly attaching him to the Anchor.  We brought Diver Tim McNitt (ATLANTIS DIVE)  to the scene, where he went down about 40 ft to cut the line (to avoid another vessel running over it).  Tim reported the line was firmly fouled on both props and water was to rough for him to safely attempt to cut it out.  We towed vessel to Marine Max for haul-out and inspection.

DIVER MCNITT SURFACES FROM 40FT BELOW AFTER CUTTING WAVE BREAK ANCHOR LINE TO FREE CRUISER

Our only other excitement was my first High Speed Tow (HST) for this season.  Towing a 17 ft Lowe for about 4 miles to its home dock Monday afternoon.  The water was pretty calm and most folks had headed home.  We took this one down the turnpike at 27.3 MPH.  (See short (poor) video below also view from our on board rear view camera).  We were running in the commuter lane for this one!! -

I posted this just to give you an idea of how desperate we were for something to talk about  - - To make matters worse - - this past weekend (June 3,4,5th) was EVEN MORE boring with only 2 assists for the weekend!! -  HAPPY BOATING!!

NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

MAY 21 - MAY 27 2011

SAFE BOATING WEEK KICK-OFF LAKE OF THE OZARKS

We didn't start out to well this year - - we nearly made it through the first evening of SAFE BOATING WEEK until shortly after 11:00 p.m. when a two (2) boat collision (see MHP incident report) took place near the 3.5 mile mark which resulted in minor injuries to 2 persons and moderate injury to one boat operator.  Two persons in Boat#1 were thrown in to the water (without PFD's) but were able to re-board.  The 2nd boat's passengers were not injured, but vessel sustained major damage to the port bow.  The 1st boat sustained a broken windshield, gel coat damage and was inoperable.

Around the same time we also picked up our first BUI tow for the season - - Vessel operator was arrested near the 33 mile mark for a BUI and the boat with several passengers was towed to the 54 mile mark and moored at its dock around 02:30 Sunday morning (The 2nd Day of Safe boating Week)??  This is not exactly the trend we should be taking this week - - - - - 

YES - I'LL HAVE ONE ON THE ROCKS - - -

SMASH'EM OR CRASH'EM - WE'LL STILL SAVE'EM

"SHAKEN - NOT STIRRED"

11 VERY LUCKY PEOPLE - MINOR INJURIES

SAVED!

Early Weekend work & OPERATION DRY WATER

"HOT & HUMID" Last FRIDAY AFTERNOON - These folks were REALLY glad they were BOATUS Members!  "Who YOU gonna CALL"?  


OPERATION DRY WATER

National effort to reduce on water BUI's (Boating Under the Influence)

The Missouri State Water Patrol again this year, took part in the effort spearheaded by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators,  (NASBLA).  Operation Dry Water is an effort by nearly every state and territory to raise awareness and reduce the number of intoxicated boating captains on the water.  (See Lake News On-Line article 6/25/10 HERE).

As of Saturday night we had provided a sober operator or towed to home port 5 BUI related vessels.  Three (3) of these vessels were assisted from the Operation Dry Water checkpoint  held Friday night.  AS OF 6/26/09 LAST YEAR, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 14 BUI RELATED TOWS.  AS OF 6/26/10 WE HAVE 17 BUI RELATED TOWS.   (The total number of BUI arrests for the Lake over the weekend has not yet been released).  As of Sunday morning (6/27/10) we had responded to over 13 routine calls for "on the water assistance", including the above mentioned BUI's.  This "pre Independence Day" weekend has been historically slow - - once again - - not so THIS YEAR.

Wild Weekend -

Last weekend was again busy for us (beginning Friday with trip in to the Lost Lands) and it was topped off Saturday evening with the sinking of a 1997, 32ft Fountain Fever at courtesy dock, while owner and family were having dinner at a local "on water" restaurant.

ONCE AGAIN -

 Photo by Vern Lynn/PerfectWeddingGuide.com as seen in LakeExpo.com

We had a small storm kick up on Saturday afternoon which left me towing a 44ft Carver Cruiser, with steering locked/frozen in the "hard right" position - towed her 13 miles with the port engine astern in the notch and the starboard powered up to 1,250 RPM, so she would track  - Storm blew up and drenched us all and had a pretty good blow with it as well -

 44 CARVER on the string - "Wall Cloud" approaching from the NW (fast)
Meanwhile, Capt Jones out of the Osage Port was on a Tandem Tow from Osage Beach to Linn Creek, with a BOATUS member Pontoon and the Water Patrol had him pick up a disabled 28ft Mach 1 with 3 gals aboard, luckily headed in the same direction.  Jones said when the "storm" hit, the gals all crowded in to the "cuddy", but came quickly out a bit "green around the gills" from all the tossing around - -:)

Capt Jones in Tandem tow, shortly after make up, prior to storm

At the same time,  Capt Johnson was picking up another stranded BOATUS member out of the Linn Creek Port near the Niangua Hwy 5 bridge and towed them to the 26 mile mark.

We had a few other "routine" tows and 1 BUI tow

LONG WEEKEND!

PEACEFUL SUNDAY - NOT!

JOB SECURITY? - In most businesses, one would like to think they are "somewhat" secure in their job.  Marine Assistance on Water Tow Companies are no different.   Our business is tied to many factors, including, current national and local economics, weather, recreational boating, disposable income and other factors, ONE of which I would prefer to be LESS secure in.  BUI TOWS!  Though it makes up a very small part of our business - - - WE would like YOU to help us become slightly un-employed - -.  This past Sunday afternoon/night we had 3 BUI related tows scattered over the lake. (Big Niangua, Gravois Arm and 37 mile mark Main Channel) - - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, DESIGNATE A CAPTAIN, BEFORE WE have to provide one for you!!

REMEMBER - This -

+ This -

= THIS (or worse)

LOW RIDER - - ?

AGAIN -

The weekend after Memorial Day is usually fairly quiet, but not without incident - we started this one out with the unfortunate sinking of a nice 36ft Cruiser's Espirit at the dock.   Cause of sinking is yet to be determined:

Cruiser, partially raised and supported by two (2) 6,000 lb lift bags on each side about to be pumped out.

Quite a bit of oil leaked out of the main engines on this one, but was contained inside the cockpit and by oil sorb pads deployed by salvage crews.

As of Sunday morning we had logged in several routine cases and 1 BUI tow.  We also trailered and held this little PWC for the Water Patrol while they tried to sort out a few facts:

This little wave runner was found just before dark, against the shoreline on the Little Niangua with the motor still running,  the responding Water Patrol officer had to wade in to get to it.  After some investigation and the "owner" located,- - it "appears" the operator may have struck something and was unloaded from the PWC - - "kill" switch not attached - the little PWC found itself pushing against the shore in back of a cove some distance from the "owner" who was calming his nerves with the aid of contents of an aluminum can.  This incident could "probably" be logged under BUI, but for now - - the story is placed in the "stranger than fiction" category - - - :) 

WEEKEND UPDATE

We spent a pretty hectic weekend (Friday through Monday) during which we handled all manner of problems from "forgetting to check your "kill" switch" to sinking at the dock and being "swamped " by Cruiser wakes in the Main Channel (26ft Houseboat).  We handled over 18 cases over the long holiday weekend along with 4 BUI tows.  Here are some highlights:

1991, 23 ft Century sunk @ dock - Leaking lower unit boot seal.

SAVED!

26ft Yukon Delta Houseboat, swamped in main channel around 10:00 p.m. Sunday, (28mm) by large cruiser wakes  5 POB, went in to water, no injuries.  Recovered and re-floated by ATLANTIS DIVE and TOWBOATU.S. by 3:00 a.m. Monday morning.

SAVED!

4 BUI TOWS

It was a busy weekend for us, and we were very thankful there were NO fatality's on the lake this weekend.