:smile26: And now for the rest of the story. Saturday all went well with the three boats, Rob's, Matt's and mine.
Sunday was a little different. We all launched at The Cove together. I launched first and went out of the cove into the main river to wait for the other two. I wasn't paying much attention and Parker said his dad had already gone by headed South. We waited a little longer for Rob and decided to head South to catch up with Matt. After going 11 miles we still didn't see Matt so I decided to stop at a small sand bar and wait for Rob.
Half and hour goes buy and still no Rob. Parker still insists his dad went ahead of us. I get a text that all of them are at a sandbar about 2 miles up river from us. Seems Matt didn't go buy us as Parker said. We go up river to the group and hang out the rest of the day there at the sandbar. Rob said his motor flooded and it took a long time to get it started.
We leave the sandbar and go upriver to Goose Flats to see who is there. It's a neat little back bay place that can hold 30 to 40 boats, just off the main river. We hang out there for a while and I see Rob has his motor cover up. The motor is making a ticking noise but running OK. It's about 5 PM so we decide to head back to the Cove and put them on the trailer. Rob leaves first, Matt second and I was talking to some guys about the Baja so I was a few minutes behind.
I get out into the main river and Rob has the engine hatch up again. Says it made a loud bang and he shut it off. So there we are 5 miles, down river, from the launch ramp. Guess who gets to tow him back 5 miles up river against the current which is running fast today. Probably 4 to 5 mph. To be brief I ended up towing him on plane. His is a 21' Carrea bowrider, no light weight. We are doing 23 mph and my engine is turning 4500 rpm and you can hear the strain on the motor. No problem, oil pressure is 50 and water temp is 142 all the way back.
Soooo, long story short he destroyed a push rod top. The little ball was pushed down about 1" and all that metal is in the motor somewhere.
Monday. No problem. Rob and Steph ride the jet ski up river to Jungle Beach sandbar. Kenda and Maggie want to ride the jet ski. That's when we find out the key that's supposed to be hooked to the vest is GONE!!!!!
Soooo, when it's time to head back, down river this time, I tow Rob on the jet ski at about 30 mph back to the Cove. A lot less strain on the Baja motor this time.
I had never towed anyone on plane before in 37 years. Now 2 times in 2 days. And the same guy!!!!
I'm back in Phoenix. Left the boat at the Cove, be back there next weekend.
