flipped my 17 1/2 ft xpress with 90hp motor last weekend - FishingTN.com Tennessee's Fishing and Boating Community

nofish · #1 08-03-2012, 07:09 AM

This happened at priest in front of the cliffs close to elm hill marina that are still open. By the time i realized water was coming in my girlfriend tried to climb in the back and then it rolled. F$*k!!!! The bilge pump failed which probably would've saved the day. We were close enough to the cliffs that the boat rolled over the underwater ledge so we were able to get alot of the stuff that fell out. The rest of the stuff dropped 60-80 feet to the bottom. This happened as it was getting dark so help was scarce. Multiple cell phonez, wallets with cash in them, purses, etc swallowed by priest. Someone called twra for us and they came to our aid. They were none to happy that i was still diving under the boat trying to get valuables. They threatened to take me and my girlfriend to jail. I don't blame them. It was a dangerous situation and they didn't want to be fishing bodies out. They helped me tie the boat off to some trees and took us all back to the dock.

I called a friend in columbia at around midnight and he came straight away to save my noat. He has a big bumble bee with a 225 motor. We hooked a strap with a hook to the opposite side of the boat and we were able to get it rolled back over right away. We hand bailed water with a cup for about 30 minutes and he towed me to my trailer.

WOW!!!! WHAT A NIGHT!!!

nofish · #2 08-03-2012, 07:29 AM

I'm pretty sure my gas tank doesn't have a vent so i pulled the plugs a few days ago, turned it over, it wouldn't turn so i smacked the starter with a wrench and it started turnyover. Put the plugs bag in and cranked it, it ran like a champ. Took it to the lake and it wouldn't fire, but i had spark. I disconnected the fuel line where it goes into the fuel pump and gave it a squeeze and the gas was milky. I'm on my way to drain the tank now, put new gas in, and try it again at the lake.

Travis C. · #3 08-03-2012, 07:29 AM

Wow...

Glad you guys made it out okay.

nofish · #4 08-03-2012, 07:34 AM

Also after the first restart on dry land the starter froze, but luckily i had another one.

nofish · #5 08-03-2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis C.

Wow...

Glad you guys made it out okay.

Thanks! When the boat rolled my girlfriend and i got momentarily pinned between a rock and my boat. Luckily i was on my hands and knees with the boat on my back so i could push of the rock ledge just enough.

We got very very very lucky.

nofish · #6 08-03-2012, 07:46 AM

I also bought a new 800gph bilge pump. My brand new hb 597 is dead.

bd- · #7 08-03-2012, 08:53 AM

Scary! Why did the water start coming into the boat in the first place?

bd

nofish · #8 08-03-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bd-

Scary! Why did the water start coming into the boat in the first place?

bd

I'm not sure. I'm working on finding out. I thought maybe a bad livewell hose, but all hoses are good. No holes in the hull.

j19bill · #9 08-03-2012, 11:36 AM

Glad you made it. Scary stuff

nomad60 · #10 08-03-2012, 12:46 PM

Wow, that'll be a tale for the grandkids, eh? Glad to hear everyone was ok.

#11 08-03-2012, 12:53 PM

Glad to hear you made it safely ashore. When I started to read your post I thought you sold your boat.....not turn it over!!!! I take it you were not underway. Be sure to look for cracked welds. I heard there were some problems with them. That was several years ago I heard that. Again Glad you and your girlfriend are unharmed.

nofish · #12 08-03-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANRAYG2

Glad to hear you made it safely ashore. When I started to read your post I thought you sold your boat.....not turn it over!!!! I take it you were not underway. Be sure to look for cracked welds. I heard there were some problems with them. That was several years ago I heard that. Again Glad you and your girlfriend are unharmed.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I still can't find anywhere that water could get in! To see some of the welds I'd have to get it hoisted off the trailer. That may be the problem though.

I got all of the bad gas out and with my old starter it's running great on land. I'll see how it does tomorrow in the water. I'll keep a very close eye on the bilge tomorrow. When i arrived at where i store my boat wouldn't ya know i had a flat tire. I'm on my way to buy a new one now.

#13 08-03-2012, 04:07 PM

[QUOTE=nofish;23701]Thanks everyone for the kind words. I still can't find anywhere that water could get in! To see some of the welds I'd have to get it hoisted off the trailer. That may be the problem though.

I got all of the bad gas out and with my old starter it's running great on land. I'll see how it does tomorrow in the water. I'll keep a very close eye on the bilge tomorrow. When i arrived at where i store my boat wouldn't ya know i had a flat tire. I'm on my way to buy a new one now.[/

Nofish, while the boat is on trailer you can add a couple inches of water with a hose. Let it set for a while to see if it leaks out. If no leaks are detected add a few more inches. See if it is leaking then. I would do this all the way to the waterline where the boat sits at rest. You should be able to see something. You might have a hole under a bunk. If so the bunk will be wet. Keep us posted on your findings. Good Luck !!!!

robhal11 · #14 08-03-2012, 09:34 PM

Man alive that had to have been scary and madding at the same time, glad you guys are alright and got the boat back too. I have never had one break or come off but what about the hose on the aerator.

bd- · #15 08-04-2012, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANRAYG2

Nofish, while the boat is on trailer you can add a couple inches of water with a hose. Let it set for a while to see if it leaks out. If no leaks are detected add a few more inches. See if it is leaking then. I would do this all the way to the waterline where the boat sits at rest.

That's a good idea!

bd