Image source: https://pontoon-depot.com/blogs/news/funny-pontoon-boat-memes-pontoon-depot
You may remember our first trip out with our pontoon boat last year, where my husband Dale (aka Flip, The Goat Killer) made a fast turn and flipped over the boat. It was enough drama to last for, well, at least a year.
But, no. 2020 arrived with other plans. We’re just halfway through the year, and the events of the past six months sound like a list of unspeakable horrors: the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, economic recession, job losses, fires, earthquakes, riots, locust attacks…and yes, Chapter Two of The Nicholas Family Boat Trips.
Fatigued from lockdown, the entire family decided to go fishing in the fresh air. We prepped the boat, packed our supplies and set our alarms for 4:30 am.
The next morning, everything was going according to plan. Close friends were also taking their boat out, and we agreed to meet up on the river. When we arrived at the boat launch, we put our boat in the water, cranked the motor, and waited for our boys to climb aboard.
That’s when I noticed an excessive amount of oil in the water near the boat launch. “Somebody must have a leak on their motor”, I thought, pitying the poor souls.
With the boys and all of our gear onboard, we started out to meet up with our friends. They were further down the river checking on noodles they’d cast for catfish fishing. As we approached our friends’ boat, I slowed our own pontoon. About 30 seconds later, our boat motor just stopped. I tried to restart the engine. Nothing. I tried several more times. Still nothing.
Then, it dawned on me. Those poor people with a leak? It was US! Our boat was pouring out gasoline; in 20 minutes, we’d gone through six entire gallons!
And once again, there we were. The entire family out on the middle of the river with nothing but a trolling motor. As the song goes, “I get by with a little help from my friends”. Our incredible friends tried to help us fix the motor, but it couldn’t be done. Then, they offered to tow us in.
“I did not get up at 4:30 in the morning to ride in a boat for 20 minutes and then be towed home!”, I told Dale and everyone else within earshot. The entire crew gave in to my “pier pressure”, and in the end, we all decided to stay out and fish. We moved slowly, with the help of the trolling motor, and ended up having a great day fishing.
On the way home, I said to Dale: “I’m done working on a used boat with a used motor; I need a new pontoon boat with a warranty. So, we started looking. And, I found this.
Do you think I could expense it on my taxes as a business vehicle?
Happy Monday,
~ Mary
