So we were heading up Alberni Canal this morning and got waved down by a 23 foot Grady White Charter boat out of Port Alberni near Hissin Point that had "run out of gas". The guide said he "screwed up" and had planned to fuel up at Poett Nook. He also said he did not have a fuel gauge and relied upon the Yamaha fuel management to guesstimate his fuel. I'm putting this out there for anyone thinking of taking a charter because some things just do not add up. Fuel at the Nook is just shy of $2.00 a litre. I'm pretty sure that a premium brand like Grady included a fuel gauge. Who leaves the dock in town (with cheaper fuel) without a functioning fuel gauge with what I presumed was paying passengers to pay the premium price in the sound?
Fuel is expensive, I am grateful for those places like the Poett Nook that still make it available. Kudos to them for spotting me with a Jerry Can of fuel to aid this boat. They did a great service. Their season is short and this is not a meant to criticize their price, they were awesome and I hope the Grady showed up on their dock and squared things up.
Back to the Guide, at first he wanted a tow. A 18 ft Campion with a 115 is not going to get you to Poett Nook, so I did what I could do, which was get him some fuel. I asked him if he had called Coast Guard radio, he had not, but had to afterwards or really lose face with his customers. His callsign became "23 Foot Grady", I guess it would have been bad for business to use your charter name.
Prince Rupert radio had a busy morning as they were dispatching the Bamfield rescue boats to Poett Nook for a medical emergency. They arrived at the Nook as we were getting fuel for our new friend. Watching from the fuel dock these guys are pro's, a resource we are lucky to have. I'm glad they did not have to get diverted or split their attention dealing with the dry Grady. I hope their patient is doing well.
Back to the Grady. Fill your dam tank. It is inexcusable leaving the dock with paying customers with less than a full tank. How much of their time were you prepared to waste? Coast Guard would have had to assist you, if I did not. Lots of people listening but not many answering a call for assistance. The scene they were responding to in Poett Nook was life threating, the patient had to be medevac'd to Port Alberni. The Facebook page you told me look you up on does not appear to exist, your web presence is pretty weak to say the least, I guess that says it all.
To anyone considering a budget charter, do your diligence. If the tank is not full, it is probably because they are waiting for your $$ to buy the gas.
Twice in my years on the water I have had to rely on others to help me. For the Native Commercial boat in Prince Rupert and for the German guy in Sayward, I paid the favor forward, and hopefully taught my son a lesson. Cheers Seawolf
Fuel is expensive, I am grateful for those places like the Poett Nook that still make it available. Kudos to them for spotting me with a Jerry Can of fuel to aid this boat. They did a great service. Their season is short and this is not a meant to criticize their price, they were awesome and I hope the Grady showed up on their dock and squared things up.
Back to the Guide, at first he wanted a tow. A 18 ft Campion with a 115 is not going to get you to Poett Nook, so I did what I could do, which was get him some fuel. I asked him if he had called Coast Guard radio, he had not, but had to afterwards or really lose face with his customers. His callsign became "23 Foot Grady", I guess it would have been bad for business to use your charter name.
Prince Rupert radio had a busy morning as they were dispatching the Bamfield rescue boats to Poett Nook for a medical emergency. They arrived at the Nook as we were getting fuel for our new friend. Watching from the fuel dock these guys are pro's, a resource we are lucky to have. I'm glad they did not have to get diverted or split their attention dealing with the dry Grady. I hope their patient is doing well.
Back to the Grady. Fill your dam tank. It is inexcusable leaving the dock with paying customers with less than a full tank. How much of their time were you prepared to waste? Coast Guard would have had to assist you, if I did not. Lots of people listening but not many answering a call for assistance. The scene they were responding to in Poett Nook was life threating, the patient had to be medevac'd to Port Alberni. The Facebook page you told me look you up on does not appear to exist, your web presence is pretty weak to say the least, I guess that says it all.
To anyone considering a budget charter, do your diligence. If the tank is not full, it is probably because they are waiting for your $$ to buy the gas.
Twice in my years on the water I have had to rely on others to help me. For the Native Commercial boat in Prince Rupert and for the German guy in Sayward, I paid the favor forward, and hopefully taught my son a lesson. Cheers Seawolf
