Posted by: tyeeterror
true stories from a boating safety deputy - 12/01/05 10:27 PM
It was late in the day a few years back during early fall salmon season on the Klamath river, when I was dispatched to a boating accident way up river. All four of the occupants were accounted for, but on opposite sides of the river. We were able to get them back to the road side, before dark. I talked to the boat owner who told me his newer 20 foot fishrite inboard was pinned against a rock, and partially submerged. This part of the river is in an indian reservation. We made arrangements to meet early the next morning, to see if we could free the boat. That morning I met with the boat owner, who had camped on the river bar than night. He was very excited, as he had checked the accident area this morning, and his boat was gone. He told me he heard an outboard run up river at about 200 am, and come back down about an hour later. He was convinced someone had stole his boat in the night. My gut feeling was the boat had broke free, and sunk. As we were talking, and getting ready to go look for his boat, I heard another boat coming up river. As the boat came into sight, the owner began screaming "thats my boat, thats my boat". I saw a local native driving the boat, with at least 8 kids on board. I waved him over, and he stopped. He told us he had recovered the boat in the middle of the night, and was bringing it back. The boat owner was able to trailer the boat, and leave the area. I later found out this would be good doer had tried to take the boat down river, to the only major boat ramp. I had told several of my guide friends to look out for the boat on the previous day. Apparently he was strongly advised to return the boat. This is just another story with a happy ending. I don't remember ever seeing that boat on the Klamath again.