Help out other boaters

I'd like to make a friendly reminder to all boaters on the lake to be observant about boats that have broken down on Okanagan lake.

I realize a lot of people just float on the lake, so it is sometimes hard to tell. Recently, I was on the lake, headed north on my boat by Bear Creek campground, and two people on a smaller boat started waving at us. I waved back but they didn't stop waving, so I said to my wife I thought they were in trouble and slowed down and turned toward them.

We got up close to them and asked if they were OK. They said no, their boat wouldn't start. I helped them try to start it but to no avail, so I offered to tow them to shore but they didn't want to inconvenience us as we were headed the opposite direction and (said) they would flag someone else down.

I said no, that would not be the outcome of this, and proceeded to get a tow rope out and tow them. In conversation, the people told us they had been out of the lake for five hours at that point.

We towed them to the boat ramp in the bay by the former Tolko Mill site and dropped them there. Luckily, they had enough water with them were OK until we got there.

So, please, all boaters remember to watch for people in trouble on the lake and help (them). It might be you one day.

If you’re in trouble on the water and are waving, the best way to get people's attention is to wave both arms above you in a fanning motion, crossing your arms straight above your head. That may not be the official way to call for help but it will signal other people that you are intentionally trying to get their attention and, more than likely, you have a problem.

Paul Carlson