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This time I should have listened to the nay sayers. Fishing was tough for us on this trip. Went 2 for 2 on coho. No other bites at all. The two that were caught on the orange and red custom painted thin fish I talked about in an earlier post. Tried everything at least for a little while. Dodgers and flies, s.s. spoons and even some tuna baits did nothing. Fished at the wall and the beaches along with everyone else near Gary. The water got rough in the afternoon when the wind swung around from the north and then Murphy really showed his cards. At the Gary Light my radio flashed a warning that said low battery and in about 2 minutes the outboard started missing real bad and then died on me. My voltage meter showed no voltage on my new starting battery. I guess my charging system or alternator has failed. We limped back to the port by switching out trolling motor batteries to keep the engine running. That is a scary sight, that steel wall, a strong north wind and waves and no power and no one else left around. Thought for sure I was going to get pinned up against it. Good thing I keep some tools on the boat.
I sure hope my adventures up to the lake get better than this last outing. This one was not "Reel Fun". I feel your pain buddy.

Sorry to hear you didn't have a good trip. Motor problems are always on my mind even with the gas kicker, there is that thought "what if". I'm surprised you couldn't get someone on the radio on channel 68. I don't think there is a FISHERMAN who wouldn't stop fishing to help another. I pulled two guys from west of the beach to Portage Marina last year. Maybe all the "bugs" are gone now and it's FISH ON the rest of the year. Rudey

Don Happy Easter,

sorry to hear about this. Tools- your right on and hope that the boats that don't carry tools read this and change there minds.
Stuff happens and its always best to be prepared for the worst. If the worst doesn't happen then the rest is iceing on the cake right?

Fishing- look at it this way, you got a few to stink up the boat with and get some scales all over the place. Everything else worked like the rest of your equipment, so after you figure out the bug in your charging system, your ready for the rest of the season.

I guess the part I like the best is how you framed the problem with the wind and the wall. Hope everyone sees the picture. Over the years there has been some bad situations on this big lake. The north port wall, and the mill landfill wall have eaten there fair share of boats. Murphys law- nothing to joke about. Glad you and your crew made it back safely.

Glad to hear you were prepared for the situation. You also learned something about your radio. I know you come a long way to have something like this happen and that stinks!! Hopefully things go better from here on out.

Dang Don - tough time for sure. Glad you guys made it back ok.

One other side note. My Hummindird gps/fishfinder went crazy and ended up with a bunch of vertical lines on it and would not shut off by the button. It went off when the all the wiring was disconnected. Think it could be damaged?

hard to say but I am guessing it will be ok. The low voltage probably caused it to go haywire.

The part that really sucks is the only time the rectifier will go bad is when you out on the lake. Glad ya made it in safely!

Poorboy