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From the latest FWC reports...

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Cowboy & Brewster always draw a crowd!
chillin at ridge
Geoff got "swimps"!!
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JUSTIN SITTIING ON HIS NEW WATER THUNDER POWER BOAT
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blackpowderscout

blackpowderscout

Well-known member
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
On Saturday, February 4, Officers Joe Brooks and Richard Dearborn responded to a complaint
concerning an overdue airboater in C Pool of the Kissimmee River. In addition to the officers,
the search party consisted of sheriff deputies from Highlands County and approximately 12
volunteers in eight airboats. The two men, who had been overdue since the previous evening,
were found within three hours of the beginning of the search. The airboat had struck a partially
submerged post causing the vessel to sink in shallow water. The men were not injured and
were returned to their families at the S-65-C campground. A boating accident investigation is
ongoing.
 
Scout,

That sucks! I remember someone posting on Southern Airboat last year about hitting a submerged fence post around where the Kissimmee river enters Lake Okeechobee. Also remember Mood and maybe Wade or A1 and MarshmasterPat thread on the subject of fence post removal.

Maybe Southern Airboat members need to plan a ride once a year for marking or removal purposes during the dry season similar to the lake cleanup that KRVSA sponsors. I have to wonder if the FWC or the waterfront private property owners would endorse such an effort :roll:

Glad to hear that the guys are alright.

Basketcase
 
Basket: What a great idea! A stroke of genius, for sure. The folks who are familiar with each area could lead. And although locals know where they are, it's obvious that not everyone does. And it would be good for all kinds of boats, not just airboats.
I'm glad no one was hurt this time, but it's something that is lurking for all of us to beware of.
 
I popped one a while back when the water was high while riding with some folks near the woods. It put a 4 ft. gash down the starboard side of my brand new hull. I feel real confident that if it wasn't for the polymer on my bottom I would have been working my bilge overtime or sunk near by. It wasn't too hard to fix and I'm in good shape now.
 
There is a cabbage tree right in the middle of the river in this area too. It's right around a blind bend and bam it's right there. Last year we assisted two FWC officers that hit it and sank their airboat. It's good running around there when the water is right but there are some snags that will get you.
 
Basket - as Laura says - A stroke of genius!!! PERFECT IDEA!!!

I'm all in for this one.

It'd take some organizing though. We'll be together one day (or two if it's an overnighter) and in order to accomplish a meaningful amount, the project would need to have good recon as to the location to the nav obstacles.

I would love to get wet and remove some posts!

Got a small kicker (14' alumimum) that may be a help in a construction type project.

LET'S DO THIS!!!

matt.
 
A friend of mine sank his airboat a few years ago. Sounds like it could be near the same spot. Where the Kissimmee enters the lake. Sounds like a good idea to make to make things safer. Next time someone could get hurt.
 
Mood,

Possibly another thread section, (sorry for the work moderators) where people could post GPS nmbers of the posts/obstacles, (would help for the recon effort).

We could plan a "once a year" ride during the winter dry months for removal or marking of such?

Basketcase/Jeff
 
Marking hazzards & removing posts is a great idea. Many of the local clubs already do this. For these areas, you might want to cordinate with the lake Okeechobee, Highlands County & Florida Conservation Association as they are leads for the territory.
If I can help, let me know and I'll provide contacts.

PW
813-968-6154
 
Cntry,

Easy is good! Reflective posts or what kind of long lasting marker? I get a real good discount with a few safety/traffic supply companies.

Gatorstick,

Thanks, would probably be "politically-correct" to contact the clubs before embarking on such a endeavor. Gonna take more than just two of us though. Could maybe have a contest similar to the lake clean-up where there could be "door prizes" for the most confirmed markers placed. Once a year would give plenty of time for collecting data and rounding up "volunteers".

Basketcase/Jeff
 
I believe maybe 1/2 or 3/4 inch pvc pipe with scotch lite reflective tape. Red color may be in order. It probably would be a good idea to carry a few in the bottom of your boat all the time and when you see one just mark it.
 
cntry - We use 1 inch PVC to mark trails for mudboats and jonboats to follow for duck hunting. Fairly stiff. If it gets deep, we used the 2 inch stuff cause it doesn't bend in waves. But I like them to be 3-4 feet above the water. Beware of the 1/2 stuff. If too tall in bends over after a while and (depending on how tall it is) can be aimed at the right height to go right into the cage.

There are some old duck hunting blinds out here that were sunk into holes in the ground. Dragged the blinds out with marsh/swamp buggies and dropped into place. They have galvinized angle on the corners that is still present after 30 years or more (the fellows that put them out have been gone since the mid 70s). Found 5 of them so far. Marked 4 them with 2 inch PVC just to make sure they don't get hit, lost the other before we could mark it. Have seen some old swamp buggies and at least one tractor that are sitting in places where I would have never expected.

Seen several old Christmas tree (Oil well heads) hidden in tall vegetation with not one trace on the ground that they were there. Apparently just a dry hole and abandoned years ago. :shock: Believe me those will stop a airboat fast.

Lots of hazards and nice to have them marked.
 
Marshmaster,
Wow. Can't imagine hitting one of those old well heads. That would gut a boat in an instant.
Thanks for the tip on using 2" PVC.

BF
 
That's a good idea country. I see a lot of those poles out in puzzle lake area. Think we can thank Seminole County Air boat club for those poles and reflectors. Maybe get them while the water is low because I have hit more than a dozen that are just under the surface when the water was high! These are the ones that will get you, out in the middle of no where. The fence lines that are still intact help you guess where the submerged ones are by following the line.
 
Once a year is great, but there are alot of areas to mark. There would need to be yearly runs in each area. No way to do it all with one run. What a great way to get everyone together and see all the spots! I think that Cntry141 has a good idea to carry stuff all the time to mark the ones we find, too. Who knows if we could find them again if we don't mark them then and there? I'd hate to find one the hard way!
 
Any ideas about a post-pulling rig? When talking with Carl up at Loughman one day summer about pulling posts we talked about an A-frame setup sticking out the front of the boat with a chain/cable hanging from it attached to a gripping device. Powered by a come-along or electric winch to pull the A-frame up and the post with it. I suppose you want some retractable legs which can go down to support the pulling weight so you don't just pull the boat under when working on a stubborned post.

The big question is: How would the property/lease owner feel about someone pulling up his posts? I know i'd be pretty angry if someone undid my work like that. I'd call it vandalism! But if the posts were out there for such a long time and derelict, [as the owner] I wouldn't care.

I think I could easily weld up an adjustable gripper clamp - similar to the gripper clamp we pick up slabs of granite with. The harder you pull on it, the tighter it grips. If such a device could be made to slide down over a post, it would either pull it out or pinch it off flush with the ground. Same difference. Job done. Such a simple leverage device would clamp to wood poles, or metal poles, and maybe a larger one for telephone poles and stumps.

I wish I had a "spare boat" to transform into such a construction boat!!! I'd then take it down to help Larry & Gordon in their rebuilding project at Hawk Camp. I know that dock needs some work! :)

matt.
 
A now deceased friend of mine used to own a marine construction company. I have watched him set and pull pilings with nothing more then a couple men and a 3hp water pump with a hopse and pipe on the end of it.

Ive watched him wash in water wells the exact same way.

He called it a jet pump, but it was just a little engine driven gasoline water pump. Cheep and easy to use. For what were talking about here I'd guess it would be better to do before its dry though or you might dig a water pit beside the post and let it fill to draw water from.

Fence posts can be pulled with nothing more then a chain and a lever and fulcrum.

I have been told that the well heads are not derelicts and definately not dry holes. I was told they are a part of the national reserve. Both gas and petroleum. The things seem to be all over Florida though and in the darndest places.

Just a thought.

Scotty
 
You should have seen Lake O when it was down to 9.someting deep. More than a few people put holes in boats. When and if it does come back down to normal a lot of hazards exist. I have seen old farm equipment, fence posts where you would never believe they exist, old generator motors, sunken boat and rocks. Up in lower pool kissimmee an area that trees were cut on the west side will ruin your day as well. What really is ridiculous is all this Malalueca tree cutting where they leave a STUMP for us to hit. Where the hell did some brain surgeon come up with this idea?
 
That is the first time I have ever heard of a FWC officer doing something positve for an airboater!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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