I was coming in the clear lake channel (about 40 yards wide) just an hour before dark under jib alone (had somebody with so thought it was a good idea). Went to start the engine as I got close to Kemah and it wouldn't crank. I couldn't leave the narrow channel because the sides were too shallow. I had about 10 boats behind me and 2 coming the other direction. I decided to tell the girl I was with to make a U-turn and follow that boat leaving so we could get back out into deeper water with space so I could throw the hook out and see what the problem is. After seeing she was making the turn ok (but it sure was freaking the guys out behind me), I went down below to start the generator, hoping it was just a low battery charge. It started after the 4th try. I then came up and saw she was heading right for the pack of boats that was following me and they were scattering all over the place. I freaked, grab the wheel and turned it back to the other side but then realized the jib wasn't trimmed right and I wasn't getting good speed. That freaked out the boat that was heading to the other side to avoid me 
Finally got out of the channel into safer waters and went down below and check volts. All were good. I asked her to crank it while I looked and it started right up *o Got back to the dock fine and realized I three things. 1) I should have got on channel 16 and told everybody I was having engine problems and turning around. Lession learned. 2) Stupid me, I turned off the VHF earlier in the day because I was way away from everybody and I didn't want to hear it then...so I couldn't hear them freaking out on the radio *x 3) somebody stole the pin to my riser pole clamp *grr (we must have fish that has a new diet of metal in Kemah). Just thought you would enjoy a story of mishap, boneheadness, and Murphy's Law in action.
Finally got out of the channel into safer waters and went down below and check volts. All were good. I asked her to crank it while I looked and it started right up *o Got back to the dock fine and realized I three things. 1) I should have got on channel 16 and told everybody I was having engine problems and turning around. Lession learned. 2) Stupid me, I turned off the VHF earlier in the day because I was way away from everybody and I didn't want to hear it then...so I couldn't hear them freaking out on the radio *x 3) somebody stole the pin to my riser pole clamp *grr (we must have fish that has a new diet of metal in Kemah). Just thought you would enjoy a story of mishap, boneheadness, and Murphy's Law in action.
