What's the spookiest thing you've experienced aboard a boat?
I can't think of any ghost stories on the boat, but the spookiest - a.k.a. scariest - event I recall happened long, long ago. I was out partying with a bunch of friends on Otsego Lake in a secluded cove up on the East side of the lake. So, party time ends for me, it's sometime around 3 in the morning and I hop into my Old Town wooden canoe and head towards the Otesaga Hotel - that's on the opposite side of the lake and at the south end. I'll have to cross the entire lake to get there. It's pitch black out, overcast with no moon. I'm paddling along and I hear the sound of a motor boat. Up the lake, heading straight towards me is a pretty good sized motor boat running at what sounded like pretty much full throttle... Hey why not? Nobody is on the lake, right? It is 3 in the morning...
I have no lights, no flashlight, nothing even reflective (like that would matter); as one might say - fully equipped - NOT! So it seems like the boat is coming down the East side of the Lake, so I start paddling like hell to get further away from the East side - but wait, that darned boat is still heading straight at me! Now a fast moving motor boat is really quite fast, especially compared to a canoe being paddled. I can't seem to get out of the way of that boat - and time is running out. It is coming on and there is no question, it's heading straight at me. I've got nowhere to go. I contemplate diving into the water, seeing if I can time it right to dive down below the hull, and hoping I don't get chewed up by the prop. Mind you, physically I'm in no condition for this exertion.... This is the 70's after all and parties were.... well .... were what parties were...
So diving in is decided not such a good idea, and I'm going to take my chances of a direct hit. OK I figure, a direct hit and, well, I'll see if I'm dead or not and if I can swim back to shore if not... Oh hang on, let's see, if that boat does miss me, I'd better get ready for the wake - there's going to be a good one! Boat's still coming on and it's coming straight at me, I'm trying to see if it's actually going to hit me or just miss me either in the front or back - I just can't tell, it's way to much looking like a direct hit at this point... I'm swinging around at least to lessen my side profile. ZOOOMMMM here she comes!!!! I'd best get down and hope for the best! Lower my center of gravity in the canoe at least.
The boat flies by right in front of me, I don't think it missed me by more than 10 feet. And here comes the WAKE! Yea Ha! What a ride! First part of the wake hits, up, down and here's the second part! It's like a roller coaster ride and water is coming in!
WOW, I didn't flip over, I didn't get hit and I'm only wet and man is the heart pumping.... I did have a bailer so I'm able to empty the water out and continue the paddle across the now quiet lake and reflect on every stupid aspect of what I just escaped...
Sorry, not a sailing story - although I did sail that canoe...
dj
@Justin_NSA. He found a new tool. It shows ghosts in the house.
