Eman89so
I've seen guys run their big motors when the lake turns bad fast.. I'd probably do the same honestly.. Wonder what the pfc would say and how lenient they would be
In my experience, not lenient at all. Let me tell a story -
It was 1999, I just bought my first boat....old used Lowe with outdated trolling motor and a 1997 Johnson 20 HP tiller. It was early April and an uncle of mine came up to do some spring crappie fishing. We launched out of Jamestown and ran about 1 mile into the wind up the lake....hoping to save power on the way back by letting the wind push us back to port. We fished for a while and it started to snow real bad, and the wind shifted....pushing us further from port.
Mind you, back them Pymy was 9.9, not 20hp. With that, I am above honest and would never have replaced my 20HP stickers to read 9.9HP.
We figured it was a good time to begin heading back using the trolling motor being snow was stacking up 6" on the deck, and the wind was getting brutal. Trying to head into the wind with the trolling motor was about impossible, and we were starting to take waves in the nose pretty hard.
Just what we needed, the trolling motor burned up and quit working.
I made the decision to fire up the outboard and get to port before it went from bad to worse. We didn't put the hammer down by any means, but we swiftly made out way to the launch. Just as I pulled up and tied off, guess who was heading my way......Mr. Warden.
I explained that the trolling motor burned up (even showed him to prove it), and explained that the weather was getting too dangerous to try and paddle. HE DID NOT CARE. Said "LAWS WERE LAWS". Gave me a $100ish fine and chewed my a** out for at least an hour.
Decided **** on it, lets contest it in court. Went to court, explained my side. I brought pictures my uncle took of the storm over us, short video of the lake conditions that day, detailed report off the weather channel showing the wind speed, direction.....and two other witness statements stating the lake was ugly that day......
I will never forget what the judge said : "Mr.D****, did you, or did you not run a motor over 10HP on the lake that day" ? I stated he was correct and that I did indeed run a motor over 10HP that day. He said : "Then why are you here wasting the courts time when you did indeed violate the law" ? I stated I was concerned about the storm that day and the conditions/safety of myself and my uncle, being we were taking nose shots over the bow, extreme winds and bitter cold/snow. His last words : "Then you should have thought about safety before you even left the house".
On the way out of court I shook the wardens hand and apologized for what happened. As he walked away I made my final comment "sir, you know I was right, and if it were your safety you would have done the same"......he stated "I know".