Took the boat out on a low tide to get some brush to freshen up my shore blind on a salt water slough. Gathered up a boat full and made for the blind, tide was too low to get anywhere near the blind but was coming in good shape, I'd looked a the tide chart and saw it was supposed to be a +7.5 footer so i figured I'd run in as tight as I could and unload the brush and lug it across the mud to the blind, The flood would pick me up in about an hour and I'd be off. I hit the flat tide mud doing close to 20 mph and much to my surprise, the boat keep going toward the blind, climbed the slope and I had to let off to keep from hitting the blind.

To say, I was high and dry was an understatement! I had about an hour and a half of daylight left, then a 7 mile run back down the slough, by the surf zone at the mouth of the river and back up the river to the ramp.

Well, the water just didn't seem to be coming like I figured it should so i pulled out the tide chart and looked again. It turns out the 7.5 tide was the AM tide, The one I was on was only going to be 4.6!!!

I called a buddy to go watch my truck at the ramp and to make sure I got back alright, I put the Prodrive in reverse and it was almost dark before I got enought water to barely lift the stern of the boat, I took my mud pole and was able to pry the boat back enough to float it and with much effort, the motor got me back floating again. By this time, it was raining a rotten hard stinging rain and the fog from the surf was settling over the slough. I took off on as much of a tear as I dared given all the obstructions and redwood tree stumps in the water.
Luckily I had my Jeff Lessara, 100 water gator headlamp hat which penetrated the gloom enough to keep me off the crap, The rest of the directions came from the Lowrance HDS 7 GPS unit I put in earlier this fall. That saved my bacon. I was never so glad to see a pair of headlamps as I was when I rounded the last corner and saw my buddys truck on the hill above the ramp.

I'm usually pretty well prepared but I think I'm going to get a Danforth anchor and electric winch escape kit before next season!!!

Glad to hear you made it out ok!

on a side note...tonyb we need some thumbs up smilies or somethin!

Glad to hear ya made it back alright

bet that was a fun one! glad it all ended ok

dude.... Im glad you made it back okay. It sucks being in those situations and fighting off the feeling of helplessness.

Glad you got back safely. My winch has saved me once already its well worth the investment!

been there, that sucks. Glad to here you made it out

glad you made it back man im thinking about the winch and ancor myself