More boat foolishness

Our trip to the lodge last week started out uneventfully.

Mum and Dad were already at the cottage, but agreed to come pick us up in the pontoon since we had so much junk to transport.

We loaded the boat up, the captain took off across the lake in the mostly-empty Damned Boat, and we set out from the marina. Just as we reached open water (slightly over half way to the cottage), the motor on the pontoon boat slowly died. Dad was able to get it started again, but in short order it died again. This time he couldn't restart it. We were adrift in the middle of the lake!

Why, why, why does this always happen when I'm in the boat? I think I'm an albatross.

Thank heavens we live in the age of the cellphone. I placed a quick call to the captain who had already reached the cottage and asked him to come back and rescue us.

We were able to connect the two boats (using, of all things, the rope for the anchor).

As the sun set, That Damned Boat ™ towed the limping pontoon to the cottage.

The next day they towed the pontoon back to the marina to have Marvin the marvelous have a look at it. He couldn't get it going either. Dad left it with him and planned to go back the next morning to see if Marvin had made any progress.

Early the next morning when we sitting on the porch drinking our coffee and tea, I glanced at the lake to the right.
"Dad, " I said, "I think that's your boat!"
"The bastard!!" Dad muttered in disbelief as he ran down to the dock to greet Marvin. He was clearly pleased that the boat was working without expensive repairs, but frustrated that Marvin got it running when he couldn't.

After some troubleshooting the prairie dogs all agreed that the problem was water in the fuel tanks. Once dad had clean gas, the boat ran just fine.

Stupid boats.