So I get my boat back from the shop where they supposedly fixed my stalling motor by replacing the Power Pack.  Thinking I was coming right home I pulled off my trolling motor prop to install a new one.  Well, wanting to check their work I decide to take it for a lake test.

Boat seems to run fine, isn't stalling under load like before, great.

About 1/2 mile from the ramp the motor dies....  OH *(^%&*!!!!  outta gas.  And, the trolling motor is also useless cause my dumb *## took the prop off.  Let me tell you that rowing an 18 ft bass boat into the wind just plain SUCKS..  Man am I sore now.  Wont' Do THAT AGAIN

id be waving at every craft that went by. i picked up 2 younger kids when their jet ski quit on them in the middle of the lake. i was shocked to hear they had been trying to get ppl to stop for 15 mins.

That was the even worse part.  I was the only boat on the lake.  When I was 50ft from the dock another boat was putting in.  it wasn't even worth calling them at that point, I had come sooooo far...

The guy that runs the ramp at the main lake I fish gives out his personal number to call if boaters ever gets stuck or stranded.  He's johnny-on-the-spot, too, when someone calls.  Thankfully I never have had to, but a lot of folks have.  

I certainly hope you had trolling lines out as you paddled back. I would hate to see wasted effort.  

Been there, done that. It sux. :'(

In the lakes around Phoenix a cell phone is worthless. I have a VHF radio. Hail on channel 16 and you get a tow boat. With a BoatU.S .membership and the upgrade to unlimited towing, the bill is $0. The cost is @ $60 annualy . www.boatus.com.