On May 2nd, 2020, we were returning from a great day of fishing in the gulf stream when the motor shut down about 30 miles offshore. We pulled the cowling and checked the oil and nothing on the motor looked suspicious. We cranked it and no alarms sounded and water spewed as normal, so we put it in gear. As we sped up to about 4 or 5 MPH the motor revved way up and the bow dropped down. We tried slowing down and speeding up a few more times and realized we had spun our prop.

We got on the VHF and tried raising Sea Tow or the Coast Guard, to no avail. We could hear a few people talking, but no one would answer our calls on any channel we tried, even after verifying we were on 25 watts. 

It was getting late and we had no way to communicate to our loved ones that we were safe, but in need of a tow home. We have read stories of people using their EPIRB, even when lives were not immediately in danger, so we activated our ACR PLB-350B. Within 15 minutes we heard the Coast Guard calling our name. What a comforting sound, even though we could not respond that we were safe and just needed Sea Tow to bring us home.

Every now and then we would see a boat in the distance heading back inshore, but we were unable to get their attention. We pulled out our safety kit and shot the flare gun towards the sky when we would see a boat. Only after a couple of flares and frantic waving by our crew, were we able to get a passing boat’s attention. What a relief when they turned towards us.

We explained our situation and they contacted the Coast Guard to let them know we were safe. The Coast Guard reached out to Sea Tow, who came to the rescue. We did not get home until almost midnight, but thanks to ACR’s EPIRB, and everyone involved, we made it home safely.

We want to thank the Coast Guard, Sea Tow, and the boaters that came to our rescue, but we especially want to thank ACR. You buy an EPIRB for safety and peace of mind, but hope you never have to use it. We are so grateful that our ACR EPIRB was there when we needed it. We will never go offshore without it.