7/7/07, Lost my baby

[msg11]

I was not going to post about the problem I ran into, but here goes. I was told that 7/7/07 was a gamblers day, NOT. The day before I was out running by myself, had the boat set up for just me. I hit a barge wave pretty hard and the motor of ny jack plate broke off, so I could not change the height of the motor. A friend had his Mirage there, we were 65 miles down river from my houseboat. Luckly I made it back, the water was rough, not much for running fast. About 8:00 I was back at the4 houseboat, the water was perfect, so I chased the dog. Runnig a 15X34 Cleaver at 6700, turned in a 121 MPH. Wow!! On the second run I saw 122, Then bang, thrashed the prop.
Saturday morning put my 32 cleaver on and was going to go up river to see a friend. We got to the lock/dam and I lost shifting ability, he pulled back down river to a launch ramp, tied the boat up and road back with him to get my trailer,fixed the problem,was back at the houseboat by 4:00. Two other friends was ther skiing,I talked them into riding with us . My engine was to high and would not cool went I ran over 3500 RPM. I even shut down on me once,so I tucked the motor down a little and managed to run on. We went through the lock and continued with the trip. We ran up river, I could not run as fast as Doug,so I told Kieth that we would catch up with him at the next Marinia. He was about 1/2 mile ahead of me when we came around a corner, A 21 ft. boat, loaded with people,started out going up river on the left side in front of me,going at an angle to the right. I could not out run then so I turn left to go, what I thought was before they started out. I have never seen a bigger wave. I let off the pedal, hit the first wave, then all I seen was water. The boat went flat over the wave hit then nosed in, i opened my eyes, we were under the water,come up, asked Keith if he was alright,told him to get his legs out from under the dash, from the time we hit to comimg up 15 seconds the boat sank in 32 Ft. of water. People on the shore that were have a picnic came to our aid. All that was floating from my boat was the 2 front seats and my helmet. Keith got 5 staple in the back of is head, I still have numnees under my left eye and upper lip, and both of us had sore knees. All the folks there helped me out all week. They chased all the pirates away and hooked me up with the divers.Saturday 7/14/07, the divers and my father,sister,son, and my friend Keith raise the boat in 3 hrs. It's home now. Saved the X, boat is a total loss. I may be gone for awhile from hot boating, I will be back.;)

[Raceman]

Man, that's awful.............. glad you weren't hurt. Keep us posted on the replacement.

[jphii]

Mike, that really sucks. At least you guys came through it relatively OK. If there is any thing I can do to help you get back on the water, let me know.

[Little Jon]

Sorry man. Those were some great people to keep the pirates away from grabbing it. Hope to see you out doing the boating thing again.

[Marko]

SORRY TO HERE IT DUDE----YOU'LL BE BACK FOR SURE! :(

[Fl Boy in ILL]

Man I know how that feels, our Mirage went under about the same way from a large wake and stuffed it, only ours was repairable. Took us 5 days to find mine, they build boats everyday!!! Your health is the most important thing, get healed up soon and get a new ride for the X (Qshot???)

Rick

[Airboater]

Not sure about your state but here the other boat is responsible for their wake if it causes damage ,

[northeastcat]

Wow, thats crazy scary! Glad you and your passenger are OK. Good to hear that you recovered the boat.

[Fish]

damn man, that sucks. at least you and keith were not hurt worse, but i am really sorry to hear about your boat.:(

fish

[Racemore]

Really hate to here about the boat.Glad the injurys were minor. Very lucky.

[beer30]

That sucks, but as long as you and your passenger came out with only minor injuries,things are good.:) Boats can be replaced. Chuck

[wkndracer]

What a string of events!!!:eek:

Glad you and your passenger came out with only minor injuries thats the important thing above all else. Recovery of the hull and rigging may comfort the soul and later the wallet to some extent in rebuilding.

If I'm clear in reading the post your hyd. jack plate was damaged in ruff water, then a wheel was damaged/lost, a shift issue and then the nose stuffed in the rollers. WOW,, had my day's but that's alot in a string of events. Hope the gremlin/monkey/green meanie what ever you call 'em that was hitching a ride in the bilge drown when the ride went down.

Best of luck and my hopes for your full recovery. Very sorry to read such a post but again pleased all involved made it through. Michael

[stokernick]

was it really 07/07/07 ,or Friday the 13th?stay positive,heal fast,and be safe!

[PARKER RABE]

damn mike that sucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WARLOCK]

Holy Crap, Mike!! First of all, I'm glad everyone came out of this relatively unharmed. secondly....That sucks, big time!! You should buy my Skater as a replacement. Later, Dave

[1BadAction]

I'm sorry to hear that Mike, glad you guys came out of it without being hurt too bad.

[TNT]

hey mike glad all is well with you and ur passanger on the second hand tho sry to hear about the boat ouch! give mvp a call sometime soon


dan

[JUPITER PULSARE]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :mad: :mad: :mad: :( :( :( :D

[PARKER RABE]

mike post some pics of the rig and the recovery.

[mr.clean]

Sorry :( That really sucks! Look on the bright side. You'll live to fight another day ;)

[Tom Foley]

Mike this is terrible news in one way and great news in another ! So glad you guys made it out basically ok from this one !

[Hot Shot Merc]

Hey man that blows.:(

[Instigator]

I consider Mike to be one of my best friends and he has been keeping me updated through this whole ordeal.

I can't even imagine.

Mike probably has more time with the same 300X than any one on the planet.

I think his Smart Craft said something like 1700 gls of fuel??

His Mirage was probably THEbest 300X powered Mirage on the planet.

120+ passes were routine.

His boat is my BENCHMARK of what a true "Lake Boat" can be.

There are quicker boats and faster boats but not running pump gas, oil injection and closed exhaust!

I remember riding in the back seat for the poker run at the Rumble 2 or 3 yrs ago.

Was very rough, was the yr 2 boats broke and one sank.

Mike said "we'll take it easy with it being so rough" :p

We all put on our vests and helmets (as you always do in Mikes boat) and took off.

For some reason the poker run always turns into a race at the Rumble and Mike don't like gettin passed. (won last 2 yrs at least)

So we're puttin along at 80 or so when a couple of big cats pull up to us (Mike is leading) and start to pass.
One of em is RL's twin 2.5 powered 25' Talon!

Last I saw Mikes GPS speedo it said I think 106 with 4 of us in the boat!!!

This kind of crap is routine with Mikes style of boating.

The first trip with my River Rocket I went down and boated for "A DAY" with Mike and Brian.
I zeroed out the trip odometer on my GPS when we started.

IT HAD 154 MILES ON IT THE NEXT DAY :eek: :eek: :eek:

Mike called me a sissy when I left :p

He has lived and dreamed this boat the entire time I've known him.

We towed it and my STV tandem to a By-U-Boyz Rally last yr.

19 hrs each way. On the way home we hit a pouring rain storm that gave us maybe 10' visibility.
We spent NINE HOURS in it and Mike drove the whole time!!

He's had his boat to Fla almost as many times as I have and I live here now!

He was at RRII for thsoe that may know him.

Mike's not a guy to post much or talk much but he is "Mr Hi Perf Boater", he is the real deal.

Don't mean to get on a soap box but Mike is the man and thought you guys needed to know some of this to fully understand what just happened to him and what he is going through right now.

Now.......Mike, tear the motor down, grease er up and lets go hull shopping!

Luv Yah Brother Man!!

Gary

[Forkin' Crazy]

That sure sucks, Mike. Glad you guys are OK. Gary told me about it the other day at the time you were still looking for it. At least you recovered it. Are you sure it is a total loss?

[Corona Mike]

Mike, 1st I'm glad you and your passenger made it out with only, some-what, minor injuries. Now for your boat, you said it's a total loss, how bad is it? I've seen Jack Barsh "build" things free-handed that were what I'd have called impossable, and they were straighter than original! He fixed my Allison, and I was so upset after doing something STUPID!! that I was seriously concedering selling it--I still thank Andy Driver for talking me out of it!--Not only is Jacks work second to none! His prices are very very reisonable. I'd contact Jack and kind of tell him just all thats broke, send him some pictures and see if he feels the boat is repairable. Once again, I'm glad your O.K. buddy, and look forward to seeing you again. Let me know if I can help in any way. Mike Tyler.

[The Big Al]

Sad news.
Glade your safe.
And your heads up about what was going on around you saved yourself and friends.

Seems the wake from the other boat would have some responsibility?

[PARKER RABE]

see if mullins can put it back together:eek: :eek: :eek:

[Instigator]

beat up right now and not thinking good thoughts so who knows how bad it really is.
I am in shock too.

Mike is the safest driver I know PERIOD!


He did say that the motor/jack plate pulled loose from the transom and he is concerned with that.

I too agree that almost anything can be repaired but we didn't go through what he did and he really feels he is ready to walk away for a while.
That being said, Mike is the kind of guy that will have the hull crushed to keep it from having a shade tree repair job and then killing some one.

I am going to put some pix's together for him that I have.

As I said, to me... that boat was the ****t!

[Corona Mike]

Gary, Jack doesn't do any $hit work PERIOD!! He fixed a non quartershot that you could look from the back where the top deck use to be located and see the complete interior/frount deck/etc. The complete top cap area on the rear of the boat, was GONE! If you look at the boat today, you can't tell the boat ever had a scratch on it! He built the complete closed in capsule top cap on Scott Vicorys race boat free handed! Both of those boats are pretty fast to say the least. I know that Mike is upset rite now--understandably--What I mentioned was a option. As far as the damage to the transome area, people have those repaired on Marages(old and new) all the time.

[Instigator]

Just hung up with Mike.

Unbelievably, after a week on the bottom of the Ohio River the freagin motor is runnning :o

The water popped all the fueses in the motor but after he replaced all of them, gave it fresh gas and oil (24:1 plus the injection) it fired right up.

He also sounded the best he has since it happened.

Is also now at least listening to me tell him everything can be fixed.

Am prompting him to give Jack Barsh a ring and he now thinks that may be an interesting concept.

Mike is sending me pis and I will upload them for him.

Always liked that 300 (a 300X is one of my all time fav's) but after this....I want it, am gonna get it bronzed and put it in my living room :)
Gary

[Little Jon]

hey atleast you beat my uncle at rr in a drag race :) Also glad everyone was ok

[tunnelmike]

Mike , sorry to hear of your misfortune !! Your boat has become a fixture at the fast boat runs . PS, Jack won't attempt to fix anything he isn't 100% sure will be fixed better than new. Other than a little additional weight ( the X will never know) your boat will look as new. His work is amazing !! Mike

[MODVP22]

I sopke with Mike a few hours ago, and most importantly he and Keith are doing well. From his discription, they were lucky to get out of the boat, more or less swampped. From his discription, the boat isn't as bad as I thought, it floated onto the trailer after they got all the water out. Hopefully the 300x checks out ok on all fronts.

[The Big Al]

At the end of my video I believe this is Mike.
When we were at Jasper last year.
I chanced that 300 all day!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vHR8meXHAcw

[Little Jon]

nice music, :D

[Little Jon]

min 2:02 is mikes a i believe

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UzH2yCg54d8

fat boy starving hahahaha

[LakeRaider]

Glad you,re ok Mike. That sux. Todd

[Dutch]

just spoke with Mike as well, glad youre ok. you can get another
boat. thanks for answering all the questions.
take care,
Matt

[The Big Al]

min 2:02 is mikes a i believe

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UzH2yCg54d8

fat boy starving hahahaha

yes it is!

[jphii]

Here it is:

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[Shanna]

jasper river run was a good day

[Little Jon]

im sure it was. i could hear your loud mouth almost to the end of the movie... You need to quiet down.

[Shanna]

im sure it was. i could hear your loud mouth almost to the end of the movie... You need to quiet down.

you need to realize who youre talking to LIL Boy or else yellowallison and 1bad are going to have to spank you (again)!!!!!!!!

Really does suck about the boat though

[Little Jon]

lol HAHAHAHAA All i have to do is side track Scotty, with some playgirl and get a badaction with a new suzzy doll and im fine. so :p

[Shanna]

glad to see you queer baits still are easy to please:D :p

[Little Jon]

LOL! They are, im very, VERY picky... :D

[jphii]

Al made this video at Jasper. At the end he's chasing Mike.

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[The Big Al]

jasper river run was a good day
Yes it was!
It was a good boat ride day!

that was His boat parked with ours at the race site!

[msg11]

The boat looks a little beat up, mostly cosmetic, new paint and a little gel work, and a whole lot of soap to clean the river slime off the boat. We fired and ran the motor Monday and Wednesday, ran 6 gals. of double oil through it, it seem to be fine. I will break it down this winter and replace all the barings. Kieth and I are on the mend, looking forward to watersking this weekend. As for the mirage, next year. Need time to grow hair on my NUTZ, before I lose my love for the fast boats. Thank to all for you thoughts, and opinions, hope to get back down south next year. Mike

[Corona Mike]

Thats great news Mike! Look forward to seeing you again. Take care and let me know if there is anything I can do to help you with the repair. Mike T.

[MODVP22]

I stopped and seen Mike lastnight. He's doing well thankfully. The boat is just as he recently discribed-not too bad. Mainly the hole in the deck and stress cracks around the dash. The hull is sound, no stress marks or anything,BUT Mike is going to do the right thing here and have the entire boat gone over with a fine tooth comb before he takes it out again. He's doing it right, and this is a great example to go by.

[WARLOCK]

Great to hear!!! Get that thing ready for THE RUMBLE!!!!
Mike, are you guys goona come anyway? I'll probably have a few extra beers for ya!
Tom, are you still not going? Later, Dave

[MODVP22]

Tom, are you still not going? Later, Dave


Not gonna make it :(

[msg11]

Dave , I do not know yet. I have to talk it over with Jimmy, there is nothing worse than having to sit on the shore and watch others having fun on the water. It's been raining here and I have not been able to derig the boat, so it will not be ready for the Rumble. I do not want to rush the fix, I may wait to boat next year.

[The Big Al]

From 2006 Tenn River Run

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/3028/mikesmiragemh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[wing nut]

i got a ride in this boat either last rumble or the 05 one and its a great boat. man mike.. this sucks big time, i hope it all will be fixed better then new. most importantly you are alright.

even with no boat just come to the rumble, i'll be there with my dad.. boatless again, but there to party!!

scott

[j_martin]

Not sure about your state but here the other boat is responsible for their wake if it causes damage ,

I don't think that'd hold water if you stuff it at 100.

[jphii]

Hey Mike, I'm gonna be in Akron next Thursday 16 Aug. Wanna get together for a beer?