The hot water shower on my LSV came in super handy yesterday afternoon. A family of four was on their sailboat on Smithville lake north of Kansas City, and it capsized on a bad turn. Two kids 3 and 5 years old and both parents were in the water under and beside boat. We were about 300 yards away surfing when my wife saw it happen. A pontoon got there the same time as us and we plucked the kids out and got hot water going as they were in jeans and sweatshirts soaked in 58° water. The pontoon scooped up the parents and tied off the sailboat so the mast didn't run aground. My surfer was in a wet suit so he jumped in and started grabbing their car keys and wallets. We were able to use the pontoon to flip the sailboat, and then we towed it in with the LSV. Family was OK, the 3 year old girl had a split ear, and a pretty good goose egg on her fore head. Fortunately we had first aid, hot water, dry towels and plenty of tow rope.
Good reminder to keep an eye out for fellow boaters, and always take plenty of tools, rope, first aid, and hot water showers if ya got 'em. Never thought that two weeks after that install I'd be using my shower to warm two purple kids up....
Wish I had thought to snap a few picks once we had the family settled down. Pretty odd sight to see a sailboat upside down.
