Good deed for the New Year

[rb437]

Good thing you came along when you did. That bad situation could have gotten alot worse.

[nymack66]

You are a good man Ridge, My God bless you and your family. Happy New Year !

[nipper]

Way to go Ridge. You were a hero to those folks, and now even more so than ever in the eyes of your daughter.

What kind of boat is your 19" NV?

[RidgeRunner]

Thanks guys, it was just something that happened. It was not exactly heroic. I was just in the right place at the right time, I would hope everyone here would have done the same.
Nipper this boat is a 1996 "NV-19", stands for "Inverted Vee". It was built in Bartow, FL. Mine is the older, all wood rolled gunnel cousin to the boats in the link. Probably not too many around the country, they didn't build many. I love the boat but I fear it will not make it in today's market. It has a number of bad handling characteristics and the original manufacturer went out of business. Namely it leans out in high speed turns and it will rail to the point it could throw you out. The plus side is the inverted "V" that acts like a tunnel which allows you to run in places the boat won't even float. At rest the 6'6" beam acts more like a pontoon boat, very stable. Basically rides like a flat bottom in the chop with the occasional sneeze like a twin hull. I want the 24' version but the new Kevlar construction has pushed the price over the top for me. The new builder is Harley Boats, they are innovative if not genious at large fast moving watercraft. Harley started with the "Inverted V" design on floats for small aircraft, the actual design goes back much farther. Hickman's Sea Sled was an Inverted V design that was patented and there have been more than one version built for the military over the years. www.nvboatsinc.com/

[RWilson2526]

Good job , bet you made there day.....beautiful part of the Florida there...In my former life as an archaelogist, I spent a lot of time in the Cedar Key area and muckin around the gulf hammock area between cedar key and yankeetown a long time ago.

[Blue_Runner]

RR - what if you hadn't been there? Great job and I know anybody would have done the same.

RW - archaeologist? You are my new best friend! Lets go find some native american artifacts! One of my favorite non-boat-related passions. Unless of course if the lake level goes down far enough to use the boat to find the hunting grounds.

[RidgeRunner]

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

Good job , bet you made there day.....beautiful part of the Florida there...In my former life as an archaelogist, I spent a lot of time in the Cedar Key area and muckin around the gulf hammock area between cedar key and yankeetown a long time ago.

Very cool job.
Yes, the very best part of Florida, muck and all. But don't tell anyone. LOL

BTW, I could go on for days about boats. The heritage on the Inverted V goes back to the 1900's. Ray Hunt and his friend Fisher were impressed enough with Hickman's Sea Sleds to offer Hickman royalties and was scheduled to build the Sea Sleds but instead took the design and added a center V and created the 13' Whaler. Hickman built the first aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy although it was only for launching the aircraft and he was the inventor of surface piercing drives. Where are the men of genious of today? I feel quite stupid in light of all this guy accomplished.

[phester]

nice rescue RR. That's good karma, remember, "what comes around goes around". Happy new year!