One day a fishing boat heading downstream ran aground on the soft muddy bottom of Ladner Reach during an ebb tide. The drama played out directly in front of the floathome as several other fishing boats came to the stricken vessel's assistance. Lines were quickly secured in an attempt to tow the boat off the bottom and into deeper water before the tide dropped too much further. Engines chugged noisily from both vessels, smoke billowing from their stacks. The muddy water churned and frothed as the stricken vessel's propeller spun wildly in a frantic attempt to help direct the boat into deeper water. Meanwhile the other vessel yanked and pulled with all its might until... SNAP! The tow line broke loudly, nearly decapitating a fisherman on the deck of the assisting vessel.

Eventually they gave up, and the vessel whose keel remained stuck fast in the mud spent a leisurely morning and part of that afternoon at rest in Ladner Reach, much to the delight, surely, of the fish.

When the tide rose later that day, as the tide is compelled inexorably to do, the stricken fishing boat floated free and motored quietly away.