Having been around ropes 'n such for years, I have a healthy respect
for things under tension so I got back in the cockpit before he even
got under way. His attempt to use inertia was totally unexpected as I
expected a gentle tug. His boat seemde to be an older one of
indiscernable brand but had a wooden transom and an old 2 cycle engine.
Must not have been too much of a loss. I'll probably see him at the
bar near here and find out what he does about it.