Operator put his small homemade wooden row boat into the Charles River near Mother Brook.  The current from the brook pulled him into the dam located at the beginning of he brook.  The electric motor he had on the boat did not have enough thrust to get him out of the current and his boat got stuck on the top of the dam.  Operator found himself stuck in the middle of the dam with the transom of the boat and the electric hanging over the edge of the dam.  He continued to fish as he had no where to go and was hoping someone from the highway would see him.  A passerby stopped and asked him if he needed help.  He had some sort of tie down strap that he threw to the operator and he tied to his bow line.  The passerby then pulled the strap in attempts to pull the boat from the current.  The bow line broke and caused operator and his boat to go over the dam.  Operator found himself caught in a strong spinning turbulent current at the base of the dam.  Fire dept responded and removed operaor from the water utilizing a stokes basket.  He had a lifejacket on but it came off when he went over the falls (improper size/wear).   Cause of accident was detemined to be underpowered vessel for conditions.
Dedham                        