Having Drinks on the Lake

[samm835]

I noticed this pop up in the I/O forums......while someone is telling what happen to there boat. They mention "hey I was grabbing a beer while my budding was driving, and his dumb butt threw it into reverse. What damage did this cause". Well then most beat him up saying, well your an idiot cause you had a beer on the lake(something along these lines). I would like to say FIRST thing.....I don't agree with being intoxicated at all or even close to it while operating a boat or car!!!!! We all know there are some BIG Arse idiots who don't know the responsible thing to do. My question is, do you sometimes take a beer or two with you to the lake to chill out all day? I have 5 kids and a wife, sometimes we go to the lake and take a lunch, and tubes and hang out in a cove. During this time sometimes I have a beer or two(rarely 3), chil eat some food and hang in the sun. We hang out on the docks with guys and girls and have small parties(adults only) but we won't drive. I was just curious because I read a recent post where someone stated they had a beer and something happened to his motor, I think 3 or 4 people layed into about drinking on the lake and never really answered his question about the motor. BTW he never said he was trashed or drunk, only said he was gabbing a beer. Oh well my rant, anyone else have a beer or two? I think after reading some response I might need one....again I do NOT DRINK and DRIVE...or think anyone should. Do not read into this to much

 

[tommays]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

While the boat is seen as a last place of freedom I find drinking and driving IS drinking and driving

Having had so many BWI accidents in this area it just makes sense to me for the Captain to be responsible and not drink

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

I see nothing wrong with a beer or two. Its the idiots who drink all day running around the lake that i worry about.
I had a bunch of young guys that were drinking shoot out of a cove right in front of me a couple weeks ago.I had to turn hard left and yank back the throttle to avoid hitting them. They flipped me off and nailed the gas
Too bad i could not catch that high dollar wakeboard boat!
I allow no alcohol on my boat period but thats just my rule.

 

[642mx]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

I see nothing wrong with having a beer or two. I get dehydrated easily so I wouldn't want more than a couple if I'm out in the sun all day anyways.

 

[Turin]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

wanna drink buy an anchor is that so difficult

 

[samm835]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

I am definitly not saying its ok to get drunk or even tipsy. I think anyone who has too many and drives should be locked up, I now tragidy can occure when idiots young and old drive drunk. My main point was JUST because someone has a beer or two doesn't mean they were drunk, in the case I was talking about the boat owner wasn't even driving the boat. He might a great decision...he let his friend drive. Altough its going to cost him because the friend hit it into reverse on accident and now caused damage. My point was the first two or three responses were "you shouldn't have a beer, get what you deserve" ha ha ha, then they never answered his actual question about his motor. I just thought it was funny, he lets all beat him up cause he had a beer, while sitting in the passenger seat, and tell him whatever happens was because he was drinking a beer on the lake. LOL they forget the one portion that said "my friend was driving"........I love reading posts on boards when people get mad when someone doesn't live life there way. OK OK rant over....have a good guys, this buds for you guys, and those who don't drinks this your choice beverage to you. Have a safe time on the lakes and have fun!

Hey TURIN, who can afford to buy an anchor after buying all that beer and ICE??

 

[bekosh]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

BEER+BOAT=FUN!

It's all about being responsible. Know your limits. I limit it to 10-12 beers or so.











Of course that's only about 1 beer per hour with a bottle of water every other beer or there abouts. Throw in some snacks and a couple of meals and there's no problem with downing a 12 pack over the course of a 12-14 hour day at the lake.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

I don't care who drinks on the boat, but the captain should not at all IMHO. Guess I'm too serious about it, but knowing that you are responsbile for each person on board keeps me straight.

Saw a dad once that had just a couple of beers (he claimed). Coming into dock, he failed to notice his 4 year olds hand over the side of the boat as it scrubbed against the dock. That was a sad day at the dock.

Would he have noticed if he hadn't been drinking?,,,,,,don't know, but it sure puts doubt one way or the other.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

I guess I'm in the drinking camp. I don't get sloshed while I'm at the wheel, but I like two--maybe three beers in a four or five hour outing. Now here's where I'm going to get beat up.

I can't back a trailer up unless I've had a beer.

Same as when I play billiards. I'm terrible at it unless I've had the right amount of beer. One beer, and she backs down that skinny 1/4 mile dirt track to the ramp in one smooth motion and everything's cool.

No beer? It takes me six or seven tries. Don't know why, but I don't argue with success.

 

[ilmostro99]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

BEER+BOAT=FUN!:
Of course that's only about 1 beer per hour with a bottle of water every other beer or there abouts. Throw in some snacks and a couple of meals and there's no problem with downing a 12 pack over the course of a 12-14 hour day at the lake.

D*mn, that must be a lot of pi** in the lake Remind me to not swim in that lake.
Unfortunately, I think this is the way our country is going. Just knee-jerk reactions. We hear Drinking + Driving (boating) = bad, evil, and loose any common sense. I'm not talking about the people who get drunk, or even buzzed and put me and my kids at risk, the only tollerence I have for those people is about as far as my 12 gauge can reach, but a beer or 2 is not going to have ANY affect on 99% of the adults out there over the course of a day. For those who choose to allow NO alcohol on your boat, I have all of the respect in the world for your decision, but no more or no less than the person who does have a beer and has the maturity and responsibility to stay sober when other's lives are on the line. Alcohol is not evil - being irresponsible enough to drink too much when you are operating a vehicle is.
BTW, I don't drink on my boat, but that is my decision, and when I do decide to have a beer on it, that will also be MY decision, as long as I don't let it affect me, my family or others.
Sorry for the rant, but I hear this kind of stuff all too often with my extra-curricular activities - motorcycles, skydiving, flying, etc., etc. usually by the uninformed. Never mind that I have spent THOUSANDS of dollars on the best gear, safety equipment, and training and practicing in order to make sure that I come home safely everyday and put no one else at risk.
Erik

 

[Nandy]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

When I go to the lake me and my significant other generally have some drinks at dawn. I really dont see a problem if the captain drinks. As long as he is sober at the time he start the motor again. I rather not get really hammered cuz even when the motor is not running I am responsible for everyone and I want to have a leveled head when making decisions.

 

[Hoss the Hermit]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

BEER+BOAT=FUN!

It's all about being responsible. Know your limits. I limit it to 10-12 beers or so.











Of course that's only about 1 beer per hour with a bottle of water every other beer or there abouts. Throw in some snacks and a couple of meals and there's no problem with downing a 12 pack over the course of a 12-14 hour day at the lake.

I can go along with the 10-12 beers as long as it's an early morning quick run around the pond while the ol' lady's cookin' breakfast. After that, unless you maintain proper hydration, you run the risk of heat related medical complications. Once the sun is up, you need a 30 pack per hour at a bare minimum.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

D*mn, that must be a lot of pi** in the lake Remind me to not swim in that lake.

Erik

Well, the water at the sandbar is 4-5? warmer than the rest of the lake.:redface:

 

[Nandy]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

Well, the water at the sandbar is 4-5? warmer than the rest of the lake.:redface:

Wow, looks like our favorite local waterhole!!!

 

[i386]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

Never if I'm driving. Never on my boat because it's too small (and I always drive). If I'm on the pontoon boat w/friends I'll have a few (captain doesn't mind).

 

[azlakes]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

...good question. some of the folks we take on the boat enjoy drinks and beer and i dont discourage it. while we fish or swim, its almost to natural to sip a cold one. what i do as skipper is take a six pack of Odouls Amber. if you have not tried it its pretty darn good. while on the water its the near beer for me. once out and beached for the day, all bets are off. case your wondering when they seperate the booze in beer.

http://www.odouls.com/home.asp?cPage=&dob_day=21&dob_month=08&dob_year=1962&submit.x=3&submit.y=5

cheers

 

[Jerico]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

If I'm driving or going to be driving which is most of the time I stick to drinking water on the boat. I only allow enough alcohol on the boat for passengers to have a couple for the day, but not enough to get drunk. Once we're back to the camp site for the night is a completely different story...

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

I really don't have a problem with people being completely drunk and out on a boat... as long as they stay achored until they sober up. They shouldn't be even slightly tipsy when underway though.

As for me, well I have an excuse, I fish.

Actually I don't drink... mostly. I at least don't get drunk anymore... 2 beers per day is my limit, and it's rare that I even drink one... just at BBQ's and the like.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

We've had people at anchor who got sloshed and severly injured (diving into the lower unit, starting motor with someone getting onto boat while using lower unit as ladder, hitting heat on side of boat while falling into water, not turning on the bilge blower before starting engine, etc.) Each of these has put the emergency personel at risk - driving to scene, making actual rescue, etc.

1 beer has an effect on you - didn't cheb say he needs a beer to effectively back his trailer into the water. It is the amount of impairment that is important. When you mix water and impairment, it is a combination that is asking for trouble (and yes, I have lost a friend from an impaired driver who decided to run over the boat my friend was riding on, and I have had to administer medical attention to literally many others because of impaired operations or just impairment while on the water). It is hard to say "If you are going to drink, just be careful" because it is hard to be careful when your judgement is impaired.

So, if you are the captain, you are responsible for your vessel and her occupants - don't be impaired. If you are a passenger, know what you can safely handle, and do not cross the line - don't even get close to it.

Rant off.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Having Drinks on the Lake

Thru the eyes of a judge, its not an accident if you are impaired. Period!

In Ohio, most lakes are state parks or governed by the state. All of these parks prohibit alcohol. Or I should say prohibit alcohol outdoors. If you are in an enclosesure such as a tent, camper, boat cabin,etc; it is legal.

Even on the water, if the park ranger sees you with an open container, he can make you pour it out,,,,,,all of it. Get mouthy, and off you go in handcuffs.

I don't know about other states, but here you lose your drivers license for boating under the influence. I don't take the risk since my primary job requires me to have a license to drive.

My wife is an adult. She will and can get drunk off of 1 beer. That is why she does not drink alcoholic beverages.