Holy mother of god

[Rob454]

I jsut got back from Mission bay in San Diego. I HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE IDIOTIC BEHAVIOR form boaters and jet skiers alike.

I had 6 IDIOTS in jet skis zoom across my bow and I mean they had to be abotu 10 feet away. One time I had to actually throttle down and swerve. NONE of them were looking at where they were going Needless to say the horn and my middle finger were the most widely used equipment on the boat today.
One jet skier was so close to my boat his wake was actually spraying me. I kept yelling at him to move away ( i was moving away but he thought it woudl be funny to keep spraying me. Finally got mad and started to move towards him in a hurry and then my wake sprayed the crap out of him.

the other jet skier decided it would be fun to stay in my wake. This complete moron was so close he could reach out and touch my outdrive. I waved him off but he flipped me off so i decided to slow way the hell down
Looking at his eyes get as big as saucers was worth the price of admission. I bet he had to go and clean his shorts.


One boater cut me off at the launch ramp. nice thing was he couldnt get out cause he backed in too far with his escalade. His buddy tried to pull him out with a tie down and he had a expedition. No go. snapped the strap. I COULD of helped him just by simply hooking him up to my truck ( 4x4) or hooking him up to my winch. But since he thought he was such a tough guy with his Sea doos and tatoos i let him stay where he was.

the other boater 9 and I use the term loosely cause it was one of those small sea doo jet boats maybe 15 feet long) decided it woudl be a good time to go make donughts right in front of the dock and the launch ramp. the nice thing was the harbor patrol saw him. i wonder what the ticket is for a speeding through a no wake zone?

the other boater I felt bad for becaus ehe was taking on water and couldnt start his boat and he drifted into my boat and rubbed rails. No biggie. I gave the guy my hand bailer and towed him in. the guy was so grateful. he jsut bought the boat. The dealer never even gave him any instructions. i told him to go back and drive the boat up the salesman's butt

So that was my 4th of july. how was yours?

Rob

 

[ddennis]

Re: Holy mother of god

I would have paid good money to see the look on that seaflea's face when you backed outta the throttle with him on your outdrive like that! I bet it was histerical!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Holy mother of god

Wherever you go you will always find a certain percentage of idiots. Looks like the bigger percentage was in your area today.
My July 4th sucked as I live in Canada and we had our day on Monday !!!!

 

[woodrat]

Re: Holy mother of god

I stayed off the water today. One of my jobs is as a kayak guide and we try very hard to never be on the water on the 4th. Too many jet skis and drunk yacht screwballs. And we are all the way out in the boonies, too. I can't imagine somewhere like san diego... :0 !

 

[rndn]

Re: Holy mother of god

I made decision to stay off the water for the entire fourth of July. It's not worth it as around here it is called amateur day.

 

[Rob454]

Re: Holy mother of god

I made the same mistake abotu 5 years ago and went to the river on4th of july. it was a simple thing. We got there we unloaded drove out. 25 minutes later we were loading up and going home. there were so many people on the river with everything from bog custom boats to jalopies that should of been crushed to new jet skis to guys on those big paddle wheels trike things.

As for the guy who was following me too closely when i slowed down he literally screamed ( I could hear him over the motor) and swerved. of course he forgot that jet skis dont turn without throttle input so he came even closer. I goosed it and he swerved by missing by inches. both me and my buddy were ready for impact. My buddy was spiting at him when he was following. I dont think he realized. he must of thought it was water.

This is the 2nd time I swore I wasnt gonna go on a big weekend and every 5 years or so I go to remind myself not to go
Rob

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: Holy mother of god

I went out on Mission bay on the 4th last year... This year I stayed home and worked on the boat.

Nuff said.

 

[redfury]

Re: Holy mother of god

I'd say short of it causing potential legal troubles, a paint ball gun in the boat for those idiots would be the perfect thing. I had brought my wife and her friend out for some casual fishing out on a lake that receives a lot of recreational traffic and were fishing near the shoreline along the docks in a little 14ft boat with a 7.5hp and this idiot in a seadoo flies up and sprays us really good. If I had more time to react, I'd have thrown my anchor at him. These people riding PWC thinking it's some kind of fun to mess with other boats should lose their boats.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: Holy mother of god

Keep the paintballs in the cooler.
It slows your reaction time,BUT,realy gets your point across if you do connect!
Plus,they ain't likely to come back for a confrontation at close range.

Or,keep the flare gun handy.

Any tips for DIY torpedoes?

 

[woodrat]

Re: Holy mother of god

I know a couple of kayakers on the east coast who carry a flare gun on the deck for jetski abatement. All they've ever had to do is point the thing...

 

[Baston]

Re: Holy mother of god

As I have been reading this forum I have see some very scary suggestions made in how to deal with rude boaters. I use the term boaters as an all encompassing word due to the fact that anyone piloting a pleasure craft of any sort is a boater. Just like anyone driving any vehicle is a driver.
I have been a boater for many years, my wife and I have taken many scouts canoeing, sailing, boating and have taken them jetsking with us. I have always taught them to always be looking out for themselves and other. I have taught them that a kind word or request will go farther then an rude word or gesture. Yes there will be stupid people who boat and drive. But we as responsible boaters need to set the tone and inform, teach and train other to do the same. And if someone is a danger to themselves and other then the appropriate action needs to be taken and the authorities notified. But deliberate putting someone else in harms way because you are upset at them for their stupidity,
One: puts you at their level and no better and Two: Leaves you open to arrest or legal action. Is it worth it?

 

[ddennis]

Re: Holy mother of god

The problem is, 99% of the time it is your word against theirs. You can call DNR or Whoever all you want...unless THEY see it happen there is nothing they will do. BUT..if you scare the pants off from the idiots in question, say suddenly come off plane when a jetflea is tailing you...not enough to hurt them (or your boat) but enough for them to have to stop and check their shorts...maybe...JUST MAYBE they will learn a lesson. Doubtful they will learn...but its posssible.

The REAL solution to the issue is for boaters to unite and contact their legislators and demand stricter boating laws. Perhaps a "boating license"?
I vote for an IQ test for boaters and car drivers alike! THAT my friend would solve 90% of all issues we have now.

 

[woodrat]

Re: Holy mother of god

I would never actually pull the trigger on that flare gun, but as the title of this thread says, "holy mother of god", what are you supposed to do with these idiots? Calling the authorities is a big fat waste of time. Around my parts, the sheriff's department would take an hour just to get their boat in the water, assuming that they would even respond to your complaint in the first place, which they wouldn't. There is no harbor patrol, and the coast guard is rarely seen this far up the river. Like ddennis said, unless the doofus pulls his stupid stunt RIGHT IN FRONT of a law enforcement officer, there is nothing that calling the authorites will do.

And even though I am a firm believer in always starting out with kindness and calmness in these kinds of situtations, if I had a jetski riding my wake like that and they wouldn't be waved off, then the time for kind words and requests has passed.

As a libertarian minded person, I hate to suggest that we make new laws for anything, but I have to agree that a boater's license would probably help a little. At least then everyone on the water would at least theoretically be aware of some basic facts like what different buoys mean, what the rules of the road are, and so forth. But every car driver is supposed to be licensed too and there are still plenty of idiots driving cars...

 

[rebuilt]

Re: Holy mother of god

Not to sound trite, or attempt to wax philosophical, but it is a true fact of history, ignorance cannot be educated out of an idiot in one teaching. I drove 18 wheelers for 6 years. I averaged well over 77,000 lbs per trip. I know this is not an 18's rant venue, but some of the stuff I saw and was forced to avoid is enough to make the pope lose his religion. The goofballs you guys had to deal with sound like the same ones we used to talk about (or rage about) over a cup of coffee. IMNotSoHO, sane, responsible folks will bear the brunt of covering for the inexcusable behavior of the not so sane, not so responsible types; time after time. I have pulled some angry stunts as a trucker, (crowding the line, pulling trailer brakes only, which leaves a nasty cloud of rubber and smoke, etc) but never, and I mean never, endangered another life. That nut might be someone else's Dad, Mom, or Kid. Jeez, they used to make my blood boil. That's one reason I don't drive 18's anymore. I wanted to mount a paint ball gun in my grill, armed with international orange paintballs. Tag a nut, do the rest of the motoring public a favor by labeling him as such, and call it my good dead for the day. Just the thought brings a certain level of satisfaction. But vigilantes don't enjoy very long careers. I hear ya, ya gotta do whatcha gotta do. Maybe a water soluble stink solution would back'em off. You know, like skunk juice. When goofy is riding your wake, or mine, cut loose with some nasty odor solution. I don't know how viable this is, but my Grandpa used to concoct a vile solution to hide his scent when he was running his trap lines. Completely biodegradeable. It was foul. KR

 

[Rob454]

Re: Holy mother of god

I would never actually pull the trigger on that flare gun,...

I would if the guy pissed me off enough. I had a guy one time on a jet ski buzz me. I was on my jet ski and I was floating my wife on her jet ski and both floating and talking. i think I was drinking a coke or pepsi. This jack *** comes by buzzes me and basically throws a huge wave over us. then he loops back and because he was blinded by the wall of water hits the throttle and comes STRAIGHT AT ME. at full throttle. i jump off the ski. he hit my ski and flies off. I swam over to him made sure he was ok then I got back on my ski. I towed him in. We were the only ones out there that day. he basically climbed up the front of my ski so my ski was driveable and jsut cracked the fiberglass. So we get back to the dock. the guy was apologetic. Then I ask him for his insurance. He looked at me like i was a alien. I got his info and called my insurance company. he offered to pay for it himslef but I basically been there done that. people say they will pay until the bill is actually due then they whine and moan about costing too much. His dad actually ended up paying for the damages which were abotu 1800$.
part of the problem is not just the people riding jet skis its also the industry and the dealers. the dealer wants to sell you a ski then they give you a videotape which 99% of the people who buy a ski will not ever watch.
Most jet skiers dont even know the rules of the water. they just think its on the water there are no rules.
i used to think that but I educated myself. within 1 year I actually became a safe boater on a jet ski. after 10 years I basically graduated to a boat
Rob

 

[logartist]

Re: Holy mother of god

I'm a rookie myself, but the second time I had my 18' Galaxie SST out, I decided to try and fish from her and anchored off a weed line. My wife and brother were with me. We fished for about 20 minutes before some dork in a cabin cruiser decides to forego using the rest of the lake and pass by within 30' or so. Being an ametour, I had no Idea the size of wake a boat that big makes and I didn't react in time to pull anchor, start the boat and move off (which would have been a feat to be proud of anyway). Obviously, his wake swamped my boat, which clears the water by only 12" or so. Then on the ramp, I loaded her quickly and neatly, but paused for an extra 30 seconds before pulling away completely to pull the plug and drain off all that water we took on. It is my understanding that you are supposed to drain your water on the ramp, but someone waiting for my side of the double ramp got impatient and complained, telling me that I needed to get out of the way. I ignored him and pulled out seconds later as planned anyway. Was I being inconsiderate? I guess I could have moved and drained on flat ground? I dunno about these things.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Holy mother of god

Don't worry about it. That guy was just complaining to hear himself complain. If you have to drain your bilge, do it. It only takes a minute.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Holy mother of god

I was just out at mission bay this weekend. It is the over the line tournament and it was PACKED!!
It was like an obstacle course just trying to do a circle around the bay. The chop was like two feet from boat/ski wakes coming from every which way.
I normally do not get irritated by the seadoo's but this weekend changed my mind.
They do not obey one rule. No wake zones do not exist to them. They're so busy screwing around in your wake they just do not pay attention. I see people that are obviously new owners with their two kids on trying to show off and putting their kids in danger. Too much motor, too little maturity and alot of testosterone.
I saw my very first "almost" death.
Two guys on a ski must have been hauling azz and lost control. Their ski was a good 150 feet from where they were at. They had on BLACK (why black? should be illegal) life vests and were swimming for their ski. They were tired so they must have been trying to chase it for awhile. I slowed down to offer help and then saw a third guy way back. This is right in the "freeway" of the bay I might add. I swung around to raise my flag and saw a boat probably doing 35-40 going right at the third guy. That kid almost lost his life by 12". The boat never saw him, just barley missed him. My heart was pumping, scared the h@ll outa me.
I ventured out into the channel and they were just as thick out there. I keep having to steer to my starboard side (where the shore was) to avoid them and eventually got pushed to within 50 feet of the shore. Some fisherman started cussing me out...
I loaded up after that and sat at the beach........
They need to keep them in their own area.

 

[logartist]

Re: Holy mother of god

I am a new boater, but I took the time to take a state certified boating safety course. It was worth far more than the $20 it cost me. Either people don't know, don't care or both it seems about the rules of the water. Simple observation of stand-on vessel laws would solve so many problems. Getting on the water with no homework done on this stuff, not to mention lacking any common sense or courtesy is why so many people lose their lives every year. (Oh and alchohol has a bit to do with it most times too.) If only stupid people were limited to risking their OWN lives and property...

 

[fishmonger.33]

Re: Holy mother of god

i have a cottage on south river (a river in ontario no wider then 40 feet) there is a posted speed limit, and no one follows it, it is a losing battle, by the time you call in to get police up there, they are long gone, so its useless. i somtimes sit out off my dock in a canoe in hopes they will slow down, its still doesnt work, i have idiots on jetskis buzz me while im fishing in 5 feet of water in the weeds. a 20 foot pontoon boat with a 90 on it comes racing in 2 or 3 times a day to carry ppl into a water acess fishing camp, he does 30 miles an hour past me in a canoe, putting off an 18'' wake, its rediculous, some of the morons on the water. i was driving down the river with two skis on my ***( like withing 20 feet) i was going like no wake, and they would play tag right behind me, and as i was coming round a bend, one slowed so they wouoldnt hit me, and the other came flying around and launched themselfs off the other, put both the skis upside down and knocked one of the passengers on the slow moving one right out, the sped off to find help (i guess because they were to embarassed to come to me. i later found them down the river at somones dock with an ambulance there, i stopped in to check things out, but it just drive me crazy, to see some of the things that go on, my cottage is in a remote area too, not much boat traffic, but these ppl still seem to find there way to me to **** me off. a few weeks ago, we were fishing about 30 feet off a buoy, and this marked chanel is at least a mile wide, its in the middle fo the lake, and this guy in a 30+ cigarette boat decides to give it all shes got in between us and the buoy. smart move. i literally could have casted and hit his boat. and the wave was huge, our 17 foot was nearly taking on water.

it would certainly help to have boaters in ontario have to take a boating saftey cource instead of just writing the lisence, sure people can write the test and pass, but they dont have a clue about how to handle situations like the ones mentioned on the thread

fishmonger