lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

[dkorzun21]

Just wondering if any one else has seen this before I was at the boat launch this weekend and there was a line about 13 boats waiting to launch ( State launch) As I pulled in a saw the police next in line at the boat launch but every one was going around him. He was messing with the straps on the back of the boat. I thought to myself maybe he having trouble with the motor or something or just pulled it out and parked it in front on everyone. 20 mins later 3 boats till I launch. As I was pulling up the cops jumped in front of my truck as the other one pulls the boat in front of my truck guess they where ready to go into the water. No problem just waited for a dozen boats what's another one so im watching the cops try and launch there boat and none of them could get the wench to release. Could only get it to tighten not loosen. So 5 mins later with people watching them I jumped in to see what the deal was and noticed they where just trying to crank it the opposite direction instead of moving that little switch thing that lets it release not sure what its call but we all know what im talking about. So I took it off for them safety chain and all. The cop start pushing on the boat like it was just going to slide of the trail with the boat barely in the water. At this point he called the other cop over to help push and I told him he needed to back the truck in more. Hoped in his truck backed it up 3 feet hit the break and he was good to go.

All my buddies where like good move hopefully they will remember you. which I guess would be a good thing if they ever stop me but how often do theses guys use there boats? Kind of hard to imagine that if there boat potroal they would have a problem. He did say it was a new boat and trailer but come on. Maybe they usally leave them in the water docked. come to think of it I have never seen them launch before.
David Korzun

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Why do people have such a hard time differentiating between wench and winch? Cause I sure know a wench when I see one, and I am certain the police didn't have one on their boat when launching.

That said, that's pretty odd, the enforcers should at least be as knowledgeable as the people they are out there watching.

Ian

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Cops are people too. There are many skills that police officers are required to learn...just like a lot of us. It just happens that the skills that they are not interested in tend to be those that are unimportant to them. Just as there are many police officers that are proficient with a firearm and there are those I would be afraid to be around when they draw their weapons. This is another case of them learning.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Great story!!!

I could go on and on about the incompetence of the police when it comes to boating, but dont want to offend anyone in LE

Suffice it to say, that 95% of the ones I have seen have no clue what they are doing on the water... its as if, they just grab patrol officers and say "ok your on the boat today" and send em off...

Worse one I ever saw was a long time ago (1989?), a group of 4 officers (2 local, 2 US Customs), in a brand spanking new scarab (30ft ish), with triple 200's on the back... guess it was their first time out, and they were trying to make everyone leave one of the local spoil islands.. they wanted to beach their boat and question people, then give them a ride back to shore etc... I was on the boat with them at the time (long story dont want to go into ).. and I kept telling the driver if he was going to beach it, he needed to account for the wind and current, and not keep aiming for the middle of the small beach, but instead aim all the way to the starboard, and then as he idle'd up he would end up in the middle... needless to say, they couldn't care less about what I had to say, and kept trying the process over and over again each time wacking the props against the oyster beds... after about 5 attempts, he finally gave up, and made everyone on the island swim out to their boat...

When they got back, they tilted up the motors and all three of their shiny new SS props were all tore up...

I just laughed to myself and went on my way

 

[Viking...]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

I am retired from our provincial police force.

Our marine units are extensively trained not only for law enforcement, but also for marine safety and rescue.
Not all police forces have the training budget to go along with the equipment they purchase, and that's a sad reality.

The situation you described just underscores the different skills required for boating.
It's not like owning or operating a car.

Hopefully the good men of your local police force will earn their lumps without too many mishaps or embarrassing setbacks.

Regards.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Those DNR officers probably only launch that patrol boat once a year, it's then kept in slip at the marina, why launch during the height of an afternoon rush would be my question to them.

 

[lowkee]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Our esteemed police dept has a police runabout (22'-ish). Note, this town is 40 minutes away from every body of water. By the time they would get the prop wet, they are 4 towns outside of jurisdiction. Seems to me some towns have the budget for training, they just want to show off in other, more retarded ways.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Around me they can drop'em in as fast or faster then the weekenders. Better than i can too. But they dont have the wife standing in the boat eather.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

I had quite an encounter with the Air Force Police off of Macdill A.F.B. before. This was in 02, and I am guessing that they were running a brand new 21 (mol) foot center console, with a Merc 225 outboard. The guys were very young, and very rude. I had my military id, and I was going in the marina portion of the air force base to get some gas, they pulled up on me, as expected, and I showed them my id. They proceeded to argue with me about anything and everything, they were trying to convince me that the sky was green pretty much. After about a 10 minute hassle, I made it to the dock, tied off (my jet ski at the time), and proceeded to refuel. These guys go wide open in a no wake zone back into the bay, and when I was getting ready to leave, come WOT in the no wake zone to the dock. The one guy was driving, and the other was trying to catch the seawall. Well, he caught it alright, at about 15 mph. The crunch that boat made was sickening, you hate to see a boat take that kind of abuse. I just had to cringe. Then the driver proceeded to yell at the other guy on why he let the boat hit the dock, he's a worthless pos, bla bla bla.

Now, as a former sailor myself, I have the utmost respect for the military. I would gladly give a veteran the shirt off my back if they so desired. However, as with every other aspect in life, you always got those bad apples in every bunch. These guys seriously did not need to be operating any kind of water craft. I don't think they went through any training. The best part was when the OIC walked onto the dock and asked what was going on. Man, he made those guys feel about two inches tall. Once again, all I could do was cringe.

 

[jhogue46140]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Same here. I watched our dnr launch just the other day. One guy backed the truck up while the other was in the boat launched and on the way in less than a minute. The guy driving the truck left. We weren't sure where he went? This wasn't a state lake but was owned by a power company and the city leased it. DNR managed the fishery.

 

[dkorzun21]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Yeah it was just weird to me they must of been new or just dont launch the boat often. They where fine once they got in the water. I think they where just there that one day on the weekend because the lake was so packed and the sheriffs wherent there. Im not sure who they where but they where wear shirts that said police and had guns so I was thinking it might have been the staties. If you respect them most of the time they will respect you. I was glad to help them out because I would hope some one would do it for me if I needed it.. Just thought they where pro's at boating etc.

 

[Mark42]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

Why do people have such a hard time differentiating between wench and winch? Cause I sure know a wench when I see one, and I am certain the police didn't have one on their boat when launching.

I keep a winch on the trailer, and wench in the boat.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: lake police / state, boat launching problems... shouldnt they be pro's

I keep a winch on the trailer, and wench in the boat.

We'll be sure to not tell her you said that.

Ian