Look up!

[erikgreen]

So, this isn't a really big deal but I thought I'd share.

I was out running my side scan sonar off of my 20 foot boat on Lake Minnetonka here in the twin cities area... it's been used for many years as a recreational lake, site of an amusement park, and other things, and there are a couple small wrecks in it.

So there I was, cruising along into the wind at 4 mph (exactly... the sonar won't make a picture if you go faster) with 2 friends. We were towing about 70 feet of wire and a towfish behind us. One of my friends and I were looking at the display intently.. at 4 mph you don't have to watch constantly to avoid running aground, and even sailboats are maneuvering around us.

My friend's wife says "Uh, guys..... look to port!". We did, and no more than 50 feet off my port bow there is a 40-ish foot cabin cruiser with about 10 people on board doing maybe 12 mph or so.

I note quickly that even at 4mph I will likely collide with them, and to make things worse I'm pulling a towfish, so if I drop speed or turn it'll drop to the bottom, potentially fouling and getting lost. But, no choice.

I make a sharp starboard turn, dropping the fish on the bottom and avoiding the oncoming boat by about 25 feet. The other boat does not alter course or speed. It just cruises slowly by us, while we reel in the towfish and prep for another run. The driver waves at us. We don't wave back, and we resist gesturing otherwise.

I freely admit we could have been watching for other boats more carefully, but you'd think he could have tried a little harder not to be a jerk.....

Erik

 

[winenut]

Re: Look up!

This is one reason that boater safety courses should be mandatory. That boat to your port was the give-way vessel...however, everyone should be aware of what is on the water around them. You don't want to play chicken with a boat that size! They probably had no idea that they were breaking the rules.

 

[JB]

Re: Look up!

I've had more close calls on Lake Minnetonka with inattentive boaters, boats at night on plane with no lights (and apparently no pilot), show-off jerks and guys with big boats who assumed right of way by tonnage than all other waters I have fished combined. That includes the Fox River in WI during the walleye run and Sturgeon Bay, WI during the late 70s salmon runs.

 

[Don Dickinson]

Re: Look up!

i hear you about minnetonka. during the summer i spent a lot of days fishing there. i think that same cabin cruiser tried to swamp me with its 1/2 on-plane wake last weekend

i've given up trying to fish after work or on the weekends, its too busy and dangerous. lately, i limit my fishing to 5am - 10am and its been ok. sunday nights don't seem too bad, so i'll probably head out there then. i have a small bass-boat and have, unfortunately, many near accidents with much larger boats whose drivers weren't paying attention. a lot of drunks out there too, especially on the weekend. /shrug, a man's gotta fish and there's some big ones in that lake