nphilbro
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2011
- Messages
- 304
I have a small lake near my home that is easy to get to. Fishing is usually up until 10am when it gets hot, then the swimmers/skiers/PWC come out. Unwritten rule but followed closely.
We got out there about noon on Friday just so I could pull the kids around on the tube and pull into some of the coves where other boats were anchored so the kids could swim - yes, it was a hot day in western Washington.
Quickly, two boats anchored off just outside the channel of the no wake zone in the middle of what is traditionally the turn around point for skiers/tubers/joy boaters with their orange flags up with kids swimming off the back. So we lost a good 100 yards there. Then there were the new wake boarders that were in the ski lane trying to teach newbies so the flag was up most of the time - cutting off that channel in about 3 spots. There were about 20 PWC on this lake, most of whom were rentals based on the same yellow life vest from the rental place.
I'm pulling my kids and had to keep my air horn going all the time (it seemed) as these jet skis seemed to like to jump my wake RIGHT BEHIND MY KIDS ON THE TUBE! I have to by a new air horn now! Frankly, I don't care how close they want to get when I'm not towing. But SERIOUSLY!
On several occasions I pulled next to others and asked if they had their "boater education card" on them and if they could pull it out. Not one of them, including a "F-that sh-). I called the sheriff to tell him there was going to be a bad accident on the lake that day and there were too many dangerous and unqualified boaters out there. They never showed (shocker). After 3 turns on the lake with the kids we pulled into a cove next to some other boats and just let the kids swim for a couple of hours (between the boats and shore) even as the occassional boat would fly through the no-wake shore zone.
The following day the Sheriff showed up about 1pm and towed and arrested 2 boats and 3 people, ran boats out of the channel, then left.
Those renting PWC aren't required to carry the B.E.C. but they were the worst offenders by far. I hope they start giving them at least a short course on that particular lake (including the correct direction to follow and right of way, and consequences). My more experienced boating friends complain to no end about having to get these cards even though they've been boating all their lives. Now I just remind them, the cards are for their safety, not their education (even though I learned quite a few new things from the course).
Arrtgggg! End of Rant.
We got out there about noon on Friday just so I could pull the kids around on the tube and pull into some of the coves where other boats were anchored so the kids could swim - yes, it was a hot day in western Washington.
Quickly, two boats anchored off just outside the channel of the no wake zone in the middle of what is traditionally the turn around point for skiers/tubers/joy boaters with their orange flags up with kids swimming off the back. So we lost a good 100 yards there. Then there were the new wake boarders that were in the ski lane trying to teach newbies so the flag was up most of the time - cutting off that channel in about 3 spots. There were about 20 PWC on this lake, most of whom were rentals based on the same yellow life vest from the rental place.
I'm pulling my kids and had to keep my air horn going all the time (it seemed) as these jet skis seemed to like to jump my wake RIGHT BEHIND MY KIDS ON THE TUBE! I have to by a new air horn now! Frankly, I don't care how close they want to get when I'm not towing. But SERIOUSLY!
On several occasions I pulled next to others and asked if they had their "boater education card" on them and if they could pull it out. Not one of them, including a "F-that sh-). I called the sheriff to tell him there was going to be a bad accident on the lake that day and there were too many dangerous and unqualified boaters out there. They never showed (shocker). After 3 turns on the lake with the kids we pulled into a cove next to some other boats and just let the kids swim for a couple of hours (between the boats and shore) even as the occassional boat would fly through the no-wake shore zone.
The following day the Sheriff showed up about 1pm and towed and arrested 2 boats and 3 people, ran boats out of the channel, then left.
Those renting PWC aren't required to carry the B.E.C. but they were the worst offenders by far. I hope they start giving them at least a short course on that particular lake (including the correct direction to follow and right of way, and consequences). My more experienced boating friends complain to no end about having to get these cards even though they've been boating all their lives. Now I just remind them, the cards are for their safety, not their education (even though I learned quite a few new things from the course).
Arrtgggg! End of Rant.
