No Courtesy on the water.....

[m casey stock]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

if that's the case I'd agree that the "coastal standards" are indeed higher standards, and if ignoring someone paddling 100 yards from the dock is "inland lake" standard, that's pretty low. I guess it's a picture of the difference between boaters and those who merely own a boat.

It's not the inland standard around here I guess everywhere you go there will always be those that are going to be "all about themselves"

 

[BIGALF]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

Speaking of courtesy,last week I had to get towed by SeaTow about 2 miles at a cost of $700. Good thing I have insurance since I believe no one would have stopped to help me. I say this because on the way back to the boat ramp we were passed by many boats who didn't have the courtesy to slow down as they approached me being towed. If they weren't going to slow down do you think they would have stopped to offer help. I don't. That's why I have insurance. I know boating in an area that doesn't have a tow service nearby by is a different problem.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

Speaking of courtesy,last week I had to get towed by SeaTow about 2 miles at a cost of $700. Good thing I have insurance since I believe no one would have stopped to help me. I say this because on the way back to the boat ramp we were passed by many boats who didn't have the courtesy to slow down as they approached me being towed. If they weren't going to slow down do you think they would have stopped to offer help. I don't. That's why I have insurance. I know boating in an area that doesn't have a tow service nearby by is a different problem.

I need to talk to my insurance agent, AGAIN. I was just on the phone with one of his secretarys yesterday asking about tow insurance and she said they didn't offer any. I'm now hoping she was just wrong, because I would love to have some. You never know.

 

[emoney]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

Well, for less than $150.00 you buy BoatUS unlimited towing and they're including trailer breakdown insurance too, I think. I can't even begin to champion the need for tow insurance. Just having it makes me feel safer, not even counting the fact that I've used it once a year for the past two years and we all know how much a tow is. We're lucky around these parts as we have a GREAT local captain. Not only is his response time awesome but he's super friendly and just a nice old salt.

As for the above conversation about the "marine signals", I had to laugh at the response from someone that said, "We don't have many marines around here"...buwahahaha (I mean, that was sarcasm right? Please tell me it was.....) Lakes I'm sure, are different that say the Gulf of Mexico, and I've been a lake boater without tow insurance, but now that I've "found it" even then I wouldn't go without it and it's probably cheaper annually than it is for us. As to "courtesy"? Well, that's going the wayside everywhere in life, not just out on the water. Like they say, "It is what it is".......

 

[m casey stock]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

Well, for less than $150.00 you buy BoatUS unlimited towing and they're including trailer breakdown insurance too, I think. I can't even begin to champion the need for tow insurance. Just having it makes me feel safer, not even counting the fact that I've used it once a year for the past two years and we all know how much a tow is. We're lucky around these parts as we have a GREAT local captain. Not only is his response time awesome but he's super friendly and just a nice old salt.

As for the above conversation about the "marine signals", I had to laugh at the response from someone that said, "We don't have many marines around here"...buwahahaha (I mean, that was sarcasm right? Please tell me it was.....) Lakes I'm sure, are different that say the Gulf of Mexico, and I've been a lake boater without tow insurance, but now that I've "found it" even then I wouldn't go without it and it's probably cheaper annually than it is for us. As to "courtesy"? Well, that's going the wayside everywhere in life, not just out on the water. Like they say, "It is what it is".......

Thanks for the info. I would feel better with some insurance myself. I mainly boat in the back bays and the inner-coastal waterways, sometimes in the gulf just a short ways, but I usually find myself hrs. away from where I put in. Might get lucky and get a free tow to the nearest ramp, but would still need a Taxi to the truck and trailer. I'm sure cheaper than the water tow, but still.

 

[emoney]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

Thanks for the info. I would feel better with some insurance myself. I mainly boat in the back bays and the inner-coastal waterways, sometimes in the gulf just a short ways, but I usually find myself hrs. away from where I put in. Might get lucky and get a free tow to the nearest ramp, but would still need a Taxi to the truck and trailer. I'm sure cheaper than the water tow, but still.

Yeah I just noticed you're in my type water. Definitely go to the BoatUS or SeaTow website and check out their two programs. I went with BoatUS because i got great local recommendations on the captain. I'm sure they're both great companies and somebody around there will have an opinion as to which one might have an edge in your area. I had a sailboat that I sold this past Spring. On the day the new buyer came for the sea trial, some idiot (that would be me) didn't check the weather when they went out. Got caught by one of those "pop-up" t-storms and the winds kicked up to 25-30knots. Well, if you've ever had a sailboat, then you know that don't like to head into the wind and my diesel just wasn't strong enough to power her through the wind. So, I just called "Capt Red" and he towed me to my dock and it cost me nothing. I was so happy, lol.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

As for the above conversation about the "marine signals", I had to laugh at the response from someone that said, "We don't have many marines around here"...buwahahaha (I mean, that was sarcasm right? Please tell me it was.....) Lakes I'm sure, are different that say the Gulf of Mexico, and I've been a lake boater without tow insurance, but now that I've "found it" even then I wouldn't go without it and it's probably cheaper annually than it is for us. As to "courtesy"? Well, that's going the wayside everywhere in life, not just out on the water. Like they say, "It is what it is".......

Yes - it was a joke Tow insurance depends on where you are. Certainly makes sense if you are in a serviced area. In MN it doesn't make much sense unless you have a huge boat and stay on lake minnetonka or parts of the river where they have tow service. MN is the land of 10,000 lakes and only one of them is serviced by a tow service. Luckily most folks look out for each other here.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

I have been both the tower and towee.

First time was as a towee. I was probably about 13 to 14 years old, and was with a friend about the same age. We had taken the friends rowboat with a 60's vintage Evinrude 6 horse diagonally across the lake to the fuel dock to fill up a tank. When we got there, we were directed to the shallow part of the fuel dock, and not knowing the depth, grazed the prop on the sandy bottom. My friends dad had used a brass pin for the prop pin, and the shock of the prop hitting the bottom was enough to sheer the soft brass. When we finished fueling up, I started the motor, and realized I was "stuck in neutral". Can't remember if we had a pair of oars on board, but even if we did, it would have been a blister raising row back to the other shore. Luckally one of the other fuel dock patrons gave us a tow back. Of course being that young age, I didn't have much money to offer him, but made sure I thanked him for his efforts.

The other time was as the tower. I had just swam out to the Glastron, and was going to take it out for a little run. Coming towards me while hugging the moorings was a lady in a 12' aluminum row boat with what looked like an outboard from the 30's hanging on the back. She was pulling a 18-20' bow rider with either her husband or friend on board (can't remember), and it was looking pretty ugly. Even barely moving along, the tow rope was going taught and slack. Every time she took the slack out of the line, her little boat would jerk around, and she was getting shaken up pretty good.
Now by some peoples standards on here, there was no need to offer assistance, just crack a beer and enjoy the water right?
I yelled out if they wanted a tow. They were being polite, and said they are already towing the boat, but I insisted, and they agreed. The destination for the boat was a couple miles down shore at the town boat ramp where the trailer for the boat was. I hooked up, raised the engine up to 1200 and towed him down. It was 30 minutes of my life that I don't regret. He offered to mail me a check, but I refused and told him the fuel gauge didn't even move during the tow (which it didn't).

One of the motto's in life that I personally subscribe to is s*** happens. Perhaps the gentleman with the dead boat was a neglectful owner. Or for all I know, he was a Volvo Penta master technician who forgot his crystal ball to predict any number of the things that could go wrong, that aren't checked during annual maintence, and will leave you stranded.

I don't know, and couldn't care less. I'm not going to use the self-serving cop-out that they should have known, or had been better prepared to excuse my self from offering to help out.

 

[OllieC]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

I'm trying to find a service in the Lake Superior/Duluth area - no luck on the internet -yet.....

 

[Lowe170]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

well you sort of stated one of the problems ,,, a bass boat,,, and a jet boat,,,,,.

Hey, c'mon now, we aren't all animals; I would've waved (hand and wake) zooming by . Just kidding, seriously, and I don't think these days that courtesy is much better on the water than it is on the road...

 

[jkust]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

A few weeks back we were on a lake and cruised past a pontoon full of people waving their hands over their heads but were only a couple hundred feet from shore in a narrow section of the lake. I pulled up and lo and behold they were a bunch of teens just waving for no reason as boats past them by. Didn't quite understand why.

 

[jkust]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

Yes - it was a joke Tow insurance depends on where you are. Certainly makes sense if you are in a serviced area. In MN it doesn't make much sense unless you have a huge boat and stay on lake minnetonka or parts of the river where they have tow service. MN is the land of 10,000 lakes and only one of them is serviced by a tow service. Luckily most folks look out for each other here.

oldJeep, not to hijack but which Lake Minnetonka accesses can you get a parking spot during the week? In my nearly 40 year's I've never been on Lake Minnetonka and the wife wants to get on before the season is over.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

oldJeep, not to hijack but which Lake Minnetonka accesses can you get a parking spot during the week? In my nearly 40 year's I've never been on Lake Minnetonka and the wife wants to get on before the season is over.

I use the launch at the Lake Minnetonka Regional park (minnetrista - County 44 west side of lake) which is about 3 miles from my house.

It can fill up but we are generally on the water by 10AM.
It never fills up during weekdays.
It has somewhere around 50 spots and you get a nice walk/jog to and from the lot.
http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks/lake-minnetonka-park.aspx

 

[Lakes84]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

One of the motto's in life that I personally subscribe to is s*** happens. Perhaps the gentleman with the dead boat was a neglectful owner. Or for all I know, he was a Volvo Penta master technician who forgot his crystal ball to predict any number of the things that could go wrong, that aren't checked during annual maintence, and will leave you stranded.

I don't know, and couldn't care less. I'm not going to use the self-serving cop-out that they should have known, or had been better prepared to excuse my self from offering to help out.

Amen!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

I use the launch at the Lake Minnetonka Regional park (minnetrista - County 44 west side of lake) which is about 3 miles from my house.

It can fill up but we are generally on the water by 10AM.
It never fills up during weekdays.
It has somewhere around 50 spots and you get a nice walk/jog to and from the lot.
http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks/lake-minnetonka-park.aspx

Should also note that there is a cost for this launch - yearly is $35, I think the daily rate is $8?

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

if that's the case I'd agree that the "coastal standards" are indeed higher standards, and if ignoring someone paddling 100 yards from the dock is "inland lake" standard, that's pretty low. I guess it's a picture of the difference between boaters and those who merely own a boat.

Maybe you misunderstand the thrust of my jib?

The "standard" I was referring to is the standard of preparedness, skill, and the practice of carrying backup for most major items on the boat maintained by many serious boaters. I suggest that it is (a) reasonable for casual boaters to go boating on the weekend on many inland lakes without (b) living up to those high standards of boating excellence. My implication is that it might be considered churlish to ignore their plight when such recreational boaters hit a spot of trouble on the basis that they (said recreational boater) shoulda known better. Just sayin'.

 

[QC]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

One of the motto's in life that I personally subscribe to is s*** happens. Perhaps the gentleman with the dead boat was a neglectful owner. Or for all I know, he was a Volvo Penta master technician who forgot his crystal ball to predict any number of the things that could go wrong, that aren't checked during annual maintence, and will leave you stranded.

I don't know, and couldn't care less. I'm not going to use the self-serving cop-out that they should have known, or had been better prepared to excuse my self from offering to help out.

Amen 2. Perfect!

 

[acarter92]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

One of the motto's in life that I personally subscribe to is s*** happens. Perhaps the gentleman with the dead boat was a neglectful owner. Or for all I know, he was a Volvo Penta master technician who forgot his crystal ball to predict any number of the things that could go wrong, that aren't checked during annual maintence, and will leave you stranded.

I don't know, and couldn't care less. I'm not going to use the self-serving cop-out that they should have known, or had been better prepared to excuse my self from offering to help out.

+1, hit the nail on the head!

Austin

 

[foodfisher]

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

+++ Been accused of being a white knight on shining steed.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: No Courtesy on the water.....

I need to talk to my insurance agent, AGAIN. I was just on the phone with one of his secretarys yesterday asking about tow insurance and she said they didn't offer any. I'm now hoping she was just wrong, because I would love to have some. You never know.

read your policy. most boat insurance will pay towing up to about $500. So the $700 tow would cost $200 and you already paid for it. Sometimes an additional policy makes sense, sometimes not. The tow companies will tow non-members; you just have to pay for it all at once instead of in annual installments.