Considerate Boaters................

[SeaRide]

This was a letter to the editor in our local paper, The State. It's funny and true.


Boaters should be more considerate

Oh goody. It’s boating season again on Lake Murray. So many options. So many possibilities. What shall I do? what shall I do?

I know. I can run around the lake in my extra-loud power boat, going at speeds that are dangerous, especially in narrow waters. People must like me, because when I run around at 1 or 2 in the morning, they wake up just to see me. They must think I’m No. 1, because some of them wave at me with only one finger.

Or maybe I can be the sightseer in the pontoon boat who cruises along the shoreline while people are swimming at their docks. Some say I’m supposed to stay 50 feet away, but I don’t care. And what’s this “right of way” I keep hearing about? So I cut between fishermen and the shoreline. They weren’t catching anything anyway.

Or maybe I’ll go into some nice, quiet little cove and drag my kids around on a tube while I make big waves for them to bounce on. I can really stir things up in places like Plantation Point where it is long and narrow. But why are there all those signs about being responsible for my wake? I suppose I could go out to the main lake where there are plenty of waves, but I want to zoom around in front of docks so everyone can see me and my kids.

Maybe I can run around at night on my jet ski even though I don’t have any lights. Better yet, I can go out in the evening, have a few too many drinks, forget to turn my lights on, and then drive too fast. That should be exciting.

Wait. Here’s one I haven’t thought about, and I’ll be one of the few people doing it too: I’ll be considerate.


He missed one item though. Hey, let's go visit so and so. The slope of their property is a little too steep for beaching. So let's use Searide's yard. His property has a very gentle slope - perfect for beaching the canbote. Look, even better, his shiney 230 is at the dock and if our CB breaks loose, it will gouge his fiberglass. Yes, a CBer attempted to beach his bote in my yard over the memorial day weekend. We exchanged a few words....He left.

 

[wvsundancer]

Satueday afternoon we are at the boat club getting ready for the wife's big 50 party, got the girl friends down helping with all the signs about how "old" the wife is.. and here comes this jerk in a BR doing 40+ mph 15' feet from the dock with a full load of drunks on board. The wake breaks a couple of boats loose form the dock (should have been tied down better in the first place) dumps a bunch of the party dicorations off the tables onto the dock... there are about 6 guys on the dock who now know this guys boat and we will have a nice talk next time we see him down at the levee...

 

[Wired2Cruze]

Add to the list:
While putting in at a public boat ramp, always remember to wait until you're 1/2 way down the ramp before loading all your gear, and feel free to take up 2 lanes (hey backing a trailer straight is tough!). Once unloaded at the dock, don't motor over to the courtesy dock while someone parks your rig (it's a waste of your valuable time), and tie your boat up on the part of the ramp closest to shore (so your buddy doesn't have to walk so far), and no one else can use the ramp until you've left the dock.....:smt021

 

[wvsundancer]

Add to the list:
While putting in at a public boat ramp, always remember to wait until you're 1/2 way down the ramp before loading all your gear, and feel free to take up 2 lanes (hey backing a trailer straight is tough!). Once unloaded at the dock, don't motor over to the courtesy dock while someone parks your rig (it's a waste of your valuable time), and tie your boat up on the part of the ramp closest to shore (so your buddy doesn't have to walk so far), and no one else can use the ramp until you've left the dock.....:smt021

Back in our trailer boat days we used to call them " rope holders" the guy backs the boat down the ramp.. gets the boat in the water.. the person in the boat dos not know how to operate the boat.. so the boat sits blocking the ramp until the operator returns from parking the truck... total time 15 min. my wife's best time 1:30 seconds from wet boat to dock..

 

[jason78]

He missed one item though. Hey, let's go visit so and so. The slope of their property is a little too steep for beaching. So let's use Searide's yard. His property has a very gentle slope - perfect for beaching the canbote. Look, even better, his shiney 230 is at the dock and if our CB breaks loose, it will gouge his fiberglass. Yes, a CBer attempted to beach his bote in my yard over the memorial day weekend. We exchanged a few words....He left.

Nice letter. One thing though many lake folks don't realize is that (at least on the lakes around here) it is perfectally legal to beach on someone's private property as long as they stay within the project boundary of the lake (which is a specific distance above mean sea level and differs between lakes). Last year there was a guy two lakes up from me that purposely beached on someones "private beach" every weekend just to be an a** because he knew he could. The property owners were raising he** and there was nothing that could be done about it. Our lakes here are regulated by the local power company which uses FERC guidlines so I am sure this is true on many other lakes as well. Personally, I would never beach my boat anywhere let alone in front of someone's home but in many cases there is nothing that can be done about it. Some people have no respect.

On the other hand I have been anchored in coves with friends before being very respectful of the residents well beyond 50 feet from their docks and had people ride out and say we were not allowed to be anchored in "their cove".

The most inconsiderate on our lake are the fisherman. They have 14,000 acres of lake to fish on but they insist on coming by the marina slips and casting weights in between the boats and the fingers many times hitting and nicking the Gelcoat on the boats. When you ask them not to, they shrug or say "what are you going to do?". Then they cut in front and tie up to private docks to fish as well. I like to fish and so do my sons but on my lake almost every fisherman I have encountered has been rude and cares nothing about anyone else's property- only about what fish might be under the water.

 

[Henry Boyd]

We have a similar ruling here in Mass. Although we own to the property to the low tide line, people engaged in fishing, or hunting may travel and use the area between the low water and high water marks. This is one of our laws that is a throwback to colonial times. Fortunately at low tide its mostly mud by our dock, so we don't get too many 'beach goers'

These people are everywhere. We usually get one or two a year who think nothing about tying up to our dock while they wait for someone to meet them.

Henry

 

[SeaRide]

Nice letter. One thing though many lake folks don't realize is that (at least on the lakes around here) it is perfectally legal to beach on someone's private property as long as they stay within the project boundary of the lake (which is a specific distance above mean sea level and differs between lakes). Last year there was a guy two lakes up from me that purposely beached on someones "private beach" every weekend just to be an a** because he knew he could. The property owners were raising he** and there was nothing that could be done about it. Our lakes here are regulated by the local power company which uses FERC guidlines so I am sure this is true on many other lakes as well. Personally, I would never beach my boat anywhere let alone in front of someone's home but in many cases there is nothing that can be done about it. Some people have no respect.

On the other hand I have been anchored in coves with friends before being very respectful of the residents well beyond 50 feet from their docks and had people ride out and say we were not allowed to be anchored in "their cove".

The most inconsiderate on our lake are the fisherman. They have 14,000 acres of lake to fish on but they insist on coming by the marina slips and casting weights in between the boats and the fingers many times hitting and nicking the Gelcoat on the boats. When you ask them not to, they shrug or say "what are you going to do?". Then they cut in front and tie up to private docks to fish as well. I like to fish and so do my sons but on my lake almost every fisherman I have encountered has been rude and cares nothing about anyone else's property- only about what fish might be under the water.

Jason,

Lake Murray is a Scana/SCE&G lake. Technically the power co. owns everything below the 360' line and the boundary exenteding 75' above the line as well. I am not sure what SCANA's guidlines state regarding beaching on their property. Quite honestly, I don't really want to know as I am sure it's slanted in favor of the canboters. I am relativley certain the offender is illiterate. So, this shouldn't be a problem. If he is, he may try beaching with a running start and see if he can't use up a bit more real estate above the 360' line.

Our marinas have the same problem with fishermen. A co-worker of mine has a 290 and heard the distinct sound of lead weights, hooks and etc. slam against his hull one day while he was in the cabin. He took a look at the nicks in the decals and gel coat. Then discussed damages. The fisherman basically said not my problem. So the 290 owner called DNR and as it turned out, it was his problem. So, the fisherman had to stroke a check for his errant casting. This is the only time I have heard of one of these guys being caught and forking over $$$$.

 

[Presentation]

Wave To Everyone Who Passes By Or Get Off My Boat


Ok, that is it. I'm cutting the engines. We are not moving from this spot until one thing is made perfectly clear: Every single person aboard The Relaxer will wave exuberantly at anyone we pass or anyone who passes us, whether they are on shore or aboard another watercraft of any type, from cigarette boat on down to canoe. No exceptions.

If you cannot follow this one rule—a rule that everyone else out here on Keuka Lake seems to have no problem adhering to—then you can get the hell off my boat.

You know, I turned a blind eye when some of you chose to eschew the neon pink, tropical-themed beer koozies that I have provided both to keep your beverages cold and as an added signifier of summer fun. And I bit my tongue when you, Dave, boarded The Relaxer wearing jeans—jeans, for God's sake. But to sit at the helm looking at your cow-like stares while I wave my heart out at a couple passing by on a Sea-Doo, well, that's more than I can stand for.

You made me look like a fool. A goddamn fool! From this second forward, if you don't wave, then I hope you can ****ing swim.

Since most of you seem to be at a total loss as to appropriate leisure-time behavior aboard a vessel as fine as a 1999 Sea Ray 450 Sundancer, let me make this as explicit as possible. Waving unaccompanied by a loud "whoooooo!" or "paaarty!" is not waving. Waving with the hand in which you are holding a beer not only fails to qualify as waving, but is also tacky, rude, and, above all, lazy. If you are holding an infant, then I expect you to take the infant's hand and move it around in such a way as to simulate the baby's waving to the people we pass.

And if I catch any of you saluting, so help me God, I'll back up over you with the propellers after I've thrown you overboard.

By the way, if you think that being on the wakeboard, or the water skis, or even the inner tube exempts you from waving, then you are dead wrong. Whatever is being towed by The Relaxer is an extension of The Relaxer, and you will therefore be expected to behave in a manner that reflects that. Now, I realize that in instances of choppy water, waving might compromise your balance, as well as your overall mobility. In these situations, I don't necessarily expect you to wave. However, you goddamn better well be smiling, laughing, and generally showing people how much ****ing fun we're having.

And just so we're absolutely crystal clear: Dragging your hand through the water while the boat is moving? You're off the boat. Any utterance of "shiver me timbers"? You're off the boat. Asking to drive? You're off the ****ing boat faster than you think is even—wait, hold on a second….

Whooooooo! Yeah! Paaaarty!

Now, we're going to make three and a half more loops of the lake, and I expect to see you all waving and hollering at every man, woman, child, and dog we see. Waving and hollering like your goddamn lives depend on it. For some of you older passengers, it very well might. It's a pretty long way to shore for someone with rheumatoid arthritis, Martha.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/wave-to-everyone-who-passes-by-or-get-off-my-boat,11488/

 

[Bel_Mar_Pointe]

That's a great post.....

 

[floriduramax1]

Back in our trailer boat days we used to call them " rope holders" the guy backs the boat down the ramp.. gets the boat in the water.. the person in the boat dos not know how to operate the boat.. so the boat sits blocking the ramp until the operator returns from parking the truck... total time 15 min. my wife's best time 1:30 seconds from wet boat to dock..

My wife is a "rope holder"! We can put the 280 in I can park the truck and run back to the boat and start her and be gone by the time most people can get backed in:wow: We are no more than 2 minutes!

 

[JerryS]

This was a letter to the editor in our local paper, The State. It's funny and true.


Boaters should be more considerate
.........Blah Blah Blah .........

Wait. Here’s one I haven’t thought about, and I’ll be one of the few people doing it too: I’ll be considerate.

I wonder if these people can put their arrogance in their pockets long enough to be considerate. They need to sell their cottage and buy a cabin on some remote mountain in Montana.

I agree that you see a lot of really stupid, inconsiderate stuff on lake, but, come on is there a need to be major league whinner and act like you are so much better than everybody else? My bet is that these people are a real PIA.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I really "like" the people who come way out of the main channel to the area we're anchored to make sure we see how nice their boat is. And they often do it at a speed where the stern is digging in so they can show me how big a wake they can make.

Makes me wish I had my spud gun on board.

 

[TheLucille]

I wonder if these people can put their arrogance in their pockets long enough to be considerate. They need to sell their cottage and buy a cabin on some remote mountain in Montana.

I agree that you see a lot of really stupid, inconsiderate stuff on lake, but, come on is there a need to be major league whinner and act like you are so much better than everybody else? My bet is that these people are a real PIA.

Gotta be honest; I have the same impression of boaters in general as the writer of the letter the OP posted. As a whole, at least around here, they're rude arrogant asses. Like any stereotype, there are exceptions to the rule of course.

My addition to the list would be pontoon boats that drive with what they believe to be their headlights on. Seems the 65+ crowd around here is the major violators here; I'll shake my cane at them! In a crowded river with many drunks, it can really affect your night vision.

 

[WannaBSeaRayOwners]

First, that was hi-larious @Presentation! Second, talking about consideration, do you need to tell your guests not to bring their freakin' dog?! We'd just had our first kid, got a sitter so we could be carefree to go watch the fireworks, and our buddy brings a dog, who's never been on a boat and is afraid of fireworks. :huh:

 

[Ka1oxd]

I have 2 quick stories about ID 10 Ts. The first one, was that instead of towing someone who broke down the favor was returned to me when I needed a tow. pulling into the cove where I launched, it is a no wake area, and this group of 3 fishermen were in a rush to get in front of us to beat us to the launch. The channel is about 25 wide and goes shallow real quick. On board my boat was my 8 month old daughter. She just woke up and my wife picked up from the car seat as this ID 10 T went on plane and passed us. The boat rocked over to about 40 degrees and scared the hell out of my wife. My wife went to the guy once we were at the dock and gave him a piece of her mind. The guy was rude an a A$$. My wife took down his numbers and when we got home she called the DEP. A few days later, DEP called back and issued the guy $140 ticket.

The other issue was a bunch of us were camping on a 4th of July weekend. There were quite a few boaters there that we did not know. This one guy had a beautiful fireworks display that lasted until 11:00 We all went to bed, and about 3:30 in the morning, a huge bang went off. This guy fired a 2' homemade cannon. Scared the crap out of many of us. My girl friend at the time just got out of the military as an K9 MP. In the boat was a laser pointer. I jump out and went to confront the ID 10 T. He started to make the usual big man issues, then he threatened to go to his tent and get his Tec9. When he said that my girl friend put the laser dot on his chest. I saw it and took advantage of the moment. I told him that she just got back from Iraq. She was a little touchy and that if he even moved towards his tent, that there would be a hole where the red dot was. He looked down, the color drained from his face and his tone changed. The next morning he came to the boat with a pot of coffee to offer peace. After that weekend we never saw him on the river again.

 

[Smile Maker]

Wow, guys.

If y'all bought a boat to unwind, sorry to say it's not working for you.

 

[mddickens]

I have 2 quick stories about ID 10 Ts. The first one, was that instead of towing someone who broke down the favor was returned to me when I needed a tow. pulling into the cove where I launched, it is a no wake area, and this group of 3 fishermen were in a rush to get in front of us to beat us to the launch. The channel is about 25 wide and goes shallow real quick. On board my boat was my 8 month old daughter. She just woke up and my wife picked up from the car seat as this ID 10 T went on plane and passed us. The boat rocked over to about 40 degrees and scared the hell out of my wife. My wife went to the guy once we were at the dock and gave him a piece of her mind. The guy was rude an a A$$. My wife took down his numbers and when we got home she called the DEP. A few days later, DEP called back and issued the guy $140 ticket.

The other issue was a bunch of us were camping on a 4th of July weekend. There were quite a few boaters there that we did not know. This one guy had a beautiful fireworks display that lasted until 11:00 We all went to bed, and about 3:30 in the morning, a huge bang went off. This guy fired a 2' homemade cannon. Scared the crap out of many of us. My girl friend at the time just got out of the military as an K9 MP. In the boat was a laser pointer. I jump out and went to confront the ID 10 T. He started to make the usual big man issues, then he threatened to go to his tent and get his Tec9. When he said that my girl friend put the laser dot on his chest. I saw it and took advantage of the moment. I told him that she just got back from Iraq. She was a little touchy and that if he even moved towards his tent, that there would be a hole where the red dot was. He looked down, the color drained from his face and his tone changed. The next morning he came to the boat with a pot of coffee to offer peace. After that weekend we never saw him on the river again.

Love it! We all need a GF/Admiral like that!

 

[CV-23]

We have people that love to tube in front of our Boat Club, and go in circles, and we have no wake markers out there placed by the PA Fish Commission....I love the fine they get nailed with for doing so, Mike.

 

[jamesgang]

Here's another case of inconsiderate people! Yeah, I know a lot of guys grimmace when they see a woman in the driver's seat at a boat launch. There are three launches at our marina, two were occupied. I'm waiting in our 1987 fish & ski as the wife gets the truck & trailer and proceeds to pull up to get in position to back down the ramp. As it happens, the exit road from the parking lot is also the drive you must pull up into to get into position to back down the ramp. I watched as my wife had to sit blocking everything for several minutes while the inconsiderate drivers of cars exiting the parking lot would not stop long enough to let her back down the ramp out of the way. She patiently waited for them to get on by (well aware that all eyes were upon her) then proceeded to expertly position and back the trailer down the ramp and into the water - perfectly! I winched the boat onto the trailer, attached the chain and away we went. I was so proud. Nobody but me knew she had 24 years of practice.

 

[Wired2Cruze]

Back in our trailer boat days we used to call them " rope holders" the guy backs the boat down the ramp.. gets the boat in the water.. the person in the boat dos not know how to operate the boat.. so the boat sits blocking the ramp until the operator returns from parking the truck... total time 15 min. my wife's best time 1:30 seconds from wet boat to dock..

Yep, my wife & most of our friends qualify as "rope holders", but at least my wife knows how to park our rig. If it's a busy day = far walk, though, I'll park it and have her stay with the boat at the far end of the 75 ft dock, so at least others can put in and get out around us. :smt001