Dock Neighbor Doing Stupid Things This Weekend

[Prosideus]

So we have a boat that has been at the marina the entire time we have been there, at least three years. It is about an 07 44DB, nice boat with Cummings. Never used, never see the owners. The couple owning it are now divorced and the lady decides to let her new boyfriend take her four children and a couple of friends for a ride.

HE HAS NEVER DRIVEN A BOAT! He was reading the manuals the night before and takes off into the lake with four kids ages between 5-8 and a fifth one who is a baby. A slipmate told him to make sure he has life jackets on the kids.

WORSE YET. He is dragging the kids in a three person tube behind the 44DB up an down the lake at full speed making turns and completely disregarding his wake and other boaters.

About the same time we are getting back to our slip, he is making is way back to his slip - a very congested part of the marina which is the thoroughfare to and from the gas docks and restaurant. I get my boat in the slip and tied up quickly because I know what is coming.

The wind is mildly blowing, just enough to to be a nuisance and he is doing circles in front of his slip and in the middle of this thoroughfare.

I was finally able to board his bow as it came close enough to a finger and get the boat into the slip for him. The day could have been a total disaster for them, especially if one of the kids had fallen from the tube. I am not sure he could have safely navigated back to them in the water.

He should have never taken that boat out to start. He definitely did not need to be pulling the kids in a tube.

The entire dock was amazed at the unbelievable lack of judgement and decision-making from this guy. Thankfully they all returned safely.


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[hottoddie]

If he was not listed as an operator on the insurance policy then was the boat not being operated as uninsured. Stupid lady.

 

[Strecker25]

The most mind blowing part of this is the pulling a tube. I can't imagine in a boat that size

 

[WDCboater]

This is a big reason why I am 100% behind mandatory safety classes. In Washington, DC EVERY operator must have a safety card from a USCG approved safety course. In Virginia this is being phased in for everyone effective July 1, 2016. This is the first thing I'm asked for when boarded by USCG.

I would never think of pulling someone in a tube behind my 350 at speed. The wake we put out would easily throw an adult, let alone a kid.

Less dramatic, a few boats down from my slip a father and son went to take their 340 out Saturday. I was at the boat prepping it for my guests. The father was in his late 60's early 70's and at the helm. I felt bad for them because they couldn't get the boat out of the slip and then when they did they couldn't get it turned to port to exit the marina. He was clueless as he maneuvered the throttles back and forth. It was as if he had no idea what each prop was doing and when he panicked he started using the steering wheel, which only made matters worse. The son kept running around the boat with a boat hook to push them off of other boats.

 

[Bt Doctur]

In NJ you need a Boaters Safety Card ,State of New Jersey, Division of State police to operate any type of vessel. In some marina`s we get their attention by throwing sinkers or bottles.2nd offense is a call to the Marine Police and press charges.
That seems to get their attention and they stop acting stupid.

 

[Boat Guy]

So, let me digress a bit.... So, she recently divorced got the boat... (Let that sink in for a moment)... Now her BF is driving it with no experience...Endangering, not her kids, but her and her ex-husbands kids... Someone that knows the ex-husband should notify him. You should document what you witnessed.

The circle of American life..

 

[sdleo26]

I can't imagine he was even able to get a 45 ft boat out of the slip if he never was at the helm of a boat prior to that day. Wow is all I can say.

 

[Boz007]

I read this yesterday thinking about how crazy that is and didn't even realize you're on Old Hickory. What marina?

 

[jthatcher]

Glad I boat further up the lake.

 

[Vince_nj1]

So, let me digress a bit.... So, she recently divorced got the boat... (Let that sink in for a moment)... Now her BF is driving it with no experience...Endangering, not her kids, but her and her ex-husbands kids... Someone that knows the ex-husband should notify him. You should document what you witnessed.

The circle of American life..

That is exactly what was bothering me. Guys looses THAT boat in a divorce and next tool bag sleeping with his wife is enjoying the boat endangering the kids. I bet the ex-wife thinks it was a great day on the water :smt021

 

[Jacob]

Call the police and report an apparently intoxicated boat operator.

 

[PMC]

Towing kid on a tube with a 44' bridge is not a wise choice, but maybe a brief dock chat can clear it all up. Unless you are personally involved, and out for blood....involving the cops is a bit far in my eyes.

 

[AMFM3]

I would have had that dock chat with him. Let's say he does it again and this time someone gets hurt or killed. I'd feel like crap having not at least tried. If he doesn't react well, then call the cops next time he goes out.


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[Jacob]

I would have had that dock chat with him. Let's say he does it again and this time someone gets hurt or killed. I'd feel like crap having not at least tried. If he doesn't react well, then call the cops next time he goes out.


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Where I live, he would be arrested for operating a vessel without a Canadian Coast Guard Pleasure Craft Operator's card.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

i'd be locked up if my ex wife did that to our kids!!! I could give 2 s***s about the boat . :smt021

 

[AMFM3]

Where I live, he would be arrested for operating a vessel without a Canadian Coast Guard Pleasure Craft Operator's card.

It would be a ticket not arrest. The tickets for no PCOC Card go against your vehicle driver's license. Someone would've had to,call the cops to have it happen which didn't happen in this case.

 

[gerryb]

The ex husband as well as the ex wife and new BF are all tools IMO. What kind of guy going through a divorce doesn't end-up spending MORE time on a beautiful 44' yacht he owns? And leaves the keys just laying around? I do agree that he has the right to be pissed off regarding someone endangering the welfare of his kids that way but -on the other hand -maybe he was aware of what the ex planned to do and encouraged her to use the boat. Hope the kids have more common sense than their mother. Crazy story.

 

[JVM225]

Crazy story. Has me thinking that either the ex had a lousy lawyer, or she is such a head case that he was glad to be rid of her and was willing to sacrifice the boat for his freedom. The fact that she had the new guy running the boat and endangering the kids the way she did leads me to believe that the latter may be true.