First time out at night and on the 4th in the boat. WOW

[Morpheus]

Well I managed to make it out for the very first time at night and in a very crowded area to see fireworks.

Managed to do it without problems (except for the fishing line in another one of my posts)

Now I know I've seen my fair share of dumb boaters, but until you go out at night on a holiday where lots of boats gather to watch fireworks you just have not see anything.

Although the Sherrif, Coast Guard, and Marine Patrol were doing there best (counted 10 patrol boats which didn't include the 5 marking the perimeter around the fireworks barge) I was amazed at what I saw.

Also all the people talking/signing/making foul noices on CH 16 was really really pissin off the Coat Guard.

Boats anchored in a marked channel and under bridges, boats with no litghts at all boats with to many people on them, people shooting fireworks off their boat, people using sparklers on their boat, disreguard for speeding by boats less then a few feet away in the dark. In correct lights, spot lights on all the time blinding everyone.

After this I truelly believe there should be a required license to operate a boat other then just your drivers license. :smt101

 

[midway]

What is bad is that all those stupid people you refer to are the same ones you have to dodge on the road in your car. There are maybe a few that having to get a license would help but most would still be the same, imho.

 

[VTSeaRay]

I'll never go out on the lake on the 4th to watch 'em! I've heard similar scary stories up here too, and I'm sure all places are like that! A friend said when the fireworks were over, it was mayhem, with everyone taking off in every which direction, and huge wakes from all over the place hitting them. And all the stuff Morpheus mentioned above. Then when you get back near the loading ramps and docks, more of the same.

 

[Morpheus]

I'll never go out on the lake on the 4th to watch 'em! I've heard similar scary stories up here too, and I'm sure all places are like that! A friend said when the fireworks were over, it was mayhem, with everyone taking off in every which direction, and huge wakes from all over the place hitting them. And all the stuff Morpheus mentioned above. Then when you get back near the loading ramps and docks, more of the same.

Well the first tip for anyone new to this is wait let them all take off and do their thing we waited maybe 20-30 min that gave all the idiots enough time to clear out. It was funny to see the ones that did stay did all appear to have the proper lighting.

Luckly we didn't have to deal with a ramp since the in-laws have a house on the water there with a dock I can't imagin going to a ramp after that.

 

[Morpheus]

What is bad is that all those stupid people you refer to are the same ones you have to dodge on the road in your car. There are maybe a few that having to get a license would help but most would still be the same, imho.

Your right I didn't think about that and now I'm scared to drive home from work. :wow:

 

[nail24]

It's the boaters running full throttle with no running lights that got my attention along with those who have no concept of the rules of the waterway. It's time to license all boat operators for the sake of safety. And plese dont tell me an automobile drivers liscense is adequate training to operate a large power boat. I won't even take the time to address the hazards involved in dealing with the PWC wack-o's that will get right off your bow and try to do a whip turn to a 180 an make the d@$#ed thing go backward forcing you to make an evasive maneuver.

 

[Scottzzzy]

It's the boaters running full throttle with no running lights that got my attention along with those who have no concept of the rules of the waterway. It's time to license all boat operators for the sake of safety. And plese dont tell me an automobile drivers liscense is adequate training to operate a large power boat. I won't even take the time to address the hazards involved in dealing with the PWC wack-o's that will get right off your bow and try to do a whip turn to a 180 an make the d@$#ed thing go backward forcing you to make an evasive maneuver.

We must have been on the same lake on the 4th! But between the Scaraabs running wide open and the boats with broken or no lights my stomach was in knots until we got back to the shore. I would have made the kids put on 2 PFD's if I could fit it on them!:thumbsup:

 

[chuck1]

At least you did not almost run over a kid. I'm coming out of a big cove area from the marina (Main route) in to the main body of the lake. Here comes some dummy crossing in front of me from my port side pulling a tube with 2 kids on it. I'm thinking to my self what's up with this, looks like he is heading right at me.:smt021 I'm looking around and spot another kid bobbin in the water???????

1st mistake - 3 kids on a tube in the main channel.:smt021
2nd mistake - don't leave the kid in the middle of the main channel with boat running up and down it.:smt021:smt021
3rd mistake - Cut hard to starboard and protect/pickup downed skier ASAP!!!!!:smt021:smt021:smt021

Don't know how I could have lived with myself if I had run over the kid.:smt013

 

[mawyatt]

Well I managed to make it out for the very first time at night and in a very crowded area to see fireworks.

Managed to do it without problems (except for the fishing line in another one of my posts)

Now I know I've seen my fair share of dumb boaters, but until you go out at night on a holiday where lots of boats gather to watch fireworks you just have not see anything.

Although the Sherrif, Coast Guard, and Marine Patrol were doing there best (counted 10 patrol boats which didn't include the 5 marking the perimeter around the fireworks barge) I was amazed at what I saw.

Also all the people talking/signing/making foul noices on CH 16 was really really pissin off the Coat Guard.

Boats anchored in a marked channel and under bridges, boats with no litghts at all boats with to many people on them, people shooting fireworks off their boat, people using sparklers on their boat, disreguard for speeding by boats less then a few feet away in the dark. In correct lights, spot lights on all the time blinding everyone.

After this I truelly believe there should be a required license to operate a boat other then just your drivers license. :smt101

You must have been at Clearwater for the fireworks! We anchored away from the channel west side and just took our time and headed back to Home Port with all the lights on inside the boat and cockpit so we were visable. Yes, lot of crazy people heading back.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

I have done it twice in Panama City and once on Lake Murray. I choose not to get on the water this year because the channel coming into the Grand Lagoon has been narrowed considerably and I remember just a couple of years back that two boats went up on St Andrews State Park beach thinking they were going around a boat that was beached with his running lights still on. I think all the lakes, rivers and bays catch the same high quality of idiot. It's like a breeding call, that the lemmings just can't resist. :wow: I sat on my dock watching DNR follow a boat into Bay Point that had 15 people on it in less than 20 ft of boat space. All of them sitting on the gunnel's with beers in hand. The parade of boats after the fire works was over was just as much fun to watch as the fire works were. :grin:

 

[Morpheus]

You must have been at Clearwater for the fireworks! We anchored away from the channel west side and just took our time and headed back to Home Port with all the lights on inside the boat and cockpit so we were visable. Yes, lot of crazy people heading back.

Actually I was in Charlotte Harbour in Punta Gorda

I'd give the fireworks show a B- as there were 3 spots of 5 minutes of nothing as if the guy couldn't get his lighter to work or something :lol: as for the fireworks itself it's a small town and looked pretty low budget.

 

[Alegria]

LOL I don't think it has to be the 4th to act like a fool on the water but it sure helps. I was headed back in from the BIH event the other weekend. Was running up the river to the train bridge and there was a bow rider pulling a tube coming directly to the buoy. They stopped dead about 100 ft from the buoy to change passengers on the tube. Meanwhile there was traffic headed out bound and there was a 22' walk around passing me... So since I knew the tide was on my side I honored the buoy on the wrong side to keep clear of traffic and not throw a wake to disturb the passenger exchange going on!!! Crazy thing was there was 7 ft of water for a 1/4 mi away from the buoy...

 

[chuck1]

They just don't have a clue sometimes.

 

[Moose]

Went to Lanier for the 4th. Knowing the "idiot fest going on" on the Bald Ridge Creek side at the water park, I anchored on the other side near the 16th hole of Legacy Lodge. had a great view of fireworks without the crowd (maybe 5 boats)! Stayed the night there and a great view of the fools coming thru the Islands bridge until about 11. Glad I was not there.

 

[Uplate]

We had a great time on the 4th. About 10 boats (House and Cruisers) from our dock were rafted up next to us. We had a 4 boat raft separate to watch the fireworks. Most everyone left. We spent the night on the hook so we cared less abouth the others dashing to the docks/ramps.

It was an amazing site just to see all of those anchor lights across the lake. A view you get from nowhere else!

 

[Beer Thirty]

It was an amazing site just to see all of those anchor lights across the lake. A view you get from nowhere else!

I always love seeing that. Its almost better than the fireworks.

 

[Gunn]

Well I too went to my first on-water fireworks display this past 3rd, on the St. Mary's River in Maryland. I have to be honest and say that everyone that came were very nice, courteous and pleasant. There was a long line of boats all headed toward the event at sunset and all slowed down when entering the anchoring area. I tucked in between a pair of sailboats and a raftup of three boats, set anchor and enjoyed the show. A sailboat a couple of boats down even played some patriotic music over the stereo while the fireworks were going off! :smt001

When it was time to leave, it seemed pretty orderly how everyone left the area. I only had to go a short ways to our pier, so didn't have to worry about a launch ramp either. A great experience.

What was best was watching the long line of taillights on shore getting out of the place, and not being a part of it!

Tom

 

[ChuckW]

You should have see the chaos at Marina Jacks in Sarasota. All the same sh...t, only 10 times as many boats.

We anchored far away from the crowds, knowing what was coming. We pulled up anchor and headed back before the masses had a chance to close in on us.

Other than that, its a ball isn't it?

 

[nickysc]

Every one should have came to Lake Murray for the 4th of July Fireworks. It was a lovely scene of patriotic symbols lighting up the sky above, as we all listened to warm heart felt music as it played over the radio.
After the Fireworks stopped, all of the many, many, many,(who knows how many) boats filled with boaters of all ages, just sat in awe.
And finally, in an orderly manner, we all formed a series of single file lines (keeping a save distance, of course) traveled to our landings or docks, still singing God Bless America.
After arriveing to our destinations, we held hands,while standing around small, and safely built and arranged camp fires, and sang Cumboya, until the sun came up on Sunday morning,had Prayer and went our seperate ways.:grin:

See Chuck, you should have joined us.

 

[janetsc]

Every one should have came to Lake Murray for the 4th of July Fireworks. It was a lovely scene of patriotic symbols lighting up the sky above, as we all listened to warm heart felt music as it played over the radio.
After the Fireworks stopped, all of the many, many, many,(who knows how many) boats filled with boaters of all ages, just sat in awe.
And finally, in an orderly manner, we all formed a series of single file lines (keeping a save distance, of course) traveled to our landings or docks, still singing God Bless America.
After arriveing to our destinations, we held hands,while standing around small, and safely built and arranged camp fires, and sang Cumboya, until the sun came up on Sunday morning,had Prayer and went our seperate ways.:grin:

See Chuck, you should have joined us.

I SMELL DOO DOO!!!:huh: