BillK2632
Well-Known Member
I don't get it, how in the world do you show up for a day on the water mad? If this is not your happy place, then your just an un-happy person. Case in point, two situations I found myself in over the last month -- now keep in mind, I spend at least one day a week out on the water and rarely have any issues with anyone.
1. I anchor in one of my favorite spots a couple of weeks ago - closest boat is @200 yards to STB. A pontoon shows up and anchors about 150ft in front of me - there was plenty of other room, but ok. Problem is, two other boats show up and raft to the pontoon. Then the whole mess starts dragging and they are now about 25ft from me - and on the move. Getting to close for comfort, I decide to move, but they are on top of my anchor - I am pretty much right on them by the time I get my anchor up - guy looks at me and asks why I put my anchor there - in a you idiot tone!
2. This past weekend we are putting along in a pretty big cove - mile+ long, 1/2mile wide. we are the only boat in there at this point. Then, I hear a boat to STB coming at an angle from behind and it is clear he is going to cross in front of me - it's a wake boat with a wakeboarder behind. This cove is huge, plenty of room for both of us and then some. He is overtaking me so I am the stand-on (clearly not a crossing situation), but if I don't do something he is going to come very close or worse, so I slow down and turn slightly to port. As he passes maybe 25ft throwing a monster wake, he starts yelling about he has the right of way since he is pulling a skier. At this point I feel things are pretty dangerous him being that close with the wakeboarder so I just shook my head and waved him off. This made him even madder as he continues yelling at me and not paying any attention to his kid who I could run over had I not done something. He then proceeds out through a cut to the main channel - he is pretty far away at this point, but I can still see him pressing is "right of way" status with other boats in the main channel. Now at this point he is in a crossing situation and technically is the stand on vessel. But crossing the main channel on a Saturday on LKN can be like trying to cross I-95 in some places. And to do all that while pulling your kid wakeboarding - who eventually fell out in the middle of everything - just damn!
** I get this is a recreation lake and many / most don't have any real knowledge of boat rules, navigation etc. You can't rely on other boats to understand these things on a lake like this - the general approach (for me at least) is just stay out people's way - no need to press the rules and get too worked up - lake most others I just want to enjoy a day on the water. However, I have to say I have had more close calls like this this summer than any of the previous 20+ years I have been boating. I even went and reviewed the "Rules of the Road" to make sure wake boats had not gotten a special classification I didn't know about.
1. I anchor in one of my favorite spots a couple of weeks ago - closest boat is @200 yards to STB. A pontoon shows up and anchors about 150ft in front of me - there was plenty of other room, but ok. Problem is, two other boats show up and raft to the pontoon. Then the whole mess starts dragging and they are now about 25ft from me - and on the move. Getting to close for comfort, I decide to move, but they are on top of my anchor - I am pretty much right on them by the time I get my anchor up - guy looks at me and asks why I put my anchor there - in a you idiot tone!
2. This past weekend we are putting along in a pretty big cove - mile+ long, 1/2mile wide. we are the only boat in there at this point. Then, I hear a boat to STB coming at an angle from behind and it is clear he is going to cross in front of me - it's a wake boat with a wakeboarder behind. This cove is huge, plenty of room for both of us and then some. He is overtaking me so I am the stand-on (clearly not a crossing situation), but if I don't do something he is going to come very close or worse, so I slow down and turn slightly to port. As he passes maybe 25ft throwing a monster wake, he starts yelling about he has the right of way since he is pulling a skier. At this point I feel things are pretty dangerous him being that close with the wakeboarder so I just shook my head and waved him off. This made him even madder as he continues yelling at me and not paying any attention to his kid who I could run over had I not done something. He then proceeds out through a cut to the main channel - he is pretty far away at this point, but I can still see him pressing is "right of way" status with other boats in the main channel. Now at this point he is in a crossing situation and technically is the stand on vessel. But crossing the main channel on a Saturday on LKN can be like trying to cross I-95 in some places. And to do all that while pulling your kid wakeboarding - who eventually fell out in the middle of everything - just damn!
** I get this is a recreation lake and many / most don't have any real knowledge of boat rules, navigation etc. You can't rely on other boats to understand these things on a lake like this - the general approach (for me at least) is just stay out people's way - no need to press the rules and get too worked up - lake most others I just want to enjoy a day on the water. However, I have to say I have had more close calls like this this summer than any of the previous 20+ years I have been boating. I even went and reviewed the "Rules of the Road" to make sure wake boats had not gotten a special classification I didn't know about.
