Unfortunate that a CSR member is so Clueless!

[HUMPH]

So, here we are having a nice appetizer session on the guest dock at a local marina (Willow Berm) and just finished a club meeting when I see a 44 Sundancer coming by on plane. Of course, we all expect the boat to slow down but........ NO, our CSR member Kalee was friggen' clueless and had no idea that he was throwing a 3' wake at about $4M dollars worth of boats on the guest dock (more than a dozen Sea Rays from our club). And here it comes, the first waves and all subsequent waves damn near toss all of the fenders onto the dock while we are all trying to hold the boats away from banging on the wood edges of the guest dock.

Did I mention that Kalee is friggen' clueless? Our boats were all hit broadside and crap is falling off of tables and counters while someone riding on the very front of the bow waves to us. I wish I had a paintball gun because. I would have peppered this boat as soon as I saw him not trying to slow down going past a marina with some of the nicest boats and yachts on the delta. I used to want this boat to join our club but now have a different opinion. Common sense tells you not to cause a wake going past a marina on a river as do the posted signs. Common sense also tells you not to have someone on the bow of a boat going 20 knots!

We did call his marina and talked to his Harbormaster who asked if we called because he waked us. Maybe not the first time? I know there is a learning curve but take some course, take some lessons and if you ever wake our group like that again, we will jump in our tenders and chase your boat down to have a very pointed discussion with you!

Lesson:
1. You are responsible for your wake.
2. Your wake travels a long way.
3. Going by docked boats is a no wake zone.
4. Going by boats rafted together is a no wake zone.
5. Any damage you cause to another boat due to excessive wakes is your responsibility to pay for!
6. Learn basic rules of boating before you buy a 7 ton boat and run like a bat out of hell causing damage to others.
7. As you can most likely tell, I was very pissed off when this "uninformed" boater came past us like he did. I hope for his sake he heeds this shot across the bow and stops this reckless boating before he damages boats or hurts someone. One lady (not young) was walking from her swim platform to step on the dock and fend off her boat when the first waves almost tossed her into the 54 degree, fast current water. Did I mention clueless?
8. There was another such boat years ago that went on plane through hundreds of anchored boats, many with large raft ups for 4th of July and caused almost $150K in damage. Don't be that guy!

A PM will be sent to the offending member to read this thread so I encourage your opinions.

Off of my soapbox.....for now.

 

[Kalee]

Ken,
As you were posting this, I was trying to PM you. However your mailbox is full and apparently needs culling. Please read my message.

 

[Kalee]

Ken, I have message about the above incident that I'd like you to view. However, your message box is full. Please let me know when it is available and I'll PM you. Thanks.

 

[Mike Blake]

This happens all the time on the river I'm on. So I shoot the (outdated) flares over their bow. That works real good!!!! They slow down now.

 

[Boat Guy]

I don't understand the reasoning behind outing a member here.

I understand you posting the story and providing advice. I don't understand you making it personal.

I hope you guys work this out.

 

[boltman]

Kalee since you were called out in public why don't you speak in public , I'd have had your ass for that stunt , in Michigan we don't put up with that crap !!!


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[firecadet613]

Any damage to the boats? Seems with a 3' wake there would be.

 

[HUMPH]

I don't understand the reasoning behind outing a member here.

I understand you posting the story and providing advice. I don't understand you making it personal.

I hope you guys work this out.

Mostly to get someone to read feedback from all over the Country and hopefully understand how wrong he is in running a boat this way. You notice I used the word clueless and not dumbass or idiot. If I wanted to really attack someone, this is the language I would use!

 

[HUMPH]

Ken, I have message about the above incident that I'd like you to view. However, your message box is full. Please let me know when it is available and I'll PM you. Thanks.

Box has been cleared, fire away...

 

[sbw1]

This thread will go on and on until the 24+ inches of ice on inland lakes in the north melts.

 

[SR400DB]

I used to keep my boat at this marina. I can assure you this CSR member was not the only boat to not slow down to minimum wake speeds this weeked. It was (sounds like still is) a constant problem. I ended up getting a 50' slip just to get additional width to help keep my boat off the docks. Moving to another marina solved this problem. It's unfortunate that this happened, but I will say, the same club that got "waked" has "waked" me in other locations in the Delta. That being said, we could all learn to be a bit more polite and respectful around the docks.

 

[Boat Guy]

This happens all the time on the river I'm on. So I shoot the (outdated) flares over their bow. That works real good!!!! They slow down now.

So you turn a bad situation into a potentially deadly situation?

Mostly to get someone to read feedback from all over the Country and hopefully understand how wrong he is in running a boat this way. You notice I used the word clueless and not dumbass or idiot. If I wanted to really attack someone, this is the language I would use!

You could have done that without directly naming him. I'm sure he would have understood it was him without the witch hunt.

 

[Boat Guy]

I used to keep my boat at this marina....... the same club that got "waked" has "waked" me in other locations in the Delta. That being said, we could all learn to be a bit more polite and respectful around the docks.

I was going to mention about glass houses and the judgement, but refrained. Yet, it didn't take but one more post to confirm my thoughts. Glad you posted....and I think it's not just around the docks that could use some respectfulness.

 

[HUMPH]

I used to keep my boat at this marina. I can assure you this CSR member was not the only boat to not slow down to minimum wake speeds this weeked. It was (sounds like still is) a constant problem. I ended up getting a 50' slip just to get additional width to help keep my boat off the docks. Moving to another marina solved this problem. It's unfortunate that this happened, but I will say, the same club that got "waked" has "waked" me in other locations in the Delta. That being said, we could all learn to be a bit more polite and respectful around the docks.

Have I waked boats? Yes. Have I waked boats that are docked, at a marina or rafted up? I hope not. I often slow for fishing boats on the smaller rivers but not on the main ship channel even though it costs a lot of extra fuel to do so. They choose to fish in the main river and they should expect wakes. I hope you are referring to being waked while anchored solo or slowly underway? I would call out any member of our club that waked anyone docked or rafted. I have had to advise members that are newer boaters that their wake follows them which you should understand. I advise people to slow down well before The Lighthouse restaurant or they wake "R" Dock pretty badly.

 

[Kalee]

I don't understand the reasoning behind outing a member here.

I understand you posting the story and providing advice. I don't understand you making it personal.

I hope you guys work this out.

So my wife and I were talking about this and how I felt about being publicly "outed". My wife has been an elementary school teacher for 40 years and her first response was, " This is not a school yard, why doesn't he contact you privately and act adult about it?" I answered her by saying that I did not want this to grow into a huge thing and that I would try to keep it that way. Now that Ken has made space available I'll PM him with my version. I'm not trying to minimize this incident, if my wake did indeed cause that much trouble I'm truly heartsick about it, and clearly I made an egregious error in judgement thinking I was far enough away. BTW, I was not traveling 20kts...

 

[HUMPH]

So my wife and I were talking about this and how I felt about being publicly "outed". My wife has been an elementary school teacher for 40 years and her first response was, " This is not a school yard, why doesn't he contact you privately and act adult about it?" I answered her by saying that I did not want this to grow into a huge thing and that I would try to keep it that way. Now that Ken has made space available I'll PM him with my version. I'm not trying to minimize this incident, if my wake did indeed cause that much trouble I'm truly heartsick about it, and clearly I made an egregious error in judgement thinking I was far enough away. BTW, I was not traveling 20kts...

Watching for the PM. Please understand that when traveling barely on plane, your wake is at a maximum as the ass end of the boat is "digging a big hole". I am truly glad to hear this is being taken seriously and you feel bad about it. My intent is "tough love" so people really get to hear from a cross section of experienced boaters. If this helps you understand more about the rules of the waterway, mission accomplished.

 

[SR400DB]

Have I waked boats? Yes. Have I waked boats that are docked, at a marina or rafted up? I hope not. I often slow for fishing boats on the smaller rivers but not on the main ship channel even though it costs a lot of extra fuel to do so. They choose to fish in the main river and they should expect wakes. I hope you are referring to being waked while anchored solo or slowly underway? I would call out any member of our club that waked anyone docked or rafted. I have had to advise members that are newer boaters that their wake follows them which you should understand. I advise people to slow down well before The Lighthouse restaurant or they wake "R" Dock pretty badly.

Ken

I do not believe I ever witnessed you doing these deeds. Others on your dock at Perry's have though, many times. Sometimes even the 460 DA.

I will come clean. The year was 2001, we had just taken delivery of our first "yacht". A 2001 Regal 3880 Sedan Bridge. Wow were we cool. First cruise: San Francisco, a mere 90 mile trek. We leave the Sacramento Marina and head down river towards SF. Of course we slow to minimum speeds at the Sacramento Yacht Club. I learned a very improtant lesson. The large wake following us, continued right on down the river, even though we had slowed properly, every boat in the marina was rocking and rolling. There must have been 10-12 boat owners on the docks. I was told I was number one 10-12 times. Lesson learned.

I was waked by the club while rafted near Mandeville with two others. My boat was not damaged, the smaller express rafted to me had a bent bow rail. This was in 2012, it was NOT BY YOU, HUMPH.

 

[Boat Guy]

So my wife and I were talking about this .......I'm truly heartsick about it, and clearly I made an egregious error in judgement thinking I was far enough away. BTW, I was not traveling 20kts...

Your response doesn't surprise me in the least. You can boat with me if you're looking for a "group"....

Like I said earlier, I hope you guys work this out.

 

[HUMPH]

I received a PM from Kalee and I am convinced he is very regretful for his actions. I am still upset about this but it seems a lesson has been learned. When moving up to a large boat, more attention needs to be focused on everything around you. Small boats zip by this marina and warp speeds but there is no real impact from their wakes. As long as they stay on the far side of the river, let her rip! I am still concerned about having a passenger on the bow while running on plane.

I do want to thank Kalee for stepping up, calling one of our members to apologize and sending me a PM with his explanation. We all need to be considerate to others that are affected by our boats whether it is our wakes, noise or anything else that could be damaging or offensive.

 

[HUMPH]

Ken

I do not believe I ever witnessed you doing these deeds. Others on your dock at Perry's have though, many times. Sometimes even the 460 DA.

I will come clean. The year was 2001, we had just taken delivery of our first "yacht". A 2001 Regal 3880 Sedan Bridge. Wow were we cool. First cruise: San Francisco, a mere 90 mile trek. We leave the Sacramento Marina and head down river towards SF. Of course we slow to minimum speeds at the Sacramento Yacht Club. I learned a very improtant lesson. The large wake following us, continued right on down the river, even though we had slowed properly, every boat in the marina was rocking and rolling. There must have been 10-12 boat owners on the docks. I was told I was number one 10-12 times. Lesson learned.

I was waked by the club while rafted near Mandeville with two others. My boat was not damaged, the smaller express rafted to me had a bent bow rail. This was in 2012, it was NOT BY YOU, HUMPH.

Noted and some of these folks will be reading this so thanks for the callout. Big boats have wakes that follow for a long ways, hard to believe how far. If I knew the culprit, I would call them out as well!