Vashon_Trawler
Guru
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2013
- Messages
- 598
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- M/V Sherpa
- Vessel Make
- 24' Vashon Diesel Cruiser
I will try to avoid beating the proverbial dead horse but I had a few "experiences" on the Florida ICW last weekend. I've said before that, having been away from boating for over a decade, I can definitely identify a few major changes: (1) very few boaters seem to be monitoring VHF, (2) slow passes seem to be a rarity, (3) no one uses their horn, and (4) boaters are becoming extremely inconsiderate.
Anyway, let me share two experiences from last Saturday that got the adrenaline pumping.
I was traveling south down the Florida Sunshine Skyway channel and dealt with a large amount of traffic--normal for the area and not a big deal as Sherpa can handle the large wakes very well. Unfortunately, a large number of boats were passing on my starboard side and their port when I was already close to the edge of the channel. I was nearly forced out of the channel several times as I turned starboard into some large wakes. They could of easily passed my port to their starboard, which would have given me room to turn into their wake. No slow passes and no one cared that I had a four year old sitting with her mom on deck!
My next unfortunate experience... I was going through Tierra Verde and a small rental runabout/ski-boat approached my stern and followed closely (10 to 15 feet) down the channel for about 2000 feet. They soon came within three feet until I yelled "back off" as I quickly changed course. I thought a collision was imminent. The rental boat was being operated by a bunch of inexperienced teenagers or 20 somethings. They seemed to be "fumbling around" and simply not paying attention--my wife swears the operator was texting.
We need to be careful out there and stay on alert! I'm now keeping my cell phone by my side at all times to collect video evidence in the event of an accident!
Anyway, let me share two experiences from last Saturday that got the adrenaline pumping.
I was traveling south down the Florida Sunshine Skyway channel and dealt with a large amount of traffic--normal for the area and not a big deal as Sherpa can handle the large wakes very well. Unfortunately, a large number of boats were passing on my starboard side and their port when I was already close to the edge of the channel. I was nearly forced out of the channel several times as I turned starboard into some large wakes. They could of easily passed my port to their starboard, which would have given me room to turn into their wake. No slow passes and no one cared that I had a four year old sitting with her mom on deck!
My next unfortunate experience... I was going through Tierra Verde and a small rental runabout/ski-boat approached my stern and followed closely (10 to 15 feet) down the channel for about 2000 feet. They soon came within three feet until I yelled "back off" as I quickly changed course. I thought a collision was imminent. The rental boat was being operated by a bunch of inexperienced teenagers or 20 somethings. They seemed to be "fumbling around" and simply not paying attention--my wife swears the operator was texting.
We need to be careful out there and stay on alert! I'm now keeping my cell phone by my side at all times to collect video evidence in the event of an accident!
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