My epiphany on towing kids was going down a local river, towing kids on an inflatable, and having a powerboater start "tailgating " the kids. I didn't know whether to speed up, slow down, swerve left or right, or shoot him. Finally, he did the passing and overtaking close by thing, oblivious to my threats of bodily harm as he passed by. We never towed in that river again.
Stupidity incarnated
- Thread starter Lou_tribal
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The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
The worst thing I ever saw involving a barge happened on the Pascagoula River, during the Blessing of the Fleet, in 1986. A tugboat pushing a barge, about to go under the drawbridge, had a skiboat pull a skier right in front of his barge, at which point the skier fell. I thought for sure we were about to witness a young girl be killed. Instead, the tugboat captain managed to twist his rig and hit the dolphins of the drawbridge instead, taking out one whole side of them. The ski boat came around and picked up the skier and hauled ass, the marine police in pursuit. I never heard how it came out for any of them, but it was pretty scary to watch.
psneeld
Guru
Many pro mariners I am sure have nightmares from situations like that.
Others just let Darwin's theory run its course, they press on and like swerving for a deer running out in front of you is often the bad choice.
For supertankers and such, I have heard thatvpaying off a couple million in death benifits is cheaper than running one agrpund.
No good answers for sure.
Others just let Darwin's theory run its course, they press on and like swerving for a deer running out in front of you is often the bad choice.
For supertankers and such, I have heard thatvpaying off a couple million in death benifits is cheaper than running one agrpund.
No good answers for sure.
Second the motion!
RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
Mr. WK. "Are you proposing more government intrusion into our lives? Are you proposing the government requiring boaters to have..." actual boating education?
Quoted from: http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s59/900-liters-diesel-leaked-out-into-river-34814.html#post595405 (Post #3)
Mr. WK. "Are you proposing more government intrusion into our lives? Are you proposing the government requiring boaters to have..." actual boating education?
Quoted from: http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s59/900-liters-diesel-leaked-out-into-river-34814.html#post595405 (Post #3)
psneeld
Guru
No grandfathering though, and those that fail lose their boating privledges until corrected.
I am 100 percent behind that, then every 5 years like pro captains, a review and recertification.
Where do I vote?
I am 100 percent behind that, then every 5 years like pro captains, a review and recertification.
Where do I vote?
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Benthic2
Guru
I am all for safer waterways....but the logistics of implementing that plan would be massive, and the costs would be considerable. The classroom portion would be a few hundred dollars, and then the on water training would upwards of $100/hour or so. So now every boater is going to have to spend ( wild guess here ) $1000 to get his operator ticket ?? Then we'll need something comparable to the Dept of Motor Vehicles to regulate it all.
and the kicker is.....we make kids go through that for getting their car liscense...and it doesn't eliminate bad drivers. I'm all for money well spent....I just don't know how we could ensure that it would be effective.
The acts of stupidity here are not education related...they are brain function related. Some people are just not wired to ask themselves: "What could go wrong here?" You've seen guys show up at meetings without a pen, hikers that don't have a flashlight, people in line at the checkout counter that forgot their wallet, people that try to buy plywood the day of the hurricane, etc.....my favorite is guys who pull their boats up on the beach.....spend all day 50 feet away from their boat....and not realize the tide went out and they are stuck. No amount of education will help these people.
and the kicker is.....we make kids go through that for getting their car liscense...and it doesn't eliminate bad drivers. I'm all for money well spent....I just don't know how we could ensure that it would be effective.
The acts of stupidity here are not education related...they are brain function related. Some people are just not wired to ask themselves: "What could go wrong here?" You've seen guys show up at meetings without a pen, hikers that don't have a flashlight, people in line at the checkout counter that forgot their wallet, people that try to buy plywood the day of the hurricane, etc.....my favorite is guys who pull their boats up on the beach.....spend all day 50 feet away from their boat....and not realize the tide went out and they are stuck. No amount of education will help these people.
OP
OP
Lou_tribal
Guru
Apparently, I'm posting in invisible ink here!
Not at all, no invisible ink! Well no ink at all in fact welcome to the new world
L
One of my first memories on a boat is when my family went to Blue Springs. I would guess I was 3-4.
On the way back to the boat ramp at the end of the day there were two other boats zig zagging in the river. There was also a barge being pushed by a tug boat. BOTH of the runabouts zipped in very close to the bow of the barge, I am sure the "captains" were trying to scare the passengers on the boat.
One of the passengers was wearing a ball cap which flew off their head and went into the water. It was only a minute or so before the barge ran over that hat. If either one of the boats had miscalculated their distances or speed relative to each other or the barge it would not have been pretty. If either boat had stopped in front of the barge for some reason, they all would have died.
Later,
Dan
Bing Bing Bing. You got it.
Education might fix ignorance but education can't fix stupid.
I have seen quite a few cases of stupid boating that no amount of education will ever fix.
Later,
Dan
FF
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"I have seen quite a few cases of stupid boating that no amount of education will ever fix."
And no number of hoops to jump thru like a buroRat issued license can change that.
And no number of hoops to jump thru like a buroRat issued license can change that.
Over here there is a nice little sandy island just outside the harbor, al safaliyah, and the problem there is the hotdogs on jet skis and wave runners cruising past our kids a few meters out.
I stopped going there during rush hour! Since we don't get cloudy days, we tend to go at night and have the entire island and the beautiful downtown skyline all to ourselves.
I stopped going there during rush hour! Since we don't get cloudy days, we tend to go at night and have the entire island and the beautiful downtown skyline all to ourselves.
FF
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"and the problem there is the hotdogs on jet skis and wave runners cruising past our kids a few meters out."
Old polly line in 2ft long, pulled apart to individual strands, left floating near the kiddies soon stops the jet skis.
Having the pump seize and the seals repaired gets expensive in time.
Old polly line in 2ft long, pulled apart to individual strands, left floating near the kiddies soon stops the jet skis.
Having the pump seize and the seals repaired gets expensive in time.
In this case, I am because of the common good. You can't fly an airplane without training and a license. You can't drive a car or truck without training and a license. Boating is no different, yet a person with absolutely no training is allowed to buy and operate a 900 HP boat capable of inflicting death and destruction upon innocent bystanders.
I believe many of the things you quoted are education related. A person without some sort of boating education is unlikely to know about the tide going out.
Since my marina is adjacent to an "entry level" boat dealer, I get to see first time boaters nearly every day. Boaters who don't understand that driving a boat is not the same as driving a car. Boaters who don't understand that the "road" (water that is flowing with current) is moving and if you stop your boat, it won't be still, it will move with the current. Boaters who don't understand that while a car steers from the front, a boat steers from the rear and when you turn the wheel, the stern will swing out and may hit something.
I see boat wrecks almost every weekend. Minor ones mostly, but boat wrecks just the same.
Yesterday got two boat registration sips in mail. Not only has cost more than doubled [from $15 to $35 each]... but now, included in the envelope is a "California Boater Card" info flyer.
Luckily due to my age and decades experience it is a no brainer to easily get. For youngens it takes some learning and passing a test.
IMO it is good to have those previously not knowledgeable about marine doings made to at least get an inkling of instruction about boating
Where we boat there are many ski boats and many high hp. o/b fisher boats... also some really fast "show-off" boats [90 mph. +/-]; those type boats are usually what have jerks as Captains.. Although things go smoothly most of the time there are a few operators who should not be behind the wheel of a boat. Maybe a bit of required instruction will help to make even the reckless more ready for better boat handling.
I'm not into too many boating restrictions, especially those with undue $$ cost. However, I am into boating safety. And, with the last 20 year deluge of little fast boats running around in many places having brain-dead operators... I guess the time for a boat-operators course and license to carry has come.
Luckily due to my age and decades experience it is a no brainer to easily get. For youngens it takes some learning and passing a test.
IMO it is good to have those previously not knowledgeable about marine doings made to at least get an inkling of instruction about boating
Where we boat there are many ski boats and many high hp. o/b fisher boats... also some really fast "show-off" boats [90 mph. +/-]; those type boats are usually what have jerks as Captains.. Although things go smoothly most of the time there are a few operators who should not be behind the wheel of a boat. Maybe a bit of required instruction will help to make even the reckless more ready for better boat handling.
I'm not into too many boating restrictions, especially those with undue $$ cost. However, I am into boating safety. And, with the last 20 year deluge of little fast boats running around in many places having brain-dead operators... I guess the time for a boat-operators course and license to carry has come.
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Several decades ago I was part of a flotilla escorting tall ships from around the world into Philadelphia harbor. Right through the middle of this densely packed, highly guarded (for the times) "parade" screams this 30 foot go-fast. Everyone is up in arms. The captain of the 80 something foot USCG cutter tells me to handle it.
I'm not sure who was less informed; the inappropriately operated go-fast or the person who sent an 8 knot trawler after him.
I'm not sure who was less informed; the inappropriately operated go-fast or the person who sent an 8 knot trawler after him.
psneeld
Guru
You would be amazed at how many people in the USCG know so little about "small boating".
Probably similar to how few on here understand large vessel and commercial operations in general.
I think most TFers are smart, like the USCG folks, just no crossover experience.
That USCG skipper probably could do celestial though...
Probably similar to how few on here understand large vessel and commercial operations in general.
I think most TFers are smart, like the USCG folks, just no crossover experience.
That USCG skipper probably could do celestial though...
You would be amazed at how many people in the USCG know so little about "small boating".
Probably similar to how few on here understand large vessel and commercial operations in general.
I think most TFers are smart, like the USCG folks, just no crossover experience.
That USCG skipper probably could do celestial though...
I did slow him down considerably. Speed isn't everything.
Perhaps he did pick the right pursuit boat.
FF
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When a ignorant person flies or wakes thru an anchorage or by a marina we salute him.
Our 12Ga starting cannon with Winchester black powder shell makes a HELL of a bang.
The fool doesn't know if he is being shot AT , so usually goes to idle.
Worth a buck for the blank.
Our 12Ga starting cannon with Winchester black powder shell makes a HELL of a bang.
The fool doesn't know if he is being shot AT , so usually goes to idle.
Worth a buck for the blank.
markpierce
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Here, we alternate between hot and cool days in Autumn. Yet boating is year-round here. Avoiding summer holidays keeps one away from most crazies.
markpierce
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At the California Maritime Academy at Vallejo, CA, cadets get experience in small sailboats, fiftiesh-foot-long "trawlers," as well as a several-hundred-foot-long ocean-going vessel.
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markpierce
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Have a 10-gauger, but it takes several minutes to set up when unprepared, giving time for a culprit to escape. Its smoke and bang matches starting
cannons for races. Having a very, very loud horn is a quicker alternative.
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psneeld
Guru
Some time in a variety of small vessels in an academy experience hardly equates to undetstanding boating snd boaters.
markpierce
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It can't hurt.
FF
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"Have a 10-gauger, but it takes several minutes to set up when unprepared,"
Unprepaired?
Don't you fire a round at sunset before taking down the colors at anchor?
Unprepaired?
Don't you fire a round at sunset before taking down the colors at anchor?
