07-12-2021, 12:18 AM
I too have had interaction with dangerous boaters. Once upon a time (pre cell phone or small portable cameras), in a lake not all that far from here, I was in my tube and the boat driver repeatedly drove so close to me that his skier could, and did, go right around, me taking the rope right over my head. With each pass the rope would get closer. The rest I will not discuss, although I think the statute of limitations has expired. Funny, the boater abandoned the skier, I left the lake. All of us were unharmed at my departure, but there was a distinct smell of human fecal material coming from the boat and the water logged skier.
Once at Gunlock a long time ago the family was in a a 16' boat. A kid on a Jet Ski kept playing chicken with us. Every time we would veer off to the side to miss him, until Dad had enough. The last time he told us all to move to the back of the boat and hang on: he did not veer and the Jet Ski did not realize the game had changed until the very last fraction of a second. We noticed that once he got back on the SKI, he limped it back to the dock: We only had a small dent on the Aluminum boat.
It is my opinion that most of the dangerous boaters know better, but are either drunk with alcohol, or drunk with power. I also believe that somehow the skiers and wakeboarders think that it is their obligation to impress us simple minded fisherman, swimmers, etc.
It reminds me of the Wild Wild West when there were laws, buy if they were not enforced, he with the fastest gun, or the best hiding space, or the most thugs backing them, ruled. We have boating laws, but if they are not enforced, .... you get the analogy surely.
Alternating days won't work any more than what he have if you don't have enforcement, and the parks have no financial reason to enforce them. Also, do we even have county or state enforcement with boats?
I too hope the enforcement starts, is continuous, and works. Yesterday on Willard, I know, what was I doing on Willard on a Saturday, I saw boats with skiers fallen in the water without flags. I saw boats with a skier in tow, but no spotter on the boat. I had launched on the North ramp but at noon it was so backed up I dropped my newbies and brother off and had them drive around to the south ramp to pick up the boat. I had to zig zag like a drunken sailor to get through the idiots.
Yes, if this does not work, if they don't "enforce" the law, there will be deaths. Then, in normal lawyer proofing by the state, they will overreact and it will be the law abiding fisherman that pays.
I sure hope that I am wrong, and that someone here will set me straight.
Once at Gunlock a long time ago the family was in a a 16' boat. A kid on a Jet Ski kept playing chicken with us. Every time we would veer off to the side to miss him, until Dad had enough. The last time he told us all to move to the back of the boat and hang on: he did not veer and the Jet Ski did not realize the game had changed until the very last fraction of a second. We noticed that once he got back on the SKI, he limped it back to the dock: We only had a small dent on the Aluminum boat.
It is my opinion that most of the dangerous boaters know better, but are either drunk with alcohol, or drunk with power. I also believe that somehow the skiers and wakeboarders think that it is their obligation to impress us simple minded fisherman, swimmers, etc.
It reminds me of the Wild Wild West when there were laws, buy if they were not enforced, he with the fastest gun, or the best hiding space, or the most thugs backing them, ruled. We have boating laws, but if they are not enforced, .... you get the analogy surely.
Alternating days won't work any more than what he have if you don't have enforcement, and the parks have no financial reason to enforce them. Also, do we even have county or state enforcement with boats?
I too hope the enforcement starts, is continuous, and works. Yesterday on Willard, I know, what was I doing on Willard on a Saturday, I saw boats with skiers fallen in the water without flags. I saw boats with a skier in tow, but no spotter on the boat. I had launched on the North ramp but at noon it was so backed up I dropped my newbies and brother off and had them drive around to the south ramp to pick up the boat. I had to zig zag like a drunken sailor to get through the idiots.
Yes, if this does not work, if they don't "enforce" the law, there will be deaths. Then, in normal lawyer proofing by the state, they will overreact and it will be the law abiding fisherman that pays.
I sure hope that I am wrong, and that someone here will set me straight.