I guess it was my fault!?

rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,925
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
I should have known not to go on the water on the Sunday before the July 4th weekend and on a day when the local fire department was hosting a fireworks show over the water. It was nuts.

But the kicker was this one very special power boat operator in a huge cruiser going about 10 kts in a congested area. I was approaching two pontoon boats. One was clearly going to pass on my port, the other was heading off to my starboard.... this power boat overtakes the pontoon on my port swerves in front of me, passes within 10 feet of my bow (see asterisk in diagram below) and then starts frantically waving ME off. Clearly this guy thought I should veer to my port and get out of his way (and if I had I would have been right in the path of the pontoon boat he just overtook).

I just stared in disbelief and then his bow wake hit me... and we pitched so hard my prop came out of the water and the rev. control kicked in.

upload_2017-7-3_11-13-18.png
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
On SML I always assume that other boaters are cluesless regarding navigation and likely intoxicated. Even the game cops are dangerous.
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Same crap on the roads here in Tucson. One wonders what's going on in their minds...
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,522
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
justsomeguy said:
One wonders what's going on in their minds...
Click to expand
Nothing... Clueless is defined as without a clue. IMO they rest in a state of oblivion where anything out side of their reach is of no matter to them. To think they do or should know the rules boaters are expected to follow would be to suggest they have a clue.... Catch 22.
 
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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Yesterday was 80 and sunny in MPLS, so of course there was a BILLION boats on Lake Minnetonka. We just motored over to a relatively secluded cove and anchored and stayed the hell out of their way. The worst offenders are the gold-chain guys who think their boat is an extension of their manhood, and the the 'boat club' drivers who have zero training, zero ownership, and usually zero sense.

We however had a grand time sunning, drinking, and listening to country music! USA! USA! USA!
 
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rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,925
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Jackdaw said:
.... We just motored over to a relatively secluded cove and anchored and stayed the hell out of their way. ....
Click to expand
@Jackdaw
That is what we should have done.... and what my wife asked me to do after that bow wake caused us a near knock down.... and I dismissed the loud WTF that came out of my daughter's mouth.....but we did have a good time later that day. Friends of ours recently purchased a new to them house on the lake... and we found their dock, swam...had a few brews and chilled.

I also managed a perfect landing at the slip with witnesses..... that almost never happens if their are witnesses;). So all-in-all a good day...
 
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The Shadow Knows

The Shadow Knows

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Jun 10, 2017
174
Catalina 1980 Catalina 30 Mk II John's Pass / Tampa Bay
The fourth of July is known for drunk drivers both on land & on water.
I used to go out on holidays to watch fireworks.

NOT ANY MORE!
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,238
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
If your boat is thrown about enough to reasonably cause you to believe you in imminent danger of injury or sinking, you should discharge a series of 12 g. flares to attract rescue. The violent rocking caused by the offending vessel might well cause problems aiming the flare pistol and it is possible that the flares might perhaps go into the cockpit of the offending vessel......
That would be a shame, but such things can happen unintentionally in an emergency, while you are using the mic with your other hand to call a Mayday to the USCG -- and those calls are recorded.......
with your frantic but quite accurate description of the offending vessel.....

Just sayin'
:(

Plan B: anchor out in that cove near jackdaw.
 
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Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
We are off the water this holiday enjoying the quiet of the mountains. I am really not missing the water follies with boaters scolding one another's infractions on the VHF.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,925
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
The Shadow Knows said:
The fourth of July is known for drunk drivers both on land & on water.
I used to go out on holidays to watch fireworks.

NOT ANY MORE!
Click to expand
I used to have all of the Shadow episodes on cassette tape. Nice memories.
 
bawlmer

bawlmer

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Sep 15, 2013
708
Catalina 270 Baltimore
Hmmm. Now that we're on the subject I went out to a neighboring marina to fuel up. As I was clearing the rocks I motioned to a 35 foot PB throwing a wake to slow down as the whole inner harbor is a no-wake zone. I was blessed with his middle digit. We will be safely in our slip for the 4th. Every idiot with a fast boat is out this week.
 
jon hansen

jon hansen

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May 25, 2012
4,338
john alden caravelle 42 sturgeon bay, wis
national holidays are like a Where's Waldo drawing. all the good and bad you can think of will happen.
don't let it get you down. :)

learn to enjoy the crowd scene once in a while
 
jon hansen

jon hansen

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May 25, 2012
4,338
john alden caravelle 42 sturgeon bay, wis
jackdaw, is that you way back in the center passing your bota bag to that fine looking woman?
 
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