No, this is not a topic for a segment of Oprah. First let's set the stage. We went on a cruise for a couple of days this week to some of the islands on the northern fringe of the San Juans up near the Canadian border. Matia Island is both a State Marine Park and a National Wildlife Refuge. We're sitting on a mooring buoy. We can hear the throaty rumble of the huge sea lions we saw earlier in the day. Overhead a bald eagle soars--another sits in the trees making that characteristic whistle of theirs. The trees are old growth Douglas Firs that tower a couple of hundred feet over the anchorage thats surrounded by rock formations sculpted by the water. Otters splash in and out of the water. A Great Blue Heron fishes stealthily in the shallows. Exotic orange and purple sea stars cling to the rocks near the shore. The tidal current kind of burbles, and the only human sound to be heard is the occasional clank of the bail on the mooring buoy as it falls over and hits the shackle. And then... AND THEN the only other boat in the cove (a power boat naturally) starts its engine and runs it for 45 minutes. And then runs it again! Matia is not close to much of anything so it's kind of a long run to get there. Didn't they make hot water on the way out? Ditto for charging the batteries. Ditto all over again for cooling the freezer (God forbid they should buy ice blocks). I mean, why come to a place like this if all you are going to do is snap closed the plexiglass curtains over the cockpit and sit in the cabin with the engine running? Why pollute a pristine environment with engine noise and exhaust? Am I out of line on this? Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
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The picture you paint is great and that other boat does not look at things the same way you do. Actually it is the generator you heard and power boaters dont look at things the way you do.Also he probably does not have an inverter and large batteries. I would have probably done the same thing even tho I have large batteries and an inverter,I just dont trust them. Yes you are right but differant folks for differant strokes
The picture you paint is great and that other boat does not look at things the same way you do. Actually it is the generator you heard and power boaters dont look at things the way you do.Also he probably does not have an inverter and large batteries. I would have probably done the same thing even tho I have large batteries and an inverter,I just dont trust them. Yes you are right but differant folks for differant strokes
Prob'ly their genset, not engine
Big powerboats tend to be all-electric...electric stove, microwave...can't even boil water without AC power. If they only ran it for brief periods--prob'ly to fix dinner, they WERE being considerate...most just turn on the genset when they leave the dock and leave it running till they get back.
Big powerboats tend to be all-electric...electric stove, microwave...can't even boil water without AC power. If they only ran it for brief periods--prob'ly to fix dinner, they WERE being considerate...most just turn on the genset when they leave the dock and leave it running till they get back.
You are well within line Gary ...............
........ as I have encountered this from power boaters more times than I wish to recall. As a previous post mentioned, just a different breed. Regards, s/v Island Hunter
........ as I have encountered this from power boaters more times than I wish to recall. As a previous post mentioned, just a different breed. Regards, s/v Island Hunter
The question answers itself:
Most power boaters are inconsiderate a-holes. I say that only partly tounge in cheek. Theirs is not to become one with nature -- gliding silently on the winds. They crank the engines and blast thru everything in their path. Peace and quiet? That's boring! Crank down the AC a little, will you buffy? Typical scenario in the local cruising ground: Most sail boats anchor off, and its perfectly quiet. Powerboaters, on the other hand, are at the dock, not only running their engines, but also the radios blasting away (all blasting different stations), the floodlights on (all night, probably a security thing) or they are in their cruisers, a/c on, watching movies, engines running. I mean, if you want that environment, why buy a boat just head down to the local bar. I've never had a power boater come up to me and say: My stereo blasting, engine running, spotlights shining on you isn't inconveniencing you is it? They just don't give a damn. Sorry Peggy. I know there are exceptions. I just don't see many of the exceptions.
Most power boaters are inconsiderate a-holes. I say that only partly tounge in cheek. Theirs is not to become one with nature -- gliding silently on the winds. They crank the engines and blast thru everything in their path. Peace and quiet? That's boring! Crank down the AC a little, will you buffy? Typical scenario in the local cruising ground: Most sail boats anchor off, and its perfectly quiet. Powerboaters, on the other hand, are at the dock, not only running their engines, but also the radios blasting away (all blasting different stations), the floodlights on (all night, probably a security thing) or they are in their cruisers, a/c on, watching movies, engines running. I mean, if you want that environment, why buy a boat just head down to the local bar. I've never had a power boater come up to me and say: My stereo blasting, engine running, spotlights shining on you isn't inconveniencing you is it? They just don't give a damn. Sorry Peggy. I know there are exceptions. I just don't see many of the exceptions.
That's what gensets are for
I'll run the generator on our 42 anytime I see fit. I like air conditioning; it requires AC. I don't consider myself inconsiderate because of it. Starting about this time of year and running through October, I'll generally run my genset all night and part of the day if I'm anchored or moored.
I'll run the generator on our 42 anytime I see fit. I like air conditioning; it requires AC. I don't consider myself inconsiderate because of it. Starting about this time of year and running through October, I'll generally run my genset all night and part of the day if I'm anchored or moored.
Bryan...
... being a fellow S. Foridian I've found that the further you get away from civilization and the accompanying monster sportfish, DMD speedboats, and newbies with theire 25' whatever runabouts it gets much nicer. Most big boats actually SLOW DOWN to pass you! When I went up to Melbourne a couple of months ago there were actually powerboaters who called on the VHF and ASKED which side you'd like to be passed on!!! And just a few weeks ago I was going from Boca back to West Palm and a big sportfish actually asked a bridgetender to wait for the sailboat (us) to catch up before starting the opening!!! So they're not all bad. Especially Peggie. But as to the original post. I have to run my engine 45 min in the AM and 45 min in the PM mostly to keep up with the fridge. I'm going to modify it to be able to run a little less (just cause I'm cheap and that extra tablespon of fuel I'll save is worth it!). I think that if you look around anchorages this may be about the norm and MOST people are considerate about when they run their engines or gensets. SOME whether they are powerboaters or sailors don't care and run them anytime they please day or night. Jim "Prospect"
... being a fellow S. Foridian I've found that the further you get away from civilization and the accompanying monster sportfish, DMD speedboats, and newbies with theire 25' whatever runabouts it gets much nicer. Most big boats actually SLOW DOWN to pass you! When I went up to Melbourne a couple of months ago there were actually powerboaters who called on the VHF and ASKED which side you'd like to be passed on!!! And just a few weeks ago I was going from Boca back to West Palm and a big sportfish actually asked a bridgetender to wait for the sailboat (us) to catch up before starting the opening!!! So they're not all bad. Especially Peggie. But as to the original post. I have to run my engine 45 min in the AM and 45 min in the PM mostly to keep up with the fridge. I'm going to modify it to be able to run a little less (just cause I'm cheap and that extra tablespon of fuel I'll save is worth it!). I think that if you look around anchorages this may be about the norm and MOST people are considerate about when they run their engines or gensets. SOME whether they are powerboaters or sailors don't care and run them anytime they please day or night. Jim "Prospect"
Funny story
Last summer Rob & I went for a long weekend cruise to St Helens. There are two sets of public docks across from the town on a little uninhabited island. Beautiful! We're some of the first ones there so we tie up to the closest docks and settle in. Sure enough, here comes four or five power boats with DOGS AND KIDS! No frigging way! I start grumbling and complaining that the gensets will keep us up all night, the dogs will bark at every otter or bat or duck and the kids will wake us up with screaming the next morning. Rob finally gets tired of my bitching and starts the motor and moves us to the other set of docks which only has one sailboat tied to it. Aaaaaaah! Peace & quiet....for about an hour. We completely forgot that there was a down river race that day after which most (99% from the looks of it) of the racers overnight on those particular docks. Those docks had to have had at least 40 boats tied 4 deep to them! Talk about a party!!! Needless to say, Rob still hasn't let me forget that one!!
LaDonna
Last summer Rob & I went for a long weekend cruise to St Helens. There are two sets of public docks across from the town on a little uninhabited island. Beautiful! We're some of the first ones there so we tie up to the closest docks and settle in. Sure enough, here comes four or five power boats with DOGS AND KIDS! No frigging way! I start grumbling and complaining that the gensets will keep us up all night, the dogs will bark at every otter or bat or duck and the kids will wake us up with screaming the next morning. Rob finally gets tired of my bitching and starts the motor and moves us to the other set of docks which only has one sailboat tied to it. Aaaaaaah! Peace & quiet....for about an hour. We completely forgot that there was a down river race that day after which most (99% from the looks of it) of the racers overnight on those particular docks. Those docks had to have had at least 40 boats tied 4 deep to them! Talk about a party!!! Needless to say, Rob still hasn't let me forget that one!!
LaDonnaWell, if you can't beat 'em.
Couple trips back to Boca Chica someone decided to throw a birthday party complete with lights and loudspeakers, DJ and everything. I was getting annoyed but my brother in law convinced us to get drunk and go dancing under the lighthouse which we did all night and had a great time. Jim, suspect you're right, politness in general increases when you get a ways away from the big city.
Couple trips back to Boca Chica someone decided to throw a birthday party complete with lights and loudspeakers, DJ and everything. I was getting annoyed but my brother in law convinced us to get drunk and go dancing under the lighthouse which we did all night and had a great time. Jim, suspect you're right, politness in general increases when you get a ways away from the big city.
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