sharks

Kermit · Aug 17, 2015

Leopotter said:
Q: Has anyone...had issues with sharks, killer whales, or any other extra large sea going animals you would consider dangerous?

As long as I don't see my ex-wife I feel pretty safe.

Joe · Aug 17, 2015

Leopotter said:
Q: Has anyone sailed in open water and had issues with sharks, killer whales, or any other extra large sea going animals you would consider dangerous? Thank you so much.

If we're lucky. Around here people pay money to go whale watching... Jaws was an east coast shark so... nothing to worry about here, west coast sharks are very laid back....

kloudie1 · Aug 17, 2015

As long as you stay in the boat when/if you see sharks, there can be no problem. Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico have many different kinds of sharks; I have seen a few off the coast of Florida.. We've not had any problem with aggressive or strange acting critters. This includes scrubbing boat bottoms out at sea and bathing at sea. We do usually have a shark watch person while doing those activities offshore, but have not had to stop activities because of them. We do not swim during feeding times.. that is at night or early morning or evening. Don't wear jewelry that sparkles while swimming; don't swim when you see schools of disturbed bait fish; don't swim around people who are fishing or boats that are sorting fish..

Phil Herring · Aug 17, 2015

Yes, it's important to remember that Jaws and Moby Dick are fiction. Every few years you hear about a whale (not a killer whale) accidentally bumping a sailboat, but if I recall correctly you have a better chance of being injured by a vending machine than by a shark or whale.

BTW, my wife has asked much sillier questions, like "How are we going to pay for all this?" Good for you for asking here so she can see the answers.

woodster · Aug 17, 2015

Phil Herring said:
Yes, it's important to remember that Jaws and Moby Dick are fiction. Every few years you hear about a whale (not a killer whale) accidentally bumping a sailboat, but if I recall correctly you have a better chance of being injured by a vending machine than by a shark or whale.

BTW, my wife has asked much sillier questions, like "How are we going to pay for all this?" Good for you for asking here so she can see the answers.

wow you got vending machines up there swimming around ?????? who new

njlarry · Aug 17, 2015

Number one silly wife boating question...."Why?"
Number two...."What do we need that for?"

woodster · Aug 17, 2015

there is one ruthless type to be aware of they are marked with pin strip suites and called Loan Sharks.....

jwing · Aug 17, 2015

If you are afraid of sharks, and you should be, stay away from The Bahamas. I see sharks every day when I'm there. Sometimes they swim so close that I poke them in the snout with my pole spear.

Sharks are common in the Gulf of Mexico, too. I've caught a few on hook and line while reeling in grouper or snapper.

The ocean is a dangerous place that has many ways to gobble up people. One must stay vigilant and defensive.

MrBill_FLL · Aug 17, 2015

there are areas where there are more sharks than other places.

Florida and Bahamas probably higher than the NE.

but as a life long diver, MS is right, you have a better chance of being killed by a soda machine or a car accident.

My theory is sharks don't like the taste of humans. their attacks are mistakes, because, when there is a shark attack, its normally a 'biting' not a eating. one bite and they are done, where if they wanted to, the could come back for a 2nd or 3rd bite. -but that rarely happens. (why would that be, if they liked the taste? wounded, helpless, blood in the water, easy prey...)

So if you are not spearing fish, or in the surf at waist high water, they mostly leave you alone.

I was diving this weekend, and I fear being run over by a powerboat much much more than any shark.

Sailm8 · Aug 17, 2015

Sharks are just a fact of life here in Florida. Use common sense. If they are circling the boat you might not want to swim.

Ron20324 · Aug 17, 2015

Sailm8 said:
Sharks are just a fact of life here in Florida. Use common sense. If they are circling the boat you might not want to swim.

...and you get a warning when you hear the
music.. Ba-da, ba-da,bada/bada/bada/bada

Pistonbroke · Aug 17, 2015

Leopotter said:
I am sorry to ask such a silly question but...
My wife is freaked about the idea of sailing out of the lake, IE: ICW or the keys or Caribbean waters. "Not that we are doing any of that in the next few years"
Q: Has anyone sailed in open water and had issues with sharks, killer whales, or any other extra large sea going animals you would consider dangerous? Thank you so much.

Having sailed the Med. for eleven years and the East coast of the US for twenty odd years I found all the sharks were on land and the sea creatures no problem whatsoever. The ICW is a mess, it isn't being maintained so stay offshore as much as possible. Just sailing the coast of Maine will keep you occupied for a few years given that you will sail south for the winter months. Good luck and enjoy the wonderful life at sea.

DougM · Aug 17, 2015

Sail in the Great Lakes... No Salt, No Sharks, No problem (except the water gets a bit hard from December to April).

weinie · Aug 17, 2015

"Never get out of the boat".

CHARLIE STAGE · Aug 17, 2015

There are NO silly questions. Just "sometimes" silly answers! What an eclectic group. Gotta love sailors and their humor. Keep on sailing, Keep on laughing!

Gene Neill · Aug 17, 2015

Deer kill more people than sharks do. Lightning kills more people than sharks do. You are more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than by a shark.

The list goes on and on.

sailndays · Aug 17, 2015

I swam off So. Cal beaches nearly daily for 17 years. Was bumped a few times, scared the crud out of me, but on turning around. It was just a Seal wanting to say hi. My scariest Shark moment was when my girlfriend's Attorney Daddy decided he didn't like me.....

dbecker68 · Aug 17, 2015

As long as you stay in the boat when/if you see sharks, there can be no problem. Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico have many different kinds of sharks; I have seen a few off the coast of Florida.. We've not had any problem with aggressive or strange acting critters. This includes scrubbing boat bottoms out at sea and bathing at sea. We do usually have a shark watch person while doing those activities offshore, but have not had to stop activities because of them. We do not swim during feeding times.. that is at night or early morning or evening. Don't wear jewelry that sparkles while swimming; don't swim when you see schools of disturbed bait fish; don't swim around people who are fishing or boats that are sorting fish..

We sail on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, and occasionally see sharks in the Gulf, bay and ICW. We see many more dolphins (Flipper). Just use common sense.

Wally199526X · Aug 17, 2015

In a 22ft Catalina near Dana Point, CA, we saw two whales when they breached on either side of the boat. My wife took a quick seat on the floor of the cockpit and screamed bloody murder. There's nothing you can do.

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