Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Boater
Nice piece FormulaOutlaw but what do charitable contributions by anyone have to do with the issues being tossed around here? Excessively large, fast and noisy boats are still excessively large, fast and noisy, even if the driver gives to charity.
I suspect that as in all boating groups some individuals are charitable and some are not, some are responsible and some are not, some are courteous and some are not. I don't think you can make generalizations about any one group.
I have witnessed bad behavior from boats of all sizes and shapes although I have to say that at 10,000 lb, 1000HP rocket coming at me at high speed is a lot scarier than a small bowrider or sailboat and could squash me much easier. In some cases without even knowing it (see the Littlefield incident).
Again, I don't want speed limits or the banning of GFBL boats. I'm just concerned about the noise and the safety of my family in our small boat.
|
I am not trying to address "any one particular issue" anywhere. I am just trying to point out, that as a group, the GFBL crowd are decent caring human beings. That's all.
I sit on the Board of Directors for the OffshorePerformanceBoating Asociaton, (OPBA) based out of St. Petersburg, the Suncoast Offshore Racing Association based out of Sarasota. I know very many GFBL boaters. And as involved as I am, I am confident to say that I can speak for our group as a whole. We are a very responsible group. A fact that has been confirmed, as previously stated, by the law enforcement agencies that patrol our waters. I can't even begin to tell you the amount of times I've had a water cop tell me how they wish that the rest of the boaters were as courteous and respectful as you "go fast boys".
I'm sorry that at four in the morning, a GFBL boater didn't at least have the courtesey of "idling" his boat as to be as least offensive as possible. That's how anyone down here would have acted. My boat can get pretty loud at high rpms. If it's late I, and everyone I know, respect the fact that not everyone wants to be shaken out of their bed. We strive very hard not to allow that to happen.
As far as a driver "giving to charity", we are giving our time to help others. And again, time is, for all of us, our most precious commodity. Whether you are a GFBL boater, or whatever, someone who willingly gives their time to help others speaks volumns of that person's character.
Again, this Thread is not about any issues anywhere. I also don't want this Thread to be dragged into an "issue" Thread. It is only trying to point out that as a group, we are good people.
Thank you...FO