Water balloon Slingshots!

[Lakegeezer]

Wouldn't it be nice if the water balloon sling range was less than 150 feet? Then no foul would be possible

[Shreddy]

Here's my standpoint...I'm young and all is fun to me. I know for a fact that those water balloon slingshots can be pretty dangerous if they connect with someone a ways away. I know from experience. So, is it really harmless fun? I know for a fact if I got hit, I'd be pulling up on shore with my paddle in hand more than likely.

For reference, friends of mine used to drive around neighboring towns a few years ago and just throw water balloons at people walking the streets. Needless to say, someone reported what they were doing and they got pulled over...all got arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

[Shreddy]

FYI, water balloon slingshots are EXTREMELY more powerful than throwing a water balloon at someone. The can hurt quite a bit.

[Sman]

For those that think it is harmless fun...

I don't care what it is you don't through or fire objects at someone while they are operating a boat.

Besides who knows the circumstances on board the boat, forgetting the fact that it could hit the driver, there could be a baby or elderly person on board that if hit would likely not enjoy the "harmless fun"

Get a clue

[KonaChick]

How about going over to the kids and telling them to knock it off BEFORE you call MP? Perhaps even tell them you'll be back to check. I would imagine getting hit by a water balloon by a slingshot could hurt a lot but you probably wouldn't be in any immediate danger. What could be in danger is the loons. Pieces of balloon in the lake could be fatal to a loon, fish or other wildlife.

[Gavia immer]

If the MPs are called, they will have to respond. It is illegal to discharge plastic into Lake Winnipesaukee. I'm not too sure about frankfurters.

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by Gavia immer

If the MPs are called, they will have to respond. It is illegal to discharge plastic into Lake Winnipesaukee. I'm not too sure about frankfurters.

I'm sure M&M can give us all the same numbers presented here for water balloons as they would translate to hotgogs. I suppose the variable may be frozen or cooked hot dogs?

"In field trials, maximum water balloon velocities ranged from 38 to 41 m/sec (85 to 92 mph) with kinetic energies from 176 to 245 J; by calculation, maximum velocities ranged from 42 to 54 m/sec (95 to 121 mph) with kinetic energies from 141 to 232 J. In a field demonstration a 300-g water balloon launched horizontally from a distance of 20 ft exploded a 12-kg watermelon. Classic physics calculations are presented to explain the complex bio-mechanical interactions between the water balloon and the eye. "

[watrskir]

Originally Posted by SteveA

"In field trials, maximum water balloon velocities ranged from 38 to 41 m/sec (85 to 92 mph) with kinetic energies from 176 to 245 J; by calculation, maximum velocities ranged from 42 to 54 m/sec (95 to 121 mph) with kinetic energies from 141 to 232 J. In a field demonstration a 300-g water balloon launched horizontally from a distance of 20 ft exploded a 12-kg watermelon. Classic physics calculations are presented to explain the complex bio-mechanical interactions between the water balloon and the eye. "

Thats what I meant to say.........show-off

[XCR-700]

Ok, someone has to say it,,,

Its all fun and games until someone looses an eye!!!

Sorry I couldn't resist.

But seriously, I would be pretty PO'd to be hit by anything while driving a boat, and with kids on board no less, ya really PO'd!

Thats not fun, that reckless and it sounds like they could use a bit of "the fear of god" (or MP) to wake them up.

Willing players can all throw water balloons at each other till the cows come home and I happy to see them outside and enjoying themselves, but intentionally shooting water balloons from a multi-man slingshot at someone driving a boat with children on board, ya that as criminal as just about anything I can think of.

Sorry, I hope no one has to get hurt to make this point,,,

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by SteveA

I'm sure M&M can give us all the same numbers presented here for water balloons as they would translate to hotgogs. I suppose the variable may be frozen or cooked hot dogs?

And I suppose there would be some dependance on whether it was an African or European hotdog. Indeed one can reasonably ask if they even have hotdogs in either of those 2 localities. I strongly suspect that in the former you'd actually find places where the name is a more accurate description of the food product than it is here in the US. But I digress ... so what is the capitol of Assyria ?

[Newbiesaukee]

XR700..the quote I have seen is: it is all fun and games until someone loses an eye, then it is a sport. I don't think this is very funny either and neither is the water slingshot attack described.

[Rose]

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

... so what is the capitol of Assyria ?

I don't know, but my favorite color is blue...no yel...auuuuuuuugh!!!!

[caloway]

Apart from the rubber remnants, this is all good fun as long as everyone is playing. I suggest you carry one with you so you can return fire next time. Try to lob a couple through the dining room windows.

[shoppes on the bay]

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

And I suppose there would be some dependance on whether it was an African or European hotdog. Indeed one can reasonably ask if they even have hotdogs in either of those 2 localities. I strongly suspect that in the former you'd actually find places where the name is a more accurate description of the food product than it is here in the US. But I digress ... so what is the capitol of Assyria ?

i for one would first want it explained to me how an african or european hot would end up in the lakes region in the first place.

and as for the capitol of assyria that would be rahgieria up until 500 bc when it was changed to argeronia because it was a much more tourist friendly name in their language as we all know.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by shoppes on the bay

i for one would first want it explained to me how an african or european hot would end up in the lakes region in the first place.

and as for the capitol of assyria that would be rahgieria up until 500 bc when it was changed to argeronia because it was a much more tourist friendly name in their language as we all know.

The gyro and the sate are not native foods and yet they are not strangers to this land. I propose that any hotdog could simply have been carried, perhaps by air, to the local environment.

And what of Assur ?

[gtxrider]

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

And I suppose there would be some dependance on whether it was an African or European hotdog. Indeed one can reasonably ask if they even have hotdogs in either of those 2 localities. I strongly suspect that in the former you'd actually find places where the name is a more accurate description of the food product than it is here in the US. But I digress ... so what is the capitol of Assyria ?

Blue no yel_____


Have the afore mentioned water ballons been placed in a freezer before being fired?

[Happy Gourmand]

This can be fun IF YOU ARE A WILLING PARTICIPANT! If not, and you are hit, say, on the side of the head or in the face and cause personal injury, I believe that you could be brought up on felony charges.
Skip, can you confirm?

[Coolbreeze]

The launcher is only safe if the opposing party is aware of the attack and the incoming balloons. Otherwise the balloons can injure someone if they get hit. I agree with some posts that the marine patrol and the police should be notified; but notify them of a fight in progress, becuase I would seriously beat on the person or persons responsible for the attack if the balloon hit any member of my family.

[Pricestavern]

These slingshots were called "Funnelators" up at my college. They can easily break windows from quite a distance away. Now, if the boat is moving and the waterballoon strikes the windscreen the glass could shatter, injuring those in the cockpit.

Though fun to launch, they are dangerous.

Now on the other hand, Potato Guns...

[Island Life]

My nephew has one of these waterballoon slingshots and it kept all the kids on the island entertained one summer. But they only used it against each other (and us sort-of-willing adults) and they/we all knew it hurt like h@!! when one hit you. If they were using it against unsuspecting boaters, that thing would have been removed immediately.

There's nothing wussie about calling marine patrol to handle a problem like this. If this boater had pulled into the dock and started yelling, you never know how things might have escalated. Lots of beer being consumed on some of these islands and lots of adults who are overly protective of their kids - even when the kids are acting dangerously and like jerks.

And by the way, my kids recently got a ketchup gun. If any of you get hit by it, you're wwwaaaaaayyyyy inside the 150' area.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Pricestavern

These slingshots were called "Funnelators" up at my college. They can easily break windows from quite a distance away. Now, if the boat is moving and the waterballoon strikes the windscreen the glass could shatter, injuring those in the cockpit.

Though fun to launch, they are dangerous.

Now on the other hand, Potato Guns...

Next time I am up I will send a pic of our potato gun. We used a clear PVC pipe for a barrel so that you can see the flames at night when it fires and a large ballcock valve for ease of loading.

I have seen biodegradable balloons before for the slingshots. At least that takes the environmentally friendly part out of the equation.

[dpg]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

The launcher is only safe if the opposing party is aware of the attack and the incoming balloons. Otherwise the balloons can injure someone if they get hit. I agree with some posts that the marine patrol and the police should be notified; but notify them of a fight in progress, becuase I would seriously beat on the person or persons responsible for the attack if the balloon hit any member of my family.

Geez Coolbreeze, you need to chill just a bit.

[Coolbreeze]

DPG, I am very "chilled". I am only stating what I would probably do if put in the position. You may turn the other cheek and I respect your choice; but I go for blood when anyone in my family is maliciously harmed.

[bigRazor]

Friend of mine's neighbor lost his sight in one eye from one of those balloon launchers.

If they can still be sold, we need to bring back Lawn Jarts.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by bigRazor

Friend of mine's neighbor lost his sight in one eye from one of those balloon launchers.

If they can still be sold, we need to bring back Lawn Jarts.

Oh yes, bring back the Jarts ! When those went away we had to resort to using Arrowcopters ... w/o the "wing". The Jarts were much easier to see and hence dodge. Lawn Jarts, now there's a manly game !!

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by bigRazor

Friend of mine's neighbor lost his sight in one eye from one of those balloon launchers.

If they can still be sold, we need to bring back Lawn Jarts.

Yes, they can still be sold. I have a couple of sets that we'd bought for a b-day party but didn't use because it rained that day.

(And no it wasn't my kids on that boat!)

[dpg]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

DPG, I am very "chilled". I am only stating what I would probably do if put in the position. You may turn the other cheek and I respect your choice; but I go for blood when anyone in my family is maliciously harmed.

No - your not...Robbery, beatings and car-jackings are what most would call maliciously harmed. Although kids shooting water balloons can harm people, I agree, it's still kids being dumb. The fact that an adult would "go for blood" in such a situation concerns me. I pray for the person that (accidentally) rear-ends you in their car would that warrant a shooting?

[MJM]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

...... Needless to say, someone reported what they were doing and they got pulled over...all got arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

With a deadly weapon? Come on. There's a police report I'd have to see to believe.

I understand the concerns, and agree this sort of activity shouldn't be done. But the severity of the concerns/responses is just something I don't share.

And yes, I have been hit with many a water balloon, both thrown and slingshotted (is that a word?), and it is FUN.

To me, telling an adult on scene that the kids are doing this would more than suffice.

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by MJM

With a deadly weapon? Come on. There's a police report I'd have to see to believe.

I understand the concerns, and agree this sort of activity shouldn't be done. But the severity of the concerns/responses is just something I don't share.

And yes, I have been hit with many a water balloon, both thrown and slingshotted (is that a word?), and it is FUN.

To me, telling an adult on scene that the kids are doing this would more than suffice.

Yup, 100% positive that's what they got charged with unfortunately...I'll see if I can hunt down somethign for you. They had to do A LOT of community Service.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

Wouldn't it be nice if the water balloon sling range was less than 150 feet? Then no foul would be possible

Or use a 150' water balloons on the Capt. Boneheads who are invading your zone!