Unsafe Boating - the real issue

[upthesaukee]

I think the overall thoughts here have the roots to the problem, and then it boils down to noncompliance with the well-loved but oft-times abused 150 foot rule.

Eat my dust, follow my taillights, vanity plates "2fast4U", and other types of road mentalities follow over to the water. Some of it is education, some is poor judgement, and the rest probably just plain arrogance or lack of respect for others on the water.

I avoid the Weirs area by boat except before mid-june weekdays and post Labor day weekdays. It just isn't worth the hassle to try to get dock space or to go thru the channel to head down to that French restaurant Roi Burger. Some folks don't seem to understand that the No Wake area may have to extend out from the first sign, so when I slow down to get behind the boat in front of me who has slowed down to get behind the boat in front of him who has slowed... and then some yahoo(s) go flying by on a plane, or even worse with the nose way up high, the stern way down low and a wake larger than the Mount's, all the time looking at you like you and the others in front have three heads for going so slow outside a no wake area. (Mrs Bell, one of my English teachers would probably have my head for that last sentence... Sorry Mrs. B)

Solution: Gtxriders 50 cal with rubber bullets in the bow??? 105 howitzer shooting last year's Halloween pumpkin???? Or maybe Education, Common Sense, Courtesy (ever held the door open for someone else and let them go first???? gets a lot of smiles and "thanks, have a good day"), Safety for you and others, and when that fails or is not effective, Enforcement...Increased presence by the Marine Patrol, even better training of those on the lake to enforce, and respect for those who are out on the lake doing the enforcement.

Forums like this Forum (not just this thread) can be a great educational tool. I was talking to a sailboater who was talking about powerboaters cutting across his bow rather close. He said he didn't have to alter his course (not that close) but the boat could have easily gone astern as opposed to going across the bow (the boat had altered course to give way to the sailboat under sail...a good thing). When I questioned him as to what the difference was (across the bow vs passing astern), he said (and subsequent conversations with a couple of other sailboaters) that he (they) would prefer the giveway boat to pass astern if it was a choice bow vs stern. He didn't say they should alter course dramatically to pass astern, only that if it was a simple choice, choose the stern route. Has to do with the slow speed, pitching up and down in the wake. I thought and always tried to pass to the bow of a sailboat, even if it meant taking a pretty good turn to pass well out in front. Now I try to pass to the stern, and give even greater space as well. this is only the opinion of a few sailboaters, but it seemed to be consistent and I felt I learned something that isn't covered by RSA whatever. Falls under courtesy, I guess.

Oops, just a little more than my two cents this morning.