Hit and Run at Wolfeboro Town Dock

LIforrelaxin · 07-02-2014, 01:29 PM

First FLL, out of line Man, most times I find your humor, but this time, it was poorly timed.

Second, on busy weekend the Town docks are prime for docking accidents, to many people in a rush... I personally stay away from the town docks on the weekend.

Third, people have no morals, they know if they cause damage to someone else property they should pay to fix it.... and if no one appears to be watching, well then with the lack of moral compass, people just take off... Happens in parking lots with cars all the time. Why should boats at a public docking facility be any different. In short why is everyone surprised, I am not.

Last Jetman, what type of damage are we talking about here? Was the gel coat scuffed? Was it bad enough that a fiberglass repair is going to be needed? Was there a physical hole in your boat?

I am not accusing you of over reacting here, but before I get pissed off and go on a rant about the inconsiderate knuckle head capt. Boneheads out there, I want more information. Because I have seen issues at the town docks, where really no damage is done, but someone is upset simply because there boat was touched with a fending pole, or bumper, and the dirt on their boat was smeared...

last the boating safety certificate, is just that a certificate of completion and understanding... it does not mean someone knows how to fully control a boat....

Finally if your at a public dock, and you see someone boat get hit, we should all do our best to get identifying information, and give it to the cops, or the damaged boat owner.... I think to often people just don't want to get involved.

Closetzguy · 07-02-2014, 03:35 PM

As a very new "certified" boater, let me tell you, it is nerve-racking pulling in to a public dock (like Wolfboro in my case). The last thing I want to do is damage someones property! In most cases, I would think new boaters are really doing our best…and if we drift against somebody with a fender, please be patient and help us out with some encouraging words.

Remember, we are all there just trying to enjoy the day and some lake life!

Question….how the heck do I keep track of who is next when a few boats are waiting for a slip? Can we install a huge "deli counter ticket dispenser" ?

RamJet · 07-02-2014, 03:42 PM

Can you describe the damage? Was their paint or other evidence left behind?

HellRaZoR004 · 07-02-2014, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Closetzguy

Question….how the heck do I keep track of who is next when a few boats are waiting for a slip? Can we install a huge "deli counter ticket dispenser" ?

Communication in this case is key. For instance. This weekend in Meredith I came up on what appeared to be 4 boats waiting to dock. I spoke up and asked what their intentions were - one was actually dropping people off and from there I was able to determine who was up next.

About 10 minutes later another group of people came by and started in towards a spot someone was exiting from. I politely spoke up and informed them that there was a line. They replied that they didn't know and pulled back.

Not all situations will be the same and some people will get impatient....in those cases there's not much you can do.

VitaBene · 07-02-2014, 03:46 PM

Many comments above relate to docking. All I can say is that when I started boating too many years ago to think about, I started mid week and docked and docked and docked... practice as much as possible when it is not too busy. Never hesitate to ask for help!

Best of luck catching the person who hit your boat, it would irritate me as well.

wynndog · 07-02-2014, 06:58 PM

As someone that just took the class , I was very suprised I wasn't even IN A BOAT! Don't you think a little docking skill would be taught?

Rusty · 07-02-2014, 07:21 PM

If you aren't an honest person, there isn't any class that you can take that will make you any different.
I think that is what this thread is all about.

Rangervx · 07-02-2014, 08:11 PM

#2...are you high??? when my daughter was 2...she made more sense...

ursa minor · 07-02-2014, 11:05 PM

To the OP, so sorry that a nice day trip ended up this way. Sadly, we've had the same thing happen in Wolfeboro. I'm not sure why someone would think it's OK to hit a boat and leave, if they did the same thing in a car they would probably think twice and at least leave a note. I've learned to go way in where the less experienced are unlikely to try to tie up. Can't even tell you how many times we've watched people in very expensive boats playing "bumper cars" while attempting to dock, you would think if they can afford an expensive boat they would get some instructions on how to handle it as well.

4 for Boating · 07-03-2014, 12:07 AM

Sorry to hear about your hit and run > the offender should have left some contact into.

To digress:
Wolfboro, given the spacing, is sometimes a tough place docking even for the experienced boater I think. Go all the way in and you’re safe from most bumping but have to back all the way out and if the wind is kicking, it’s tricky. Grab a spot on the end of the dock and it’s easy in and out but it’s right where all boats coming and going need to pass by.

We have a relatively smaller boat so we don’t have too much difficulty but we have visited a few times where two larger/wider boats occupied the outer slips across from each other and it almost looked impossible to squeeze past to get to the slips closer in.

Sans the crowd, hard to beat the Meredith docks, they are so wide in-between that you can spin the whole boat around 360 degrees if need be.

brk-lnt · 07-02-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wynndog

As someone that just took the class , I was very suprised I wasn't even IN A BOAT! Don't you think a little docking skill would be taught?

Yes and no.
You could say that the purpose of the class is to teach you the regulations and the "rules of the road". The logical conclusion would be to understand that knowing the basics doesn't mean you're ready to just dive directly into boating on a high traffic weekend. You should spent some time on a quiet day getting familiar with handling your boat in different conditions and scenarios. Basically build up, just the same way you (hopefully) didn't get your drivers license and then attempt to drive cross-country in a snow storm pulling a trailer.

Of course it seems that people (not necessarily referring to you) think that a plastic card earned after a few hours of instruction and not flunking a simple multiple-choice test makes them ready for heavy action.

07-02-2014, 01:29 PM	#1
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,876 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	First FLL, out of line Man, most times I find your humor, but this time, it was poorly timed. Second, on busy weekend the Town docks are prime for docking accidents, to many people in a rush... I personally stay away from the town docks on the weekend. Third, people have no morals, they know if they cause damage to someone else property they should pay to fix it.... and if no one appears to be watching, well then with the lack of moral compass, people just take off... Happens in parking lots with cars all the time. Why should boats at a public docking facility be any different. In short why is everyone surprised, I am not. Last Jetman, what type of damage are we talking about here? Was the gel coat scuffed? Was it bad enough that a fiberglass repair is going to be needed? Was there a physical hole in your boat? I am not accusing you of over reacting here, but before I get pissed off and go on a rant about the inconsiderate knuckle head capt. Boneheads out there, I want more information. Because I have seen issues at the town docks, where really no damage is done, but someone is upset simply because there boat was touched with a fending pole, or bumper, and the dirt on their boat was smeared... last the boating safety certificate, is just that a certificate of completion and understanding... it does not mean someone knows how to fully control a boat.... Finally if your at a public dock, and you see someone boat get hit, we should all do our best to get identifying information, and give it to the cops, or the damaged boat owner.... I think to often people just don't want to get involved. __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

07-02-2014, 03:42 PM	#3
RamJet Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NH Seacoast and Smith's Cove Posts: 58 Thanks: 20 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Describe the damage Can you describe the damage? Was their paint or other evidence left behind? __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau

07-02-2014, 06:58 PM	#6
wynndog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Alton Posts: 98 Thanks: 170 Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Safety course As someone that just took the class , I was very suprised I wasn't even IN A BOAT! Don't you think a little docking skill would be taught?

07-02-2014, 07:21 PM	#7
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,028 Thanks: 603 Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts	If you aren't an honest person, there isn't any class that you can take that will make you any different. I think that is what this thread is all about. __________________ It's never crowded along the extra mile.

07-02-2014, 11:05 PM	#9
ursa minor Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tuftonborough & Franklin MA Posts: 265 Thanks: 99 Thanked 143 Times in 64 Posts	To the OP, so sorry that a nice day trip ended up this way. Sadly, we've had the same thing happen in Wolfeboro. I'm not sure why someone would think it's OK to hit a boat and leave, if they did the same thing in a car they would probably think twice and at least leave a note. I've learned to go way in where the less experienced are unlikely to try to tie up. Can't even tell you how many times we've watched people in very expensive boats playing "bumper cars" while attempting to dock, you would think if they can afford an expensive boat they would get some instructions on how to handle it as well. __________________ " Any day with a boat ride in it is a good day"

07-02-2014, 03:35 PM	#2
Closetzguy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Andover, Ma and Tuftonboro, NH Posts: 97 Thanks: 15 Thanked 28 Times in 13 Posts	public docking As a very new "certified" boater, let me tell you, it is nerve-racking pulling in to a public dock (like Wolfboro in my case). The last thing I want to do is damage someones property! In most cases, I would think new boaters are really doing our best…and if we drift against somebody with a fender, please be patient and help us out with some encouraging words. Remember, we are all there just trying to enjoy the day and some lake life! Question….how the heck do I keep track of who is next when a few boats are waiting for a slip? Can we install a huge "deli counter ticket dispenser" ?

The Following User Says Thank You to Closetzguy For This Useful Post:
diprna (07-06-2014)

07-02-2014, 03:46 PM	#5
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,595 Thanks: 1,642 Thanked 1,641 Times in 844 Posts	Many comments above relate to docking. All I can say is that when I started boating too many years ago to think about, I started mid week and docked and docked and docked... practice as much as possible when it is not too busy. Never hesitate to ask for help! Best of luck catching the person who hit your boat, it would irritate me as well.

The Following User Says Thank You to VitaBene For This Useful Post:
LIforrelaxin (07-08-2014)

The Following User Says Thank You to wynndog For This Useful Post:
Webbsatwinni (07-19-2014)

The Following User Says Thank You to Rusty For This Useful Post:
Chaselady (07-02-2014)

07-02-2014, 08:11 PM	#8
Rangervx Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: VIRGINIA / WINTER HARBOR Posts: 82 Thanks: 28 Thanked 28 Times in 15 Posts	#2...are you high??? when my daughter was 2...she made more sense...

07-03-2014, 12:07 AM	#10
4 for Boating Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 228 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 26 Posts	Tight Spots Sorry to hear about your hit and run > the offender should have left some contact into. To digress: Wolfboro, given the spacing, is sometimes a tough place docking even for the experienced boater I think. Go all the way in and you’re safe from most bumping but have to back all the way out and if the wind is kicking, it’s tricky. Grab a spot on the end of the dock and it’s easy in and out but it’s right where all boats coming and going need to pass by. We have a relatively smaller boat so we don’t have too much difficulty but we have visited a few times where two larger/wider boats occupied the outer slips across from each other and it almost looked impossible to squeeze past to get to the slips closer in. Sans the crowd, hard to beat the Meredith docks, they are so wide in-between that you can spin the whole boat around 360 degrees if need be.