Major Bonehead

Alton Bay Bob · 08-12-2008, 09:52 AM

I agree. I start out by thinking the other boater will know the rules and follow them. But I am quickly ready to change course. I must admit before the required licensing course I might have been a captain bonehead from lack of knowledge. But after taking the course and now reviewing the rules every year and learning from this forum I have become a much better boater. Thank you to all who have taught me over the years....PS I'll wave to you all

SAMIAM · 08-12-2008, 10:00 AM

Thanks,Bob.....I assume you will be using all of your fingers

coronado · 08-12-2008, 01:52 PM

This was witnessed by me, a couple weeks ago, in the Gilford area..... Daddy in his ski boat ,takes his two boys out to ski. The older boy (appeared to be 16/18 yrs old) starts off and skis around the area for a bit and takes a tumble... Dad and the young boy (12/14yrs) go get the ski and reel in the rope.. they then go over to pick up the older boy. They are now approx. 400ft from shore. Dad noses the boat up to the boy in the water... the boy, facing the boat, reaches up and grabs the bow light and places his legs on either side of the bow at the water line.... Dad hits the gas and away we go.. not too fast probably 6/7 mph... We were horrified, one slip and that kid was toast... there was no way that Dad could have stopped that boat if the boy lost his grip...Dad traveled the 400ft or so back to shore this way, and dropped the kid off near shore. Something tells me they have done this more than once.... and someday it could prove to be deadly... I wonder if this guy knows the rules of the road? Or if he really cares?

Pineedles · 08-12-2008, 02:10 PM

Makes me shudder to think about it. The father, I won't call him a Dad, probably wouldn't even know if the boy slipped off. If he doesn't wind up killing his kids his grandchildren are in danger as this type of behavior is learned. It just gets riskier with every generation.

Mr. Moyer · 08-12-2008, 02:34 PM

gives me a pit in my stomach just thinking about the potential consequences. If you see this again, please go over and let them know of your concern. I'm sure all involved, haven't thought through what they are doing. they probably think it is no big deal. A number of lives can be changed in a second if something were to happen.

sa meredith · 08-12-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado

This was witnessed by me, a couple weeks ago, in the Gilford area..... Daddy in his ski boat ,takes his two boys out to ski. The older boy (appeared to be 16/18 yrs old) starts off and skis around the area for a bit and takes a tumble... Dad and the young boy (12/14yrs) go get the ski and reel in the rope.. they then go over to pick up the older boy. They are now approx. 400ft from shore. Dad noses the boat up to the boy in the water... the boy, facing the boat, reaches up and grabs the bow light and places his legs on either side of the bow at the water line.... Dad hits the gas and away we go.. not too fast probably 6/7 mph... We were horrified, one slip and that kid was toast... there was no way that Dad could have stopped that boat if the boy lost his grip...Dad traveled the 400ft or so back to shore this way, and dropped the kid off near shore. Something tells me they have done this more than once.... and someday it could prove to be deadly... I wonder if this guy knows the rules of the road? Or if he really cares?

Wow! I actually cringed as I read this. Literally got sweaty palms. Imagine being the kid hanging on, and falling, and thinking, "gee, I wonder what's going to happe....................

Newbiesaukee · 08-12-2008, 03:11 PM

I am looking out my window and at least 1/4 mile offshore in the channel between Long Island and Little Bear I see ( but don't believe) two 11-14 yo boys without any PFDs, each on a small foam swim raft paddling around!!! No one else in sight!!! Fortunately no power boats around either. What were they thinking?...then again, they are adolescent boys which I guess answers the question.

wildwoodfam · 08-16-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

I am looking out my window and at least 1/4 mile offshore in the channel between Long Island and Little Bear I see ( but don't believe) two 11-14 yo boys without any PFDs, each on a small foam swim raft paddling around!!! No one else in sight!!! Fortunately no power boats around either. What were they thinking?...then again, they are adolescent boys which I guess answers the question.

The channel between Lil Bear and LI is about 200 feet wide (if that) - so how are they 1/4 mile off shore? I need clarification on where they were.

I have to admit - I have swum through that channel before - and isn't that what being at the lake is all about playing around in the lake? I am glad there were TWO of them - if it were just one kid I'd have said something to him/her.

I guess I just pay attention when I am out in the boat - and am not surprised nor alarmed to see people - espcially teens swimming all over the lake. Again - isnt that what it is really all about?

GWC... · 08-16-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwoodfam

The channel between Lil Bear and LI is about 200 feet wide (if that) - so how are they 1/4 mile off shore? I need clarification on where they were.

Google shows it to be more like 200 meters.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie...17509&t=h&z=15

Don't you think that area to be a bit too travelled to swim? That is a major route. It's that or the Hole-in-the-Wall.

COWISLAND NH · 08-12-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado

This was witnessed by me, a couple weeks ago, in the Gilford area..... Daddy in his ski boat ,takes his two boys out to ski. The older boy (appeared to be 16/18 yrs old) starts off and skis around the area for a bit and takes a tumble... Dad and the young boy (12/14yrs) go get the ski and reel in the rope.. they then go over to pick up the older boy. They are now approx. 400ft from shore. Dad noses the boat up to the boy in the water... the boy, facing the boat, reaches up and grabs the bow light and places his legs on either side of the bow at the water line.... Dad hits the gas and away we go.. not too fast probably 6/7 mph... We were horrified, one slip and that kid was toast... there was no way that Dad could have stopped that boat if the boy lost his grip...Dad traveled the 400ft or so back to shore this way, and dropped the kid off near shore. Something tells me they have done this more than once.... and someday it could prove to be deadly... I wonder if this guy knows the rules of the road? Or if he really cares?

Now if that boy were to get hurt....would it be speed related bc he was going faster then headway speed w/ in 150 feet of shore??? WinnFab would say so i bet!

DUMB THRILL SEEKER!!! LOL

Dave R · 08-12-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado

Dad noses the boat up to the boy in the water... the boy, facing the boat, reaches up and grabs the bow light and places his legs on either side of the bow at the water line.... Dad hits the gas and away we go.. not too fast probably 6/7 mph...

Any chance it was a jet drive? If so, it would have been a harmless (but still really dumb) stunt.

Seeker · 08-13-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado

Dad noses the boat up to the boy in the water... the boy, facing the boat, reaches up and grabs the bow light and places his legs on either side of the bow at the water line.... Dad hits the gas and away we go.. not too fast probably 6/7 mph... We were horrified, one slip and that kid was toast...

I would have had to have had a little talk with that operator. Sounds like it's been standard practice with them.
I stopped a pontoon boat on another lake that had a young child sitting on the bow dangling his legs in the water as they went along at maybe 8mph. The boat, around an 18 footer, had about 10 people on it and was very low in the water. This was a July 4th weekend. I guess I just can't understand some of these parents.

jrc · 08-13-2008, 10:19 AM

I think I saw James Bond do this is a movie or was it the movie with Jessica Alba and sharks.

jasn · 08-13-2008, 04:28 PM

Seeing this thread makes me feel better, because I was thinking about starting one about the same subject myself. I'm amazed at how many boaters who either don't know about or ignore the the Give-way rule that I question my own memory and have looked it up twice to be sure I'm not the one at fault.

Last year I had one of those stupid stand-offs with a boater coming from my port side and wound up furious and shaking my fist. All I really did was lose a good hat and scare the crap out of my non-boating passengers. I felt pretty foolish afterward.

Justenuff · 08-14-2008, 08:02 AM

Can't tell you how many times I have almost been bisected by Captain Bonehead. Being a slow blow boater on Winni has it's challenges.
On my way back from Black Cat last Saturday, I was on a reach from Timber Island area and one Bonehead decided to adjust something in the boat, taking his eyes off the direction of travel. Of course, he didn't slow down from his 30 - 40 mph pace, and I had to use my horn to keep him from slicing me in half.
At the last minute (I felt the spray from his boat), he managed to turn away from me, otherwise we would have a new boating accident thread.

08-12-2008, 01:52 PM	#3
coronado Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Daddy Capt. Bonehead This was witnessed by me, a couple weeks ago, in the Gilford area..... Daddy in his ski boat ,takes his two boys out to ski. The older boy (appeared to be 16/18 yrs old) starts off and skis around the area for a bit and takes a tumble... Dad and the young boy (12/14yrs) go get the ski and reel in the rope.. they then go over to pick up the older boy. They are now approx. 400ft from shore. Dad noses the boat up to the boy in the water... the boy, facing the boat, reaches up and grabs the bow light and places his legs on either side of the bow at the water line.... Dad hits the gas and away we go.. not too fast probably 6/7 mph... We were horrified, one slip and that kid was toast... there was no way that Dad could have stopped that boat if the boy lost his grip...Dad traveled the 400ft or so back to shore this way, and dropped the kid off near shore. Something tells me they have done this more than once.... and someday it could prove to be deadly... I wonder if this guy knows the rules of the road? Or if he really cares?

08-12-2008, 03:11 PM	#7
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,353 Thanks: 947 Thanked 573 Times in 298 Posts	This is actually first mate bonehead.. I am looking out my window and at least 1/4 mile offshore in the channel between Long Island and Little Bear I see ( but don't believe) two 11-14 yo boys without any PFDs, each on a small foam swim raft paddling around!!! No one else in sight!!! Fortunately no power boats around either. What were they thinking?...then again, they are adolescent boys which I guess answers the question.

08-14-2008, 08:02 AM	#15
Justenuff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 74 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Been There, Done That Can't tell you how many times I have almost been bisected by Captain Bonehead. Being a slow blow boater on Winni has it's challenges. On my way back from Black Cat last Saturday, I was on a reach from Timber Island area and one Bonehead decided to adjust something in the boat, taking his eyes off the direction of travel. Of course, he didn't slow down from his 30 - 40 mph pace, and I had to use my horn to keep him from slicing me in half. At the last minute (I felt the spray from his boat), he managed to turn away from me, otherwise we would have a new boating accident thread.

08-12-2008, 09:52 AM	#1
Alton Bay Bob Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 46 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree. I start out by thinking the other boater will know the rules and follow them. But I am quickly ready to change course. I must admit before the required licensing course I might have been a captain bonehead from lack of knowledge. But after taking the course and now reviewing the rules every year and learning from this forum I have become a much better boater. Thank you to all who have taught me over the years....PS I'll wave to you all

08-12-2008, 10:00 AM	#2
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,896 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,676 Times in 586 Posts	Thanks,Bob.....I assume you will be using all of your fingers

08-12-2008, 02:10 PM	#4
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,545 Thanks: 1,072 Thanked 668 Times in 367 Posts	Makes me shudder to think about it. The father, I won't call him a Dad, probably wouldn't even know if the boy slipped off. If he doesn't wind up killing his kids his grandchildren are in danger as this type of behavior is learned. It just gets riskier with every generation.

08-12-2008, 02:34 PM	#5
Mr. Moyer Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 49 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	gives me a pit in my stomach just thinking about the potential consequences. If you see this again, please go over and let them know of your concern. I'm sure all involved, haven't thought through what they are doing. they probably think it is no big deal. A number of lives can be changed in a second if something were to happen.

08-13-2008, 10:19 AM	#13
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I think I saw James Bond do this is a movie or was it the movie with Jessica Alba and sharks.

08-13-2008, 04:28 PM	#14
jasn Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northborough, MA Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Seeing this thread makes me feel better, because I was thinking about starting one about the same subject myself. I'm amazed at how many boaters who either don't know about or ignore the the Give-way rule that I question my own memory and have looked it up twice to be sure I'm not the one at fault. Last year I had one of those stupid stand-offs with a boater coming from my port side and wound up furious and shaking my fist. All I really did was lose a good hat and scare the crap out of my non-boating passengers. I felt pretty foolish afterward.

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