An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

[Silly Seville]

I know we like to think of this forum and its tales of failure as cute/funny/embarrassing at times; but this story really showcases the height of stupidity when people leave their intelligence at the dock, and the ensuing tragic results.

http://mydailysentinel.com/view/ful...tails-released-in-July-4-Ohio-River-fatality?

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

well. stupidity can be fatal. i had a jet ski once jumping my wakes. stopped. he did too then sat there like he was waiting for me to go. i flipped him off and yelled get the blank out of here. he did. i aint getting sued over someone elses ignorance.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

Carl, you have a small boat that can't put up much wake. As long as the guy isn't cutting in front of you, or close to your stern, leave him alone.
And no one is suing you if they fall from jumping your wake. If you stop suddenly to scare him and he hits you, he might (like jamming on brakes to scare a tailgater in a car).
However what the guys in the accident did was just dangerous stupidity. No one has as much control of a boat of any kind as he thinks he does; those who don't realize this, or lose respect for it, get in trouble.

 

[I Fish]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

This was my cousin's neighbor. My cousin told me about it the other day, but didn't know the details. Sounds like they definately left the common sense at home.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

I think my hatred for Jetflees is well documented so I will keep it quiet, a sad and tragic accident that was completely avoidable.

Very Sad

 

[Part-time]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

As long as the guy isn't cutting in front of you, or close to your stern, leave him alone.

I posted it on another thread last week... but a young man on a sea-doo came dangerously close to hitting a kid on a tube being pulled behind a pontoon not even a hundred feet from the end of my dock.
The sea-doo was also jumping the wakes of other boats and was making a straight line to go right behind that pontoon at first.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

Terrible accident, but avoidable. It has always seemed like jet ski operators leave more of their common sense at the dock than boaters do. I guess that's why there has always been such feelings about jet skis. Just a couple of things to relate:

The manager of the storage yard where I keep my project boat rents jet skis. After a busy weekend, invariably, at least one of them needs fiberglass work.

One time, I was anchored overnight on Lake Boca (ICW, South Florida). Early in the morning, we were awakened by the bow of our boat being moved hard to port. I jumped up, and climbed to the bow. Then I saw a jet ski with no rider, idling out from under my bow. The kid had crossed so close to my bow that the anchor line drug him off the jet ski. Then I saw him swimming after it. I asked if he was OK, and he said he was, bloody face and all. BTW, I was the only boat on the lake.

Sea ya...

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

Lipp ,, I have often concidered mounting a tater gun on my front deck and using jet fleas for target pratice.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

I hear ya MH, Now I just load the kids up tell them to keep their PFD's on, (wife knows what this means and she gets on the phone) and I head after them, I am not the law yet but I have sworn to uphold it, DO NOT JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

The manager of the storage yard where I keep my project boat rents jet skis. After a busy weekend, invariably, at least one of them needs fiberglass work.

pretty sure that would be true no matter what the craft... You rent a boat to people with absolutely no boating experience, and a certain percentage are going to come back dinged up.

Once again, a thread has deteriorated into a jetski bashing thread... I currently own a PWC, as well as a pontoon and a couple other boats. I've owned pretty much every type of boat possible at some point in the past. (also have almost 30 years boating experience, and I'm under 40...) My point is that it isn't the craft, but the operator. I've actually seen far more idiots that were 50+ driving overpriced fishing boats than PWC's. Bass boats are the worst. Those guys have zero docking skills, zero loading skills, and have no issue with buzzing 10 feet from you at 70 mph. Most fisherman will also melt if they get wet, so most of them will powerload, using that 300 hp outboard on the back.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

I would also agree with that to smokingcrater and their easer to hit with a tater gun lol

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

smokingcrater, you start by defending PWC's by saying this is a "jet ski bashing thread" which is ironic as you automatically start into the describing how inept the bass boat owners are...you should've just left it alone at saying it's the "operator" [of the watercraft]

I don't think this is a much a jet ski bashing thread as people sharing experiences with operators of jet skis...obliviously it's the operator, not the actual jet skis that cause the problem!

I have been on both sides of the coin on this one, I enjoy riding jet skis and I love to see how high I can jump off someones wake (only when I'm with the person who owns the boat), and I cannot stand when they get to close to me ONLY when I have a skier, wake boarder or tuber! Otherwise, jumping my wake (which also isn't much!) is ok as they are typically far enough behind to not be a safety issue. To me, operating a boat is about judgment and common sense (I know...common sense isn't as common as it used to be!). If the person on the PWC is far enough behind, I don't care, if they're too close I'll stop and give 'em dirty looks maybe even say a few expletives! If they are following too close when I have kids on the tube, wife on skis or wakeboard, after I pull the skier...hold on...I'll hunt you down and give you the ride of your life (my boat will out run most jet skis, and I have been know to follow a person back to their family's boat or camp and let 'em have it)

BTW, According to Colorado boating laws, leaving the water by jumping off another craft's wake is forbidden and if caught one can be given a pretty sizable fine. I'm sure it's similar in other states?

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: An example of what not to do on a jet ski!

pretty sure that would be true no matter what the craft... You rent a boat to people with absolutely no boating experience, and a certain percentage are going to come back dinged up.

Once again, a thread has deteriorated into a jetski bashing thread... I currently own a PWC, as well as a pontoon and a couple other boats. I've owned pretty much every type of boat possible at some point in the past. (also have almost 30 years boating experience, and I'm under 40...) My point is that it isn't the craft, but the operator. I've actually seen far more idiots that were 50+ driving overpriced fishing boats than PWC's. Bass boats are the worst. Those guys have zero docking skills, zero loading skills, and have no issue with buzzing 10 feet from you at 70 mph. Most fisherman will also melt if they get wet, so most of them will powerload, using that 300 hp outboard on the back.

Can't argue with the fact that their are equally bad operators of boats. My primary observation is that a vastly higher percentage of jet ski operators ignore the rules of the road and do dangerous things than boat operators. I'm sure you are a conscientious and safe jet ski operator, but unfortunately, there are so many that are not like you that you fall into a class with a bad rap. Face it, the widespread dislike for jet ski operators comes from everyone's collective experience, not just anecdotal stories.

Sea ya...