Lake Boaters

[agallant80]

I just have to ask, What is the deal with lake boaters? This weekend, when the lake is at its fullest, I saw people swimming in the middle of a river around a corner where no one can see, people swimming next to running boats, people swimming in the middle of channels, people swimming at the docks, people blasting out of coves and cutting people off in the lake, saw two boats racing under a bridge which is clearly labeled as a no wake zone. Its like there is no end to the rude people I encounter every time I am on the lake. When I am on the ocean I don't run in to nearly the amount of idiots I encounter on lakes. Its like every lake is full of idiots in Ed Hardy shirts on Malibu wake board boats with really tacky graphics running down the side of their red,orange or yellow "look at me" hull. Just venting but its like clock work every time I go down to the lake. Sure as the sun is gong to rise there is going to be some a--hole acting like he/she is the only one around. Now that I think of it this must be a wake board thing. Sure I see other people doing stupid things but not nearly as much as people in look at me boats.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Lake Boaters

Well the 3 big weekends are when the amateur boaters tend to be out in droves. They only take the boat out a few times each year, and they don't bother to learn the rules of the body of water they are on. There isn't usually a "rule" on where people can swim (unless it's specifically prohibited), so that's not really something you can be mad about. Swimming behind a blind corner isn't the smartest thing to do, but it's your fault it you hit them, not theirs, as they likely have the right of way. Just deal with it for a few weekends a year, the rest of the weekends on inland lakes are typically much less crowded and have a greater majority of experienced boaters.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Lake Boaters

... not to mention you typically have a lot more "ocean" than "lake" to get away from the knuckleheads. I was in Destin last week, and the harbor area was just as entertaining as the lakes 'round here.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Lake Boaters

Busy weekends are always like that, no matter what lake you are on. Simply put, anyone can buy a boat, but you do not have to have common sense to own one.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Lake Boaters

We always put in on the "Old Folks" side of our lake and stay away from the party zone. It still happens just not as often.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Lake Boaters

We always put in on the "Old Folks" side of our lake and stay away from the party zone. It still happens just not as often.

Choctaw perhaps?

 

[JoLin]

Re: Lake Boaters

I just have to ask, What is the deal with lake boaters? This weekend, when the lake is at its fullest, I saw people swimming in the middle of a river around a corner where no one can see, people swimming next to running boats, people swimming in the middle of channels, people swimming at the docks

They weren't swimming for pleasure. Those were the survivors trying to reach shore....

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Lake Boaters

We now live in a society that focuses 100% upon selfishness. And for the record, taking the boat out on any of the "big 3" weekends and expecting anything less would be silly. Sit back and watch the antics from a safe place, it truly is comical to watch people act out in public, then blame everyone else but themselves.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Lake Boaters

Choctaw perhaps?

We put in at Devils Fork but generally end up down near Choctaw

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Lake Boaters

They weren't swimming for pleasure. Those were the survivors trying to reach shore....

:high5: aww yeah! 25 points for women/children, 50 points for men, 100 points for anyone wearing an Ed Hardy t-shirt, lol.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Lake Boaters

I agree with OP but to be perfectly fair we should call them "lake-type boaters" since like the zebra mussels and snakeheads they find their way to other waters including salt. We have them here on the coast--fewer, not as concentrated and with good boaters mixed in--and they stand out as what they are. One of the wake boats with the speaker tower came into my part of the river this weekend, as welcome as a fart in church.

I was watching a bunch of youtubes on Lake Havasu Ramp 6 and related vids. No way I'd want to be part of that scene and nary a boater among them that I could see. I hear they even put carpet in their boats!

here, they show up around the beach resort towns, or up in the creeks where it's snaky and mullets are not just in the water.

And on July 4 I called down a boat, about 27' cruiser hauling down the river with about 5 people, from adults to little ones, sitting on the bow with legs dangling. I knew (thought) he'd slow down for the no-wake bridge and I'd catch him there but he stayed on the plane until he was half way under it and then dropped to a wake-busting 10mph. I yelled at him and he came out of the helm, and I told him "Skipper, get those people off your bow now. It's very dangerous and illegal." A couple of them came back, and he went on at big wake speed past the no-wake docks at the boat club and on out. I tried called nearby USCG but my radio mast was down. I see right much bad stuff but the dangling legs is the one I call them down on.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Lake Boaters

We put in at Devils Fork but generally end up down near Choctaw

Nice. Sure is pretty over there. I've been known to drop the barge in after work on a Friday and stay out there all night fishing, snoozing, grilling and drinking beer. Hard to think of a better way to watch the sun go down.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Lake Boaters

Around here I hear them called 'tourons'. Resort area on the coast brings out fools on boats. They have no idea what "no wake" means and there are few no wake areas. A deputy told me they begin writing tickets on Friday and by Saturday afternoon their fingers are tired. He also said they think because they have the money to buy a boat they own the ICW. Sadly, some die doing things no one would suspect. One tried to swim across an inlet during a tide change no less. Another rented a 'toon and swam to retrieve it when the tide took it away. It did not sink in to SECURE the 'toon and while going to retrieve it a second time he was run over by a boat with twin screws. So much nicer when schools are in session and vacations over and no tourons! Locals like having them here and enjoy them for the most part but 3 months is more than enough.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Lake Boaters

To the OP, its not just lake boaters on July 4, see Crabby John's post right up there of the NC ICW ^^^^

If you had been in the Core sound last weekend, you would see a lot of the same things: dangerous driving, boats run aground, high and dry at low tide ... idiots.

The "ocean" is just big enough to dilute out the stupidity

 

[salty87]

Re: Lake Boaters

a wakeboat does not make one a wakeboarder. wakeboats often happen to be the cool toys to buy by the crowd with more money than brains...in addition to people who actually use them courteously and appreciate flat water more than partying.

pop culture and the state of the education system are the real culprits, imo. and for that you just need to look around at who parented these people. that's often our peers, neighbors, family, friends.

also, who goes out on a holiday and expects anything other than insanity, selfishness and rude behavior? it's amerikuh.

 

[miner77]

Re: Lake Boaters

Young kids whose parents don't care what they do most of the time.

 

[moosehead]

Re: Lake Boaters

Dayum kids, get off my lawn!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Lake Boaters

I agree with OP but to be perfectly fair we should call them "lake-type boaters" since like the zebra mussels and snakeheads they find their way to other waters including salt. We have them here on the coast--fewer, not as concentrated and with good boaters mixed in--and they stand out as what they are. One of the wake boats with the speaker tower came into my part of the river this weekend, as welcome as a fart in church.

I was watching a bunch of youtubes on Lake Havasu Ramp 6 and related vids. No way I'd want to be part of that scene and nary a boater among them that I could see. I hear they even put carpet in their boats!

here, they show up around the beach resort towns, or up in the creeks where it's snaky and mullets are not just in the water.

And on July 4 I called down a boat, about 27' cruiser hauling down the river with about 5 people, from adults to little ones, sitting on the bow with legs dangling. I knew (thought) he'd slow down for the no-wake bridge and I'd catch him there but he stayed on the plane until he was half way under it and then dropped to a wake-busting 10mph. I yelled at him and he came out of the helm, and I told him "Skipper, get those people off your bow now. It's very dangerous and illegal." A couple of them came back, and he went on at big wake speed past the no-wake docks at the boat club and on out. I tried called nearby USCG but my radio mast was down. I see right much bad stuff but the dangling legs is the one I call them down on.

I do the same thing, We have rental pontoons and I see them going with 2 or 3 kids sitting on the front dangling legs in the water all of the time, I pull up and ask the parents if their kids are insured and if their trying to collect, I get the deer in the headlight looks then I say if one falls off their going to be sushi

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Lake Boaters

Dayum kids, get off my lawn!

Daisy: keeping kids off the lawn for 75 years

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: Lake Boaters

That is why on the Big Three I don't go out or I stay near shore & in small coves. Two years ago on the 4th of July I saw 5 bouat blocking the enters of a cove to keep idiots out.