Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

[LiquidAssets]

Alright, so last night my wife and another couple go out for little dinner cruise. So the way the lake is set up, there's a breakwall maybe a half mile out from the shore. We start floating in the middle of breakwall and the shore, rather than near the shore or breakwall so we have some time to drift before hitting one of the two.

Is this bad etiquette to park yourself in the middle of the lake? It was a crowded night, but there's PLENTY of room to go around us. It seemed 10-12 boats decided to come within 10-20 yards of the boat just to give us a "warning"......any thoughts would be appreciated. I wanted to yell some four letter words at them, but just tossed a sarcastic "ahoy" at them.

Cheers

 

[LiquidAssets]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

And yes, anchoring is always an option but my wife is very pregnant and we needed a quick getaway to the ladies room. (hence the floating part)

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

My take is as long as you aren't in a main channel, shipping lane, or other thoroughfare - there should be no problem sitting there - anchored or not.

And congrats to the soon to be new addition to the family.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

I never thought it bad etiquette to anchor up or float anywhere on the water, as long as you are not a hazard (like the middle of a narrow channel).

Here on the bay in NJ, we have some real narrow channels, where the fishing is good. However, the boats whiz by on their way to the ocean. Fisherman do not seem to have issue with it as they know it unreasonable to expect the Sportfish boats to slow down every 100 yds or so.

I think the folks that "buzz' you are inconsiderate.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

During the day, not so much... at night, maybe. It depends on how well lit your boat was.

I personally would want to get away from the ya-hoos and would try to find some nice quiet backwater... but then there's the preggers thing too...

 

[blifsey]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

I've done similar when the lake is fairly traffic free. If there is a good bit of traffic I usually get closer to shore or in a secluded cove. I'm the same with doing water sports. If no traffic we'll tube in middle of lake. If traffic, we try to keep away from traffic flow for both convenience to others and safety of my folks.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

I'm with the general responses so far: nothing particularly wrong with it, but gauge traffic. Here in TN, these big impound lakes afford a TON of "go around" room - almost an anything goes option. On some of the rivers - especially if there's commercial traffic - you want to be off to one side more likely. On the lake that I grew up on in Michigan, it was actually best to be out in the middle (at anchor or drifting) because the main watersports pattern was around the perimeter of the lake. If we anchored off to a side, we ran a good chance of getting in their way and wake. It really hinges on the nature of the traffic patterns.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

take up fishing, so you have bait to fling at them

 

[shrew]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

The only thing I see wrong with this is the other boats who passed within the limit of a no wake regarding proximity to another boat. Provided you were visible and there was ample room for navigation around you, then you would be well within your right. How much different would it be if you were fishing, or having a skier/tuber/wakeboarder getting into or out of the water? Beleive it or not, doing nothing is not a crime.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

With all the water we have around here, it is fine to "drift" on your own, but tying up or "rafting" is not legal.

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

Rafting up is illegal in WA? I have never heard of that. I did hear of one lake around here that has instituted a policy of no more than 5 boats rafted up together, but never heard of it being illegal. Doesn't surprise me too much though.

Around here you will regularly see 5-10 boats rafted up in the sloughs or coves, sometimes many more in the "party" coves.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Party foul to float in the middle of the lake?

I seem to be the minority here. I would think that if you had over 10 boats approached you (hopefully in a good manner) to warn you to get out of the way is because you probably were in the way. People tend to navigate in the middle of the lake or follow the channel. In my opinion, drifting at either during the day is asking for trouble but I would just go around you, do it at night and I would be stopping too to let you know in a very nice way that you might be putting you and your passengers in danger.
You mention you wanted to yell some four letter words, if they were being nice when they approached you then you might need more to adjust than your drifting. There are always two sides to the story, sometimes three, not being there makes it real hard to form a good judgment. Wish you the best with the new family addition.