Rude Wake/Ski boaters

[Boobie Trap]

I realize that a lake is open to everyone. What I am asking is how to stop the wake/skiers that love to go right by boaters that are anchored. Here in Texas, they must stay at least 50 feet from you, if they cause damage to your boat from the wake, they are responsible. Everyone knows that 50' from a wake board boat is nothing with the wake they pull. I have gone to the point of throwing full water bottles, used, in front of them to get their attention, to pulling up anchor and making a 3-4 wake to run them off. It happened again yesterday. Anchored up, no one else around, wake board boat keep going back and forth right by us. We were close to the shore, have had them go between us and shoreline, and not far from where they had to reverse. The other direction is about 1-2 miles of nothing. It is along a dam that provides wind protection but they still think they have to go right by where we are anchored. I pulled up anchor and when the boarder fell, pulled up right beside them and reminded them that what they had just told us about this being a free lake was right and I had 160 gallon tank with nothing else to do the rest of the afternoon, how long did they want to keep it up and at 2000 rpm pulled a 3-4 wake and they finally left after turning very close in front of us. Not police on lake as I called about them harassing us.

I have used my VHF and called the local authorities and they have stopped them. It is not too bad if you are alone but when you have 3-6 boats tied up and they come by rocking all of you it gets concerning. Wake boarders have the worse wake. I am about to get a paint gun and start having fun from trying to splatter the sides of their boat.
I know that his is not legal but I am at wits end. I have used water balloons and they just don't work as advertised.

This is a very popular location and we are not the only boat(s) anchored there. They will even come by waving around all the boats anchored.:facepalm:

Any ideas on how to make it uncomfortable for them and then leave?

I know that the other side will say they have a right,and they do. no question. But, there are places were they can go to get away from the boats but it is like they have to show off for everyone and drive their ego's.

Seems like...."It's my world, welcome it."

Help? Fire away....

 

[lkbum]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

If we anchor out, I pick a spot that is not popular for towing anything (usually a tight cove). In Ga, you must stay 100' from an anchored boat, or dock, but it's not really enforced. There are areas with lot's of anchored boats and the wake boarders come by to show off. I avoid anchoring in those spots. Wouldn't that be easier than the confrontational approach? I boat to relax and try to pick the path of least resistance.

 

[Boobie Trap]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Yes, we do also but this is a very popular anchoring spot. We are not alone. It is not like they have no where else to ski, there are numerous areas on the lake that would fill this requirement. This area is a very popular anchoring spot. Sorry, I think that tolerance has gotten out of hand. They want to be rude, they will have to put up with the consequences.

We generally do not anchor there if there are skiers. First come first serve is how I look at it. If they are skiing, we find somewhere else. Is it too much to ask them to do the same? According to them, yes it is. It is their right. It is also mine to screw up their water.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Store your paint balls in the freezer for extra zing!

 

[tater76]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Ahhh Mr Boobie, you finally said what we have all been thinking. I am right there with you on the flat out stupidity of these 40-60K boat, 20 something, ego maniac, rap blaring, idiots. I have a small boat that we like to anchor in areas like you stated, and these boaters get close enough to spit on them. I have actually had a few runins where things got escalated to the point of them physically threatening me. Of course I had my family with me, and was not about to put them in any danger so we left. It tells you alot about the younger generation when a boat full of 8-10 twenty year olds will gang up on a family consisting of a man, woman, and child, shout profanity, because they think its ok to wakeboard 10ft from your anchored boat.

Now I am going to get alot of guff for saying this, but since being verbally assaulted on this particular body of water, I now carry a pistol aboard. I do report people and situations like the one stated previously, but the sheriff is not always there when you need him. I refuse to be a victim, and to let my family become in danger from idiots. Oh, I do have a concealed carry permit, and I follow the boat navigation/safety rules, so I am not the bad guy. And if you were wondering, I do not use this body of water anymore due to the high number of wakeboarders.

Now, I am a water skier and feel that I have the right to ski on public waters. However, I nor my driver would EVER think about pulling the crap you see now. Our generation knows how to respect others, its the 18-20 year olds that seems to lack any common sense.

I do have a good friend with a blown flat bottom jet boat that has a way of dealing with ignorant folks at the lake. I saw him clear a ramp dock that was covered in sunbathers with his rooster tail. He backed up to the dock, tilted his jetovator (I think thats what he called it?) and hammered it. He said it works on the wakeboarders too, just get in front of them and floor it. They get a boat full of water and ringing ears to boot

Ok, I am now stepping down from my soapbox

 

[roscoe]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Here we have a distance limit/ no wake buffer.
We also have a law that makes it illegal to harass or interfere with a person that is hunting or fishing.

The 2 laws work well together, once people know about them.

Personally, I usually have one rod rigged up with a large spoon or muskie bait.

I have on occasion, casted the lure over a bow or above the skier.
If they are within casting distance, they are too close.
They seem to get the message.

If jug fishing is legal where you are, try setting out a few jugs, perhaps run a line between them. They will only foul their prop once, or get the wakeboarder tangled in the line once, before they move on.

 

[skargo]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

So you making a huge wake is solving the problem how? You could be damaging the shoreline, or others as well. I've actually called people over, and talked to them about it. Beats throwing, casting, or shooting at them!

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

The one thing comes to mind after reading some of these post is also an OLD one:

"Two Wrongs Don't Make It Right"

1. To Tater76 with the concealed Gun you should edit what you posted because you can be sure if you get into an encounter your statement about going armed for a specific reason will be used against you. I am also a HCP holder so I am not anti gun by any means. I also can't legally carry on my lake due to US Corps (aka The Gestapo) rules until they are over ruled that is by new gun laws being worked on.

2. I my self have been GUILTY of Water (Road) Rage but I have a 16 yr old that imitates me & I am learning to control my Rage better for his sake.

3. In reality there has always been rude people in every activity, sport etc & always will be no matter what generation you talk about which is something I have learned finally after owning a boat.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

funny you mention this. i was dealing with this yesterday first hand with one except he had an i/o. he followed me all over the lake. sometimes hitting me with wakes that put my rubrail under water. i took my 3 older poles i dont fish often, rigged them up with huge sinkers, old hooks etc brought my boat to near plane. threw all three in, let out 50 feet of line and proceeded down the lake, the dude comes up along side me, cuts in front of me, then goes right around behind me, i stopped after he crossed my stern, he had all 3 poles worth of line and lures caught somewhere, as i no longer had anything but bare poles. he stopped about a half mile up lake and drifted a while as i continued to fish. im betting it took some time to unwind.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

I have on occasion, casted the lure over a bow or above the skier.
If they are within casting distance, they are too close.

Casting a lure at a skier - really???? That's pretty damned stupid.

IMHO, the best weapon to use against idiots is a camera. Get their registration number and file a complaint with the authorities.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

lol hook the skiers drawers and reel em in. a naked skier going down the lake! LOL

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

funny you mention this. i was dealing with this yesterday first hand with one except he had an i/o. he followed me all over the lake. sometimes hitting me with wakes that put my rubrail under water. i took my 3 older poles i dont fish often, rigged them up with huge sinkers, old hooks etc brought my boat to near plane. threw all three in, let out 50 yards of line and proceeded down the lake, the dude comes up along side me, cuts in front of me, then goes right around behind me, i stopped after he crossed my stern, he had all 3 poles worth of line and lures caught somewhere, as i no longer had anything but bare poles. he stopped about a half mile up lake and drifted a while as i continued to fish. im betting it did some damage.

Did you really just publicly confess to damaging someones boat with intent to do so? WOW people need to think before posting criminal acts on public forums. Remember we have become a very litigious society & what is put on the web is forever in reality.

 

[Borgey401]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Some of the reactions are no better then the problem at hand. It was said the younger generation has zero respect for people. I am 25 years old myself and I agree a lot of younger folk are ignorant. But from some of the reactions to "ignorant" people that were posted on here it does not seem that most older people are too respectful themselves. Of course this does not apply to everybody. I just think that if you've got an issue with somebody on the water and can't handle it yourself then call the harbor patrol or local authorities. Where I am from they are everywhere. But then again I do live in the city and I am not too sure how it is in suburban areas.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

i was fishing he didnt belong making 20 foot passes when the law here is over 150 feet, he was being a jerk, and found it amusing....time and time again. when me moving to different spots, he kept re appearing and harrassing. so i could care less if it caused him some greif.

 

[skargo]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Some of the reactions are no better then the problem at hand. It was said the younger generation has zero respect for people. I am 25 years old myself and I agree a lot of younger folk are ignorant. But from some of the reactions to "ignorant" people that were posted on here it does not seem that most older people are too respectful themselves. Of course this does not apply to everybody. I just think that if you've got an issue with somebody on the water and can't handle it yourself then call the harbor patrol or local authorities. Where I am from they are everywhere. But then again I do live in the city and I am not too sure how it is in suburban areas.

I don't believe any generation is any more respectful than the others. In fact, the older folks who cry foul the loudest are the biggest hypocrites of all, just from my own experience.

 

[bigblank69]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

What Lake were you at?

If it was at Lake Lewisville this doesn't surprise me at all. I find the rudest boaters in Dallas are all at this Lake. I stopped boating their after I was cruising the lake at 30mph and I happened to look behind me and saw a wakeboard boat 30 feet from my stern cruising in my wake. If I decided to slow down or stop suddenly he would've come up on top of me! I've been going to Ray Roberts now, much nicer and a lot more courteous boaters....

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Don't blame all the 20 year olds!!

 

[reddogg]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

Find some hard plastic (meaning solid) 10" fishing net floats (international orange in color) rig them with a weighted line, scatter them around your boat and call them moorings.


Red

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

I have the same problem while fishing,just get a large lure with lots of treble hooks .and play tag. I left one in a guys seat cushion once. If you play the game ,better be ready to back your play.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Rude Wake/Ski boaters

I don't believe any generation is any more respectful than the others. In fact, the older folks who cry foul the loudest are the biggest hypocrites of all, just from my own experience.

Amen. The only boat that ever cut my lines was a coast guard auxiliary. It was 35 years ago and I still think about it when I see them.
Cruisers v. fishermen
Wake/ski/tubers v. floaters
sail v. motor
commercial v. recreational
paddles v. everyone
Bikes v. cars
surfers v. swimmers
surf fishers v. swimmers and surfers

It will never end and nothing we say here will change it.