After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

[Donzi GT250]

I am now even more convinced that operators permits SHOULD be required for people who operate boats.
The level of ignorance was a sight to behold.
The basics like anchoring and proper use of lights where just too much for some of these idiots to figure out.
Also the proper operation of a watercraft while underway also came into question.
No wonder the Coast Guard is so diligent when it comes to boaters.
I can't say that I blame the CG as these boaters give them all the reason (the CG) to be as much of a present force as they need to be.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

Yeah, I watched a similar show on the 3rd. We anchored as far out of the mess as we could and got out of the way as quickly and safely as possible. BTW, you are forgetting about adding a significant amount of alcohol to the mix of ignorance and arrogance.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

We have vessel operators permits here in 'Bama... but you wouldn't know it by the way some people act on the water.

Memorial, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends are always a zoo around here and I refuse to be a part of it! I'd rather fire up the BBQ and kick back with a few drinks in the safety of my own home than deal with the aggrevation and safety hazards on the water.

 

[dingbat]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

It wouldn't matter one way or another. We have driver's training, class room training, mandatory licensing, etc. Still have idiots on the road.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

3 best days not to go boating........memorial day, 4th of july and labor day

 

[Donzi GT250]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

3 best days not to go boating........memorial day, 4th of july and labor day

Amen brother !

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

I mentioned in a different thread earlier tonight some of the stuff I saw, but its all the usual, EXCEPT for the 40ish footer with green glowsticks strung all around his rail IN PLACE OF navigation lights.

Bonus points for being ballsy enough to hold a slow southerly course when 99% of traffic in that necked down part between inner and outer bays was heading west.

 

[NathanL]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

3 best days not to go boating........memorial day, 4th of july and labor day

Best day to watch the boat ramp however.

Requiring a license wouldn't change a thing. We have those for automobiles and motorcycles and it doesn't cut down on idiots there either.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

I logged about 90 miles on my boat over the 4th and although there were lots of boats out there, didn't see as many idiots as I did over Memorial Day, nor were many called down on the radio. A couple of children sitting under the bow rail, a few bridge speeders, that's it. I did not, however, go to fireworks or party areas.

Had an interesting discussion with a harbor pilot friend about the stuff he encounters along the lines of what we discuss here, including sailboats who think they control shipping channels (over his 900 foot collier) and pleasure/fishing boats who want to stay in the channel as well. I had to negotiate an inbound freighter, outbound container coming off the dock, big tug and unlit dredge equipment, at night, all in the same 1/2 area--I knew i was at the bottom of that food chain!

 

[Alumarine]

Re: After attending 4th of July celebration on the river.

I really enjoyed the 3 people in the jon boat who thought the perfect place to back troll was in front of the boat launch.

They moved after someone in a 20 footer went by them at 1/3 throttle. Or maybe they sunk.