First - I don't drink and drive, you shouldn't drink and drive, if you do, you suck, now on to my topic.
Here's an experience I had on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri a few weeks back.
I was the DD, completely sober. We left the bar at 1:30am and went for a cruise up the lake to the dam and back. Got the the dam, turned around and headed home. On the way home in a wide channel there was very minimal boat traffic at what is now 2:30am. The moon was out and visibility was no issue.
I spot a set of lights off the starboard bow WAY off in the distance. Complete opposite side of the lake, saw the white light up high first then the green after a bit. Then I see the red and green, boat had changed course and was obviously headed my way. Still, not on a course to be concerned at all. I watch the lights seemingly adjust to become a collision course. I hold true as I'm on the left side of the lake closer to the shore and was on a perfect straight shot. The lights then continued to turn towards me and I became concerned and adjusted the best I could, I was now in a situation where I was going to have to "pass" this boat even though we never should have been close enough to be an issue with the huge amount of lake available. In the end the boat came up on me so close I had to steer very hard left and adjust speed to avoid what I felt could be a potential collision as this boat approached.
In the end the water patrol boat passes off my starboard side. He was close enough I could easily see the symbol on the side of the boat and see the single driver. The water patrol boat then goes off back towards the other side of the lake and that was it (changed course back towards their original destination).
Is this some kind of tactic to look for drunk drivers at night??? Has anyone else had this experience? The first thing I said to my passengers was "I think that guy was testing me!" I've also seen them sit outside the bars with no lights on, I don't believe that to be legal but I don't really know.
I bring this up because of this story I read. The link is a shortened version but the full story said the officer that hit the other boat claimed no bow lights Damaged Formula, 3 - lakeexpo.com: Lake News
I also know of another collision from a few years back at night with water patrol, a friend was on that boat.
Here's an experience I had on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri a few weeks back.
I was the DD, completely sober. We left the bar at 1:30am and went for a cruise up the lake to the dam and back. Got the the dam, turned around and headed home. On the way home in a wide channel there was very minimal boat traffic at what is now 2:30am. The moon was out and visibility was no issue.
I spot a set of lights off the starboard bow WAY off in the distance. Complete opposite side of the lake, saw the white light up high first then the green after a bit. Then I see the red and green, boat had changed course and was obviously headed my way. Still, not on a course to be concerned at all. I watch the lights seemingly adjust to become a collision course. I hold true as I'm on the left side of the lake closer to the shore and was on a perfect straight shot. The lights then continued to turn towards me and I became concerned and adjusted the best I could, I was now in a situation where I was going to have to "pass" this boat even though we never should have been close enough to be an issue with the huge amount of lake available. In the end the boat came up on me so close I had to steer very hard left and adjust speed to avoid what I felt could be a potential collision as this boat approached.
In the end the water patrol boat passes off my starboard side. He was close enough I could easily see the symbol on the side of the boat and see the single driver. The water patrol boat then goes off back towards the other side of the lake and that was it (changed course back towards their original destination).
Is this some kind of tactic to look for drunk drivers at night??? Has anyone else had this experience? The first thing I said to my passengers was "I think that guy was testing me!" I've also seen them sit outside the bars with no lights on, I don't believe that to be legal but I don't really know.
I bring this up because of this story I read. The link is a shortened version but the full story said the officer that hit the other boat claimed no bow lights Damaged Formula, 3 - lakeexpo.com: Lake News
I also know of another collision from a few years back at night with water patrol, a friend was on that boat.
