[Skunked]

I was on the water this weekend taking the kids out for a ride. On the lake were several bigger boats, bass boats and other pleasure boats which were all having their fun. I was following one such boat (a bow rider full of people) and I was just about to pass, but because of oncoming traffic and a few kayaks an canoes, I tucked behind the bow rider until all was clear and I then went by. When we get around the end of the lake and start heading back, when we see this "kayaker" staring me down and eventually gestured that I was "number one" and said something about me being a "flocking apple" (I didn't know apples flocked but maybe he knows something I don't). I didn't take too well to that and since I had a boat full of kids. I wanted to give him a chance to explain why he gave us the bird. He said that we were going too fast and we put water into his partner's kayak.

Here's my question... I know we're all responsible for our wake but is there a limit or a standard on what a reasonable speed is when boating on a lake and there are kayaks, canoes and other small boat??? If a kayak is out in the water, do we all have to travel at a no wake speed or are they expected to take responsibility for "consciously" taking a kayak out onto a busy lake and crossing in the middle of the lake. Besides, how in the heck can that guy blame all of the rough water on me???

I'm not saying “tough stuff” for them, but they should be expected to follow the rules too and they should also be expected to accept responsibility for their decision to take a little thing like that out onto the water. I look at it like bicycles - they're allowed on the road, but there's a reason why they're not allowed on the high way... I try to be considerate of these people, but let’s face it, a bass boat makes a smaller wakes then most pleasure boats because there is less boat in the water. And when I'm following a bow rider-full of people, and there are boats out there towing skiers, how can they blame me for putting water in their boat??? I think they just looked at me because I was traveling faster then the other boats, so all of that wake and choppy water must have been my fault.

What’s your take on this?

On a similar note: This was the worst weekend I’ve seen at Patagonia lake though. I watched several boats travel through the no wake zone at speeds that couldn’t even be considered close to no wake (15 – 20 mph). One boat was pulling a guy in a tube and his wake came over the back of my boat. That reminds me, there was a jet ski that took off while in the marina. I guess he was thinking “man everyone must think I’m cool because they’re all looking at me…” He passed my boat less then 10 feet from me and he actually dumped water over my bow! I guess I should have told them both that they were the “number one flocking apples”. We could sure use your help down here.

Thanks for your info.

 

[Guest]

LOL it doesnt suprise me. its like taking a knife to a gunfight.

They shouldnt be in the middle of the lake. just like tubers. and a mater of fact just like bass boaters when those big 40 footers go cruising by. Its basically you take your chances when your out on the water. If you dont like rough water stay out of the areas that are rough. Dont get me wrong try to avoid them but if they are 50-100 yards away and he bitch's tell him to tell someone that cares :wink:

There are getting to be more and more of them on lake pleasant as well.

Oh yeah Bicycles must be legal on the highway cause those a holes are everywhere on the highway.
Bicycles should be on sidewalks only they cause more accidents than vehicles do.


Delw

 

[Skunked]

Don't get me started on bicyclests... then again, I guess I brought that up. :?

As far as the kayaker's go, 1/2 of Patagonia is a no wake area... Although that might not have mattered much this weekend from what I saw going on. Oh well. Good fishin!!!

 

[Boat Cop]

Like Delw said, Its like bicycles. they have a right to use the water SAFELY. they, Like bicycles can use the road/waterways until the point they impede the boats/cars. they have to follow all the laws like everybody else. Besides, a yak was made to take water over the hull, hence the spray skirts. The question is were you traveling safely and were you at least 60 foot away from the yak. If the answers are yes then he is a pinhead. more than once I have had my world rocked by a 30+ foot boat that was in the right. Its sort of like an implied risk. you are driving down the road behind another vehicle, a rock gets kicked up by the tire and hits your windshield, is the vehicle in front of you responsible?? NO, SHIT HAPPENS. it may be your fault because you were to close to the vehicle in front of you or it was gods will. Yaks, canoes tubes etc are inherantly unstable, they are made to take waves head on. you are responsible for your wake, yes at a limits. if you pass a boat closer than 60 feet, try to swamp a boat, try to spray a boat with your prop wash or jet or spray from turning sharply or are just plain reckless. if you are obeying the law, life sucks for the yaker.

 

[Skunked]

Thanks, that's a good answer. Not because I heard what I wanted to hear, but you spelled everything out clearly. When he flipped me off, I slowed down and came back to him. I asked if there was a problem and he said I was causing water to get into their boats. Then I told him the law required me to leave 60 feet minimum at above wake speeds and that I left them much more room than that. I was just saying to my kids how people aren't watching out for those kayaks and they need to be careful. ...then I get the finger. After it all happened, it just started to hit me the wrong way. I was really ticked about an hour later. At the time, I wanted him to tell me exactly what it was that I did wrong, which he had no answer. He just said I was traveling too fast for a lake with small craft on it and I had to slow down when they were on the water.

Thanks for your answer and added info!

 

[Boat Cop]

Hey Skunked, Remember when they hold up the you are #1 sign it does not necessarily mean that. It generally means they are showing you their IQ. For that reason i prefer the underhanded nardular grasping pelvis thrust. It shows your displeasure with full body language.

 

[Skunked]

ROFLMBO!!! Well, maybe when the kids aren't with me I'll try that one sometime. :lol:

 

[jasonR]

at least he wasnt calling you a "Pizza spit"! That one hurts the most.

 

[Skunked]

LOL! I didn't think of that one but that's a good one too.

 

[Fishdog]

Those yakkers scare me. I remember that one that got hit and killed at bartlett

 

[ned02]

I alway's try to be courteous of small craft but sometimes you just don't see them like coming into or out of the narrows at Saguaro,you come around the corner and there. they are.I once took a canoe out on Saguaro,won't make that mistake again some of those wakes looked like tsunami's coming at you.

 

[BassTrix]

The dumbest thing I saw (with respect to small craft) was a "yakker" out on Canon about 2 AM, dark moon, no lights and crossing the channel in narrows. This person scared the crap out of me and I'm sure I returned the gesture! lol

 

[BASSRO]

I'm sure he was cleaning out the poo from the shorts and yak when he got home.

 

[Nummie]

Now, that's just stupid!!! I also have seen that kind of thing on Canyon, small canoe at night, no lights........fishin'!!! Can you spell "Darwin Award"???? :roll:

 

[BASSRO]

Yeh- Me to . There was two guys in a canoe at night with a flashlght out on canyon last Wen. when I was there. They were in the cove at the first bridge at sun set then after dark paddled by me right over the top of my lure in which i was fishing the shore line and there was only 30ft between me and the shore. They proceeded to cross the lake diagonally to the other side at nite with just a flashlight. Were do some people get their brilliant ideas from. Dumba$$es.

 

[Lone Ranger]

Yeh- Me to . There was two guys in a canoe at night with a flashlght out on canyon last Wen. when I was there. They were in the cove at the first bridge at sun set then after dark paddled by me right over the top of my lure in which i was fishing the shore line and there was only 30ft between me and the shore. They proceeded to cross the lake diagonally to the other side at nite with just a flashlight. Were do some people get their brilliant ideas from. Dumba$$es.

BASSRO, Nummie already answered your question. These people get their dumb ideas from Darwin! :biggrin:

 

[gunguy64]

I think they should impose a law that requires all operators of motorized vehicles on bodies of water should carry a license just like a car. I chased a jet skier down a couple of weeks ago because blew by me in the no wake zone at Laguna. The only reason I did this is because on the previous Sunday when I was out there, I saw two jet skis go between two boats that were about 20 feet from each other with people swimming in the water around them. That is some major BS!! The funny thing is that I think he thought he would be able to out run me, but freaked when I pulled up beside him. I tactfully explained the rules of the water and what the bouys meant and he said he didnt know because the jet ski was a rental. I cant believe that there arent any briefings or anything when they rent these things. Also if we were required to have the license to operate on the water, if people are being stupid they could loose them and suffer the same rules as driving a car. This might help eliminate some of the idiots out there.

 

[Nummie]

So will a Louisville Slugger to the back of the head!!!