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Simple observation (Power Boats)

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/08/2003 : 23:13:38

Is it just me or is there a lot less power boats out on the water these days. A buddy of mine use to run up to the San Juans for the weekend for 150 dollars in fuel. Its now costing hit 300 to 400 dollars so he cant afford to go. My boat still runs all year on 20 gallons or less. Yeeeeee haaaaaaa less powerboats.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2003 : 07:49:41

I don't think there's less. I think they're just moving to my lake. We seem to have a growing armada of large (greater than 30'), ugly gas guzzlers driven by first-timers that wouldn't know a right of way from a SubWay. During a nice, summer weekend we've got enought gas floating on the lake to qualify it as a super tanker. Week days (after work) and cooler seasons are still all ours. Don't even get me started on the jet skis.

John Matsche 1985 Cat-25 TR/FK

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2003 : 07:59:55

Oh come on John, tell us about jet skis.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 00:16:47

I've never been able to figure out how Jet Skis can be so popular when you consider that a pair of them (assuming one each for a husband and wife) costs practically as much as a 17' Bayliner Capri runabout. The 17' powerboat has room for 4 or 5 people plus a cooler, water toys, and a bimini to keep the sun off you when you want some shade. I guess to some people, especially kids, zooming around on a Jet Ski is fun in it's way, but are they worth 9 or 10 grand apiece? "Quiet Time" didn't cost me that much, although of course she was used, and comparing new to used isn't quite fair.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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John J.
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 07:29:46

i agree with the rest of you. Today I find the PWC's an extemely annoying form of water pollution, and havn't the least desire to play on one. However I'm sure when i was a teenager I would have found sailing slowly on a calm lake a form of organized boredom, and a watermotorcycle would have been extremely cool, (the faster the better). How many of you are different? However they ought to regulate the hell out of those #&@%* things.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 08:28:50

I hate PWC's as much as anybody, but I must admit that I did try one out once. It was quite a rush to go 40 mph, and I can see why they are so popular with the NASCAR crowd. It doesn't take a whole lot of thinking or learning (if any)to use one. That's one of the reasons that they are scary to me. Also, too many drunk folks riding them.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

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n/a
deleted

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 08:43:09

I admit to being a "go-fast" fiend as much as the next guy when I was a teenager, but what hooked me on sailing and satisifed my desire for speed (relative) was spending a summer on Narragansett bay with my cousin blasting around in his International 14. We could pop that baby onto a plane on a reach and really get going. Hiked out that close to the water you had a real sense of speed, and knowing that your skill in playing the wind was responsable for it was a rush. That was 40 years ago, but it's still fresh in my memory.

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 14:54:52

I hope I don't ruffle feathers with this, but, the jet ski today is what the dirt bike was 30 years ago. Instead of ripping up the country side they are polluting the water. Oh I like to go fast too, but as Charles said the rush of a boat on a plane is something you can't forget.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 15:09:46

IMHO the biggest problem with PWC is that most of the drivers have no conception of the Rules of the Road. They put it in gear and go (very fast).

During a race when I was on the Race Committee, we were counting down to A fleet's start and as the gun fired, a pwc blasted through the pack, and had the best start of the day! We dsq'd and the county sheriff hauled him in. A lesson in the rules he won't soon forget.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 15:13:07

I also suspect that doug is right. Higher gas prices ought to reduce the number of stinkpots on the water. Of course, I have no way of proving it on our lake - it's still hard.

The lake should be at or near its lowest point of the year and should start up for the season a few days. Next we need to get the hard of the water! then we can test Doug's idea!<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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bren737
Captain

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291 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 23:40:57

Heard on a local radio station last summer:

"Jet skis. . . what a novel concept: give a drunk redneck a motorcycle on water with no brakes!"<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Sums it up pretty nicely as I see it!

Bren Peterson
C250WB, #642, "Ruah"
San Antonio, TX

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Dave Seely
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2003 : 15:47:06

Here we go again blaming the jetski for the operators actions. The jetski doesn't know its in a no wake zone. The jetski can't see it's too close to other boats. The jetski can't determine who has the right of way. Only the operator can do these things. The problem isn't the jetski, the problem is the parents that think a jetski is a perfect TOY for there CHILDREN. I have owned jetskis and know several other sailors who own jetskis. On many occasions I have gone out on the lake and seen dozens of jetskis and not one of them had an operator over 16 years old. If you took the same operators off of there jetskis and put them in 30 foot power boats, do you think the problems would go away? You would just be cussing those %&*$ 30 foot power boats.

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Rob Poirier
Deckhand

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Canada
23 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2003 : 16:28:26

I think part of the problem is these (boats) are rentals and the operators have no understanding of thing such as "rules of the road".
Rob
Bula Matari 250WB #44

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dgabel
1st Mate

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USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2003 : 17:40:47

The point about operators of jet skis rather than the equipment itself being the problem is very apt. I think that anyone who wants to use either a power boat OR a sailboat should be required to obtain a license, for which he/she would be tested on rules of the road, safety procedures, and so forth. The exam should be similar to that given for an automobile license. You cannot ensure that everyone will behave responsibly, but you can ensure that at least everyone knows how to behave responsibly.

Dave Gabel
Walkure
Sail # 1484

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2003 : 20:29:43

PWCs are also much like snowmobiles--there are no rules for who can operate them (in most places), many operators have no regard for the environment around them, they turn a peaceful woodland, frozen lake, or snow-covered park into cacophonous mayhem, they SMELL, and they're a BLAST to drive. (I ran a Yamaha "snow machine" 70+ across a frozen lake in my carefree semi-youth.) <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> Now that I'm more interested in cross-country skiing and show-shoeing, I hate them. With age comes... uhhh... What was I saying?

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - dave bristle on 03/12/2003 20:32:35

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2003 : 21:03:45

All true. It's the operator and not the boat. Still, you have to recognize that certain boats, like cars, will appeal to a certain person. I suspect there's not a lot of sailors on this list that commute daily in a Trans Am with lifts. Sorry, that probably dates me. I should have said a tricked out Honda with neon under carraige lights and a bass speaker the size of the trunk.
I think of the people I've met sailing. Most are really likeable people (like me!). Then I think of the people I've dealt with with jet skis or high speed power boats. Not sure I'd invite any of them to dinner. Last Summer a company selling Velocity speed boats leased the slips around Noeta. I had these big fast ugly boats all around my little C25. The result was more beer cans and cig butts on the dock.
And for the record, I've tried, and had a blast on jet skis. Would I own one? No. Too hard to mix drinks and dip...

Doug - #1913 Noeta

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marzluff
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2003 : 21:06:04

I hate to say it, but I went by the closest landing to my house today at 6:30 PM and it was full of empty trailers. It was 75 degrees today and you can't keep em good ole boys out their boats on a day like today! Priorities are !) beer 2) cigarettes 3) gas 4) everything else.

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2003 : 02:09:17

He doug,
If gas prices were better I'd be driving the 63 vett. It is a rag top though so I guess I'm OK. Now all I got to do is get that damn engine to stop smoking

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2003 : 15:04:37

OK I was enjoying reading this thread because there is nothing that gets a bunch of sailors going faster than the topic of power boats or pwc's. I thought I would stay out of the chat but now I can't resist sharing my favorite PWC story. I live in the summer on Neebish Island in the St. Marys river. The group of American and Canadian Islands there form the west end of the North Channel. At the begining of a cruise we were clearing customs in Richard's Landing, a small canadian town on St. Joseph's Island. At the gas dock were two couples on four PWC's One of the fellas was taking care of the fillup while the others were walking around checking out the restaurant on the pier. They were reminded by the harbor master that they would have to clear customs. I got a laugh because they did not even realise that they had left the USA, or that they would now have to clear US customs on their return. They had no charts and no clue where they really were. Perhaps they got it when they paid for their gas by the liter.
Here is the safety concern. The craft are so fast that you can cover a great deal of water in a short time and can be left way far from your starting point. In this case they had about 25 miles to get back to Sault Ste. Marie where they rented the boats. They would have some fairly open water to cross and if the weather changed (which it does with regularity)they could be in a situation which is not great for the relatively unseaworthy little vessels.

John V. Nin Bimash II
77 C25 sk/sr #153

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2003 : 16:24:48

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Here we go again blaming the jetski for the operators actions. The jetski doesn't know its in a no wake zone. The jetski can't see it's too close to other boats. The jetski can't determine who has the right of way. Only the operator can do these things. The problem isn't the jetski, the problem is the parents that think a jetski is a perfect TOY for there CHILDREN. I have owned jetskis and know several other sailors who own jetskis. On many occasions I have gone out on the lake and seen dozens of jetskis and not one of them had an operator over 16 years old. If you took the same operators off of there jetskis and put them in 30 foot power boats, do you think the problems would go away? You would just be cussing those %&*$ 30 foot power boats.

In addition to which it only steers when you hit the gas...love the blank stares when I see a jetter with handle bars full over and the rig AIN'T turning. CLICK CLICK whaaaaaaaaaaaaa happpppppppennnnnnnnedddddddd

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2003 : 17:29:21

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Here is the safety concern. The craft are so fast that you can cover a great deal of water in a short time and can be left way far from your starting point. In this case they had about 25 miles to get back to Sault Ste. Marie where they rented the boats. They would have some fairly open water to cross and if the weather changed (which it does with regularity)they could be in a situation which is not great for the relatively unseaworthy little vessels.
John V. Nin Bimash II
77 C25 sk/sr #153

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I am surprised that they were able to even cover that much distance. My few experiences with jet skis have shown they burn fuel at a enormous rate (for so small a craft), and will run no more than two hours on a full 5 gallon tank. The last time we rented a jet ski for the kids was about 12 years ago, and we had to refuel it three times during one afternoon! Maybe the newer ones are more fuel efficient...

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2003 : 08:07:41

Saw a thing on, I think, 60 minutes, about the safety problem they have in Miami, especially after people buy their new boats or pwc at the Miami Boat Show. The harbor cops are busy writing twice as many tickets as normally during and right after the boat show. Even commented on an insurance fraud scam - buring and sinking old boat just before the show so the owner can buy a new boat during the show. Some people, and we talked about Bruce's alleged scam (of him, not by him!)

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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Tray
Navigator

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Namibia
224 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2003 : 18:21:32

I love this topic...

Last weekend we were leaving St Marys, GA on our way home at about 7AM. Which is a very bad time to be on the St Marys river it turns out. It was rush hour for stink potters headed out fishing. One boat came around a bend very fast and left me with the gift of his wake into my transom. I recognized the driver, he's a friend of mine who often jokes about swamping sailors. I tried to call him on the VHF, but he didn't answer. Monday morning I called him at the office to give him some grief, and was told has was out sick. So I called him at home. He said he remembered a sail boat, but went by so fast he didn't notice it was me. He also said he never uses his VHF because he can't hear over his engines. He apologized and said he'd be more considerate next time.

It turns out he was home sick because he dropped a 25lb weight on his toe at the gym...boat karma's a bitch.<img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>

Tray
C-250WB #554
"Weeny Bean"

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