Weekend wallies

[scott023]

I have read about them UMPteen times on here now, but experienced them personally for the first time this weekend. Freakin tubers in all the bays, blowing donuts and creating a complete mess in the good sking and boarding spots. The middle of the lake is quiet, but it's like they've got to be in the way.

On top of it, this buggers with their crappy little boats have gotta be 60 feet away from my downed rider running WOT. I wanted to flip the bird so many times, thankfully at dinner time most of them cleared off... rant over.

[bigmac]

Looking at it from the other perspective...they were out there having fun on the water just like you were, and are just as entitled to do so. Just because someone is doing a "really cool" water sport (compared to tubing) and driving a "really cool" boat (compared to their "crappy little boats") doesn't mean you have more rights to the water than they do, sadly.

Truth is, sometimes you just have to wait until they're done having their fun so that you can have yours.

[Skipper]

I am with you brother. When I moved to Louisiana I was forced to ski on public lakes again after skiing private lakes for the last six years. Thought I was in an episode of "The Twilight Zone". Bass boats pulling tubes at Mach 7, pontoon boats pulling wake boarders, and a handful of PWC's to complete the circus. Better "The Twilight Zone" than "Deliverance".

[scott023]

Looking at it from the other perspective...they were out there having fun on the water just like you were, and are just as entitled to do so. Just because someone is doing a "really cool" water sport (compared to tubing) and driving a "really cool" boat (compared to their "crappy little boats") doesn't mean you have more rights to the water than they do, sadly.

Truth is, sometimes you just have to wait until they're done having their fun so that you can have yours.

I didn't say anything about a coolness factor. I pull my kids on tubes too, but I try to stay away from the boats that are pulling riders. I know everyone has the same rights on the water, but these people don't understand water safety. Who goes whipping by a fallen rider at 60, let alone at full throttle? Someone doesn't know what their doing!!!

Truth is, there is lots of room out there for everyone, especially if everyone respects the safety and space others. When you come into a bay that has a bunch of skiers etc. in it and all your doing is pulling a tube, why does it not make sense to stay out in the middle of the lake?

[bigmac]

I didn't say anything about a coolness factor.

Sorry, I must have mis-perceived when you referred to the Wally's and their crappy little boats.



When you come into a bay that has a bunch of skiers etc. in it and all your doing is pulling a tube, why does it not make sense to stay out in the middle of the lake?

I agree. To do otherwise is discourteous.

[scott023]

Sorry, I must have mis-perceived when you referred to the Wally's and their crappy little boats.




I agree. To do otherwise is discourteous.

Actually, I am just frustrated at the lack of respect. The type of boat doesn't mean jack. Calling them crappy little boats is release as opposed to flipping them the bird. Plus, the wife doesn't get on me for using the bad finger in front of the kids. :D

[McFire]

The few Wallys I have spoken to were unaware of the impact they were having on the good skiing water. Once I explained to them why I was pulling skiers on the calm water, they moved their tubing activities farther away. Of course I was only able to speak to them if their tuber fell off around the area we were changing skiers or picking up a fallen skier. Bottom line - I bet it is more out of ignorance than lack of respect. Regardless of why, it still sucks.

[Monte]

My Wife, kids and I just about got run over by a wally last weekend. I have never wanted to chase somebody down so badly in my entire life. We have a cove that we frequent. It normally stays reatively calm even on the busy days. Well here is the story. We were at the mouth of the cove waiting on another boarder to come out, he was accompanied by two jet skis and and little 16ft runabout and his tow boat. I strapped the board on and waited on the transom for them to pass. Rope in hand. I told Leah to tighten me up as soon as the boarder and his enterage(sp?) came out of the cove. As they come by the other rider drops about 100 ft from us. His group of other water craft see us and see him drop so they take off to the starbord side of the boat. They leave plenty of space between us and them. I see them they see me. All is koshire to this point. Other rider comences to take his board off and slowly get back into his boat. I jump in the water ready for a run. At that point we see one final boat coming out of the cove so I tell Leah to hold up for just a second and let their wake clear out some and to go ahead and tighten me up. Again they see us we see them. As I am looking around I see a Monterry I/O coming our way from WAY back in the main channel. It was pulling a tube that is shaped like a jet ski, the water tail from this tube was 20ft or so in the air. The driver has TONS of room to the right tons of room to the left in the main channel before they can even get near us. But NO.. She comes straight at us and the cove. She sees the other guy in the water. But I to this day do not think she ever saw me in the water. She is coming from behind us at a rate of speed that it would have been more dangerous for Leah to punch the gas than to sit there. I am flapping my arms yelling at the woman, who eventually looses any chance of sighting me in the water because she is so close and all I can see is the underside of her boat. Still running 30-35 near a fallen skier( the other guy) 60 or so feet from him. She misses me by 20 or so feet and my wife and kids in the boat by MAYBE 10-15 ft. SHE NEVER LET OFF THE THROTTLE. I still believe that the reason she didn't turn left is because when she finally saw my boat/ tower to turn left would have put her in a powerslide toward my boat. I still don't think she saw me. Anyway, I feel lucky first that my family is ok. Secondly that I am not hamburger. I also learned a valuable lesson. Never boot up at the mouth of that cove again.. BTW even after barely missing the wife and kids in the boat (she never saw me). She continued her breakneck speed with the tube into and out of the cove... OBLIVIOUS DAMN WALLY.. We need saftey courses for all boaters.. Rant over

[Ski-me]

We need saftey courses for all boaters.. Rant over

Monte, glad to hear you are OK. That really sucks that these people are not aware of their surroundings more.

I had a guy on a jet ski spinning around just behind me while pulling my daughter skiing. A short while later, she fell and I got back to her FAST! The jet skier did another circle behind me and then headed straight for me (skier still in the water). I motioned dramatically with my arms to "get away". As he came by, I told him he was "WAY, WAY too close to me." He was so close that he said "Sorry" (looking embarassed) and I could hear him perfectly......maybe 30 feet away. He looked to be about 15 yrs old or so. So dangerous.

I guess the only thing we can do is be pro-active and teach our kids the rules of the water. My daughter is learning how to drive the boat but I will require her to take a boater's safety class before she goes alone. Although my state does not have it, Washington has one that a person can take on-line (and I think it's required for anyone in WA). It looks pretty good:

http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/index.htm

[FrankSchwab]

Glad to hear it came out OK.

I'll give you another possibility to mull over:
Perhaps the driver did see you, and did see your boat, but was used to the passing distances used on the highway, and figured she was at least a lane away so was operating safely.

That explanation put a little scare in you, didn't it? My wife does this all the time (not so badly, of course). She'll pull me within 50 feet or so (yes, less than a rope length) of a fisherman floating near the shore, when the channel is clear and 1/4 mile wide, and not understand when I try to tell her that she was too close.

/frank

[Abe]

Nothing worse -when filling the boat up with a few jerrycans of gas at the jetty, then some Wally on a jet-ski decides to take off at full pelt, The wake created knocks you off balance and fuel spills everywhere. If only people would look and Think first and then act accordingly.
But I suppose that comes with experience of boating on the water.

[btriantos]

Glad to hear it came out OK.

I'll give you another possibility to mull over:
Perhaps the driver did see you, and did see your boat, but was used to the passing distances used on the highway, and figured she was at least a lane away so was operating safely.

That explanation put a little scare in you, didn't it? My wife does this all the time (not so badly, of course). She'll pull me within 50 feet or so (yes, less than a rope length) of a fisherman floating near the shore, when the channel is clear and 1/4 mile wide, and not understand when I try to tell her that she was too close.

/frank


or maybe she was putting on her makeup?

[Monte]

Monte, glad to hear you are OK. That really sucks that these people are not aware of their surroundings more.

I had a guy on a jet ski spinning around just behind me while pulling my daughter skiing. A short while later, she fell and I got back to her FAST! The jet skier did another circle behind me and then headed straight for me (skier still in the water). I motioned dramatically with my arms to "get away". As he came by, I told him he was "WAY, WAY too close to me." He was so close that he said "Sorry" (looking embarassed) and I could hear him perfectly......maybe 30 feet away. He looked to be about 15 yrs old or so. So dangerous.

I guess the only thing we can do is be pro-active and teach our kids the rules of the water. My daughter is learning how to drive the boat but I will require her to take a boater's safety class before she goes alone. Although my state does not have it, Washington has one that a person can take on-line (and I think it's required for anyone in WA). It looks pretty good:

http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/index.htm

I guess they are everywhere. Knox was pulling his son behind my boat a few months ago. We had a twin engine grady white set in behind us in our flats. No way in hell he could have avoided Austin if he had dropped. WAY too close. Thank goodness Austin listened to his dad when he said "DO NOT DROP! DO NOT DROP!" Of course he had some words with the driver when he finally went by.

[wakeX2wake]

now i am curious... as in your case monte... has anyone ever made it a point to confront another boater???... i know it could be considered an a-hole move or reckless or whatever but i had a rider up riding behind his own boat that i was driving earlier this yr kind of like monte's story where we were ready to ride into a slough and out as us and a couple of boats were taking turns (we're friends w/ the other boats...) riding this slough... anyways... this guy gets his boat within 10-20 ft from my rider all the while sitting on the side rails of his boat looking back to his toobers... what was the scarriest part fo this story was my rider was out starbolard side of the wake and the boat driver went from inside to out towards him and as he crossed the wake he never looked forward... my friend then as quickly as we could get his attention to what this guy was doing took out for port (his ts) side of the wake to get away from this guy... if he had not he would have run out of room bc this guy never looked forward until he heard my buddy yelling from the wakeboard just feet away from his boat...

this not only made me mad b/c my attention as boat driver was drawn back and not forward for fear of my friends life but that guy was so close... and minimally that he was headed for our ride spot with a tube...

we cornered the boat in the slough after getting my friend off the water and we approached him and told him of our distaste for his boating practices... which in all likelihood did very little for said practices... i'm not a bully nor am i perfect but when youre in the driver's seat you're responsible for not only those on your boat but every other boat on the water... again not sure if my suggestion for him to remove his head from his anal cavity and drive his boat and look out for those around him was considered strongly but we let him know his actions were not appreciated

[Jimmauburn]

This past weekend we finally got my 6 yr old nephew up on his skis for the first time. He was having such a good time and as we made a turn we saw a fishing boat with father and son coming straight across in front of us. He knew we had a beginner skiing as we had finally gotten him up at the entrance to the cove he was fishing in. He came and actually sped up to make sure he got in the cove where he lived and of course we had to slow and my nephew fell. Once I had my nephew in the boat and we proceeded to go to the mans house my nephew calmly asked me, "what was that idiot doing driving in front of us ?" As we pulled close to his house we noticed a Wildlife Patrol officer writing him several tickets. The officer pulled up to us after writing him up and told us the had witnessed the whole thing since he was sitting behind another boat in the cove !!!!! Don't think he will be fishing for a while.

[scott023]

now i am curious... as in your case monte... has anyone ever made it a point to confront another boater???... i know it could be considered an a-hole move or reckless or whatever but i had a rider up riding behind his own boat that i was driving earlier this yr kind of like monte's story where we were ready to ride into a slough and out as us and a couple of boats were taking turns (we're friends w/ the other boats...) riding this slough... anyways... this guy gets his boat within 10-20 ft from my rider all the while sitting on the side rails of his boat looking back to his toobers... what was the scarriest part fo this story was my rider was out starbolard side of the wake and the boat driver went from inside to out towards him and as he crossed the wake he never looked forward... my friend then as quickly as we could get his attention to what this guy was doing took out for port (his ts) side of the wake to get away from this guy... if he had not he would have run out of room bc this guy never looked forward until he heard my buddy yelling from the wakeboard just feet away from his boat...

this not only made me mad b/c my attention as boat driver was drawn back and not forward for fear of my friends life but that guy was so close... and minimally that he was headed for our ride spot with a tube...

we cornered the boat in the slough after getting my friend off the water and we approached him and told him of our distaste for his boating practices... which in all likelihood did very little for said practices... i'm not a bully nor am i perfect but when youre in the driver's seat you're responsible for not only those on your boat but every other boat on the water... again not sure if my suggestion for him to remove his head from his anal cavity and drive his boat and look out for those around him was considered strongly but we let him know his actions were not appreciated

Nice... let's hear some stories, good and bad. Just so we know how to handle things in the future.

[dog paw]

We had a bad one on the lake this weekend right in front of our eyes. We were watching three ultralights come and go. One made a attempt to take off and did not give enough distance between him and the shore. He tried for all he was worth to get altitude before going through his nieghbors boathouse. Not going to make it he gave it all it would do in what looked like a upward angled U turn and soon as the plane made it around and unfortunantly with the wind he fell like a rock. It was a sound we wont forget....Killed the pilot flat out, somehow his daughter survived.


Makes you stop and think about all the things we piss and moan about. One minute we are laughing having fun doing the things we enjoy and the next your dead.

[Monte]

Nice... let's hear some stories, good and bad. Just so we know how to handle things in the future.

I have yet to approch another boater about boater courtesy or saftey concerns. That may soon change. The woman who came so close to my family really put me over the tipping point of just NOT saying anything. Sure everybody has the same right to be on the same water, sadly, many of them have no idea how to react to anyone behind a boat. I just wish that each boater would be required to take a safety course before operating a boat on open water. Sure it would be a hassle for those who know how (Or THINK they know how) to operate a boat. On the other hand though, I have seen and heard of quite a few close calls just this summer.

[PA Prostar]

I don't know about everyone else, but this year has been really bad concerning other drivers for me and my friends/family. I've never had any problems before, but this year I've had four. All four were on an "open" lake with enough room that none of them had to happen.

The first was one of my first runs of the season. In fact, there were only two boats on the lake. I was driving along minding my own business and this other guy comes accross the lake on purpose towards me with his 19 foot Bayliner. He then turns to follow me and gets within about 50 feet of my transom and we're doing about 30mph. I'm giving him the what the heck signal and he just smiles, jumps the wake (I guess he was pretending to be a jetski) waves hello to me and speeds off. There's no way he could have reacted on time and stopped if I decided to stop. Unreal.

The others happened just within the past week. I was pulling a beginner and someone else comes up behind us. (Again, remember open lake). They got so close I think our skier was out of sight over their bow. It was a bigger boat. We'll our skier obviously doesn't know and she's trying something new - and falls. I whipped it around hard, but unfortunately had a little delay from my spotter - who is somewhat new at boating also. The other boat saw me whip it around after my delay, and then reacted. This is why I don't think they could see her. They then came to a stop and had that look of trying to access what's going on and where everthing is at. Again, unreal. Why in the world would you get so close that a skier would disappear in your bow view? They didn't have to.

Lastly, I was sitting waiting to pull someone up, and this other guy comes straight at me. He passes so close his wakeboarder - on a short line - would have hit us if he wasn't paying attention or jumping the wake towards us. Fortunately he was, and go over to the other side. I think the guy passed about 25 feet from me with a guy in pull. I keep saying - open lake - no reason.

I haven't hunted anyone down, but I'm about to start. I don't know what the answer is. You can't fix stupidity. Yes I said it - to me - it's common sense. Boats don't stop on dimes, if you can not see it - you're to close, and if I got a guy on a 60' line, don't get within 60' of ANYTHING. SIMPLE.

[TX.X-30 fan]

Sorry, I must have mis-perceived when you referred to the Wally's and their crappy little boats.





I agree. To do otherwise is discourteous.




I thought the same but being Canadian I just chalked it up to that. :D

[mccobmd]

I am learning to live with it, like BigMac said it's their lake too. That said I had one last week following my wakeboarder (son) going back and forth over my wake. Killing the water is one thing, killing a rider is quite another. I did after I picked up my son drive over and politely tell them how nervous it made me them following me with a rider up. It was a family and kids using Grandpa's pontoon boat. They apologized and went around the cove until we finished. Not the usual response I get but was a pleasant suprise.

[wakeX2wake]

like i said... i'm not going to pull up and say anything about courtesy... yes i get mad when we're sharing a fairly narrow piece of water and another boat does a wide sweeping power turn to pick up their rider instead of slowing down and not sending 30 big rollers down the channel or somebody comes in and shreds your riding/skiing/chill time/ barefooting water with two adolscent kids going at it in a game of battle toobs but...

i only say something when i'm affraid to be on the lake w/ another boat b/c of their actions and lack of respect for situations that will unfortunately ultimately occur while there are more than 2 boats on a given body of water

and to be honest there's nothing quite as scarry and will mess with your head as much as when you say "DID YOU NOT SEE HOW CLOSE YOU WERE TO MY ^%&$#& SKIER"... and they say "YOUR JUST BEING A JACK A$$ YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY SKIING... YOU JUST DIDN'T LIKE THAT I GOT MY BOAT CLOSE TO THAT BIG PRETTY BOAT YOUR DADDY BOUGHT YOU"... it was all i could do to not board his boat and re-arrange the guys face b/c of his lack of attentiveness which ultimately put my friends life in danger... thankfully he's a tourney winning rider and not a beginner who couldn't cross the wake (and for the record... I pay for my ride every month)

[bigmac]

I am learning to live with it, like BigMac said it's their lake too. That said I had one last week following my wakeboarder (son) going back and forth over my wake. Killing the water is one thing, killing a rider is quite another. I did after I picked up my son drive over and politely tell them how nervous it made me them following me with a rider up. It was a family and kids using Grandpa's pontoon boat. They apologized and went around the cove until we finished. Not the usual response I get but was a pleasant suprise.

The wallys and their crappy little boats have just as much right to be on the water as I do, but they also have an obligation to obey the law, and safe boating practices. I have no qualms about making my displeasure known to any jetskier/wally that endangers me or anyone I'm pulling, and I have been known to launch a water balloon or two at such miscreants.

[wakeX2wake]

water balloons... good idea... we were thinking about a touret mounted potato gun... your idea is a lot less likely to get you arrested...

[bigmac]

Use biodegradable balloons (http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Sling-Extra-Water-Balloons/dp/B000H884VW/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_text_b).

The Wrist Rocket launcher (http://www.amazon.com/Skipco-SlingKing-Water-Balloon-Launcher/dp/B0000BYLTR/ref=pd_sim_sg_7) is good in a pinch, but if you have a tower, you can go the full Monty and mount the big one (http://www.amazon.com/Water-Balloon-Sling-Shot-EA/dp/B0000BYN21/ref=pd_sim_sg_1) between the arms. Very effective for boats following in your wake.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511184YGRQL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410BTtyh4LL._SL500_AA250_.jpg

[TX.X-30 fan]

I like the balloon thing.

[justinglow]

I like the balloon thing.

She has great form doesn't she?

[TX.X-30 fan]

I wonder if the big one would launch cow pies

[TX.X-30 fan]

Quick dunk of the pie and then launch.

[bigmac]

I wonder if the big one would launch cow pies

Don't know why not..we use 'em to launch snowballs.

Use what you have the most of, I always say...

[bigmac]

If you've never used one of these things, they are a hoot. The wrist model is convenient, but the bigger one will launch a snowball or cowpie about 300 yards.

David Letterman.. (http://www.slingking.com/Letterman/letterman_launcher.html).

[TX.X-30 fan]

Be fun to launch stuff at neighbors at the end of the block.

[dog paw]

If you've never used one of these things, they are a hoot. The wrist model is convenient, but the bigger one will launch a snowball or cowpie about 300 yards.

David Letterman.. (http://www.slingking.com/Letterman/letterman_launcher.html).

Boy you ant kidding! Couple clowns in our dealership launched a orange from one of those things. Cleared our whole dealership, landed on the roof of a shopping center across the street :D

[Skipper]

More than seven years ago (statute of limitations) at a small public lake in the west, we installed a portable slalom course in front of my buddies lake front property. The course was very close to the shore in shallow water away from the general boating insanity. There were two ski boats sitting at one end of the course. I was pulling my daughter through the course.

I saw an I/O approaching from my nine o'clock. Before I reached the four ball gate this guy cut across in front of us at the end gate. He was towing two knee boarders. He zigged around the end gate then back across the pre-gate. I stopped mid course and began to idle back to get my skier.

This guy circled around to me. He had a beer in the cup holder. He started cussing me for coming so close to his knee boarders. I don't remember what happened next?;) Not really a good idea to approach other boaters after they anger you.

[scott023]

I thought the same but being Canadian I just chalked it up to that. :D

Where's the avatar giving the finger on here? :D

Stu, you know, what goes aroung comes around, right? :D

[scott023]

Quick dunk of the pie and then launch.

Beauty idea Stu... me likes it. :D

[Monte]

If you've never used one of these things, they are a hoot. The wrist model is convenient, but the bigger one will launch a snowball or cowpie about 300 yards.

David Letterman.. (http://www.slingking.com/Letterman/letterman_launcher.html).

Much less likely to get cow pie on the face with the larger one as well:rolleyes:

[SunCoast 83]

Amatuer weekender's......they multiply like **** roaches. Bayliner might be the official sponsor too. I have had a few run in's with them. Some drunk kids and a toon at the boat ramp last weekend. Nothing happened to me, but you cant be too careful