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MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/6/2012 3:06:26 PM
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Had my daughter wake surfing behind the boat and she fell. As I was turning around I noticed a bigger boat moving along quickly with his bow up suddenly turn toward where she was. I knew they could not see her because I could not see any faces (it was a v-hull with cuddy cabin). I jammed the throttle down to put my boat between them and her and at the same time she saw them and started to swim toward shore. He kept coming until I blew my horn and finally got his attention and he slowed down.
When he came along side as he was passing us I told him I was trying to get his attention because I had someone in the water. Mine was more of an explanation about why I basically drove right toward him and blew the horn. He just sort of dismissed me with an arm wave and drove away so I'm not sure whether he realized he almost ran her over or not. I have to admit I woke up in a cold sweat that night imagining what might have happened if he had never seen me as I had a boat full of people, including a 1 year old.
Just reminded me that vigilance is important because not everyone is paying close attention when traveling at high speed. Still can't figure out why he suddenly decided to veer toward her but I know he never saw her until he heard my horn blowing. And if he had hit her and had been drinking (even if the drinking had nothing to do with the accident) it would be a double tragedy. In a way I hope he realized what almost happened and had his cold sweat as well. How you can cruise along at relatively high speed and the bow up is beyond me.
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| Name: |
Kizma Anuice
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/6/2012 6:15:34 PM
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Skiing and tubing on busy week ends is risky business. I won't do it. Probably the guy had his boat overloaded and what's having trouble plaining.
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| Name: |
wix
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| Subject: |
As long as you've got your
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Date:
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7/6/2012 6:19:45 PM
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registration, life jackets, and kill switch hooked up, you can do pretty much what you want on this lake without interference from anyone, if you get my drift.
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| Name: |
JTenn
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| Subject: |
As long as you've got your
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Date:
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7/6/2012 6:29:35 PM
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One thing floks should be reminded to do is, hold up their ski or board if possible after they fall so other boaters may see them. Have only seen a few doing this since we moved here 5 years ago. It's a good safety practice.
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| Name: |
GoneFishin
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/6/2012 6:30:50 PM
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MM, glad it was limited to just a scare. Living on entitlements enables boating on Lake Martin Monday thru Friday when the lake is so serene. You need to take long weekends and spend Friday or Monday on the lake. I am sure your staff is cable of operarting the busiess without you physically in the office for that one day. Years from now, you will look back as the family remembers having the gigantic lake virtually to yourselves.
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| Name: |
Aardvark
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/6/2012 9:44:07 PM
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The boat might not have been the only thing overloaded. I would say that it is safer just swimming around the pier during amateur week, but even then we never know when the neighbors will decide to run their boats or jet skis through the swimming area.
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| Name: |
Old Diver
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/7/2012 8:21:45 AM
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For some time I have been trying to interest wet suit manufactures to put a bit of International Orange on their hoods. It is difficult to see a surfaced swimmer epically if the water is rough. While hunting in Colorado I have been able to see an orange hat at what have been a half mile. Seems this would make water sports a bit safer.
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/7/2012 10:57:27 AM
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The jet skiers always make me crazy. They have NO IDEA about boat etiquette or safety. Based of the things I've seen this week, I guess none of them saw the story about the former astronaut being killed by his own son.
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| Name: |
btexpress
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/7/2012 12:14:25 PM
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Too many people have access to boats/pwc that probably shouldn't be allowed to drive. Registered letter to the legally registered owner and video of reckless conduct works real well. Pontoon boats seem to be the worst followed by wake boats. Started video taping and recording hull numbers so they can pay for the damage...only tool available.
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| Name: |
btexpress
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/7/2012 12:20:23 PM
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Too many people have access to boats/pwc that probably shouldn't be allowed to drive. Registered letter to the legally registered owner and video of reckless conduct works real well. Pontoon boats seem to be the worst followed by wake boats. Started video taping and recording hull numbers so they can pay for the damage...only tool available.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/7/2012 7:33:00 PM
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Actually GF, we were there from Friday-Thursday. But you are right, the minions are more than capable of keeping the business going. It was nice on Monday and Tuesday. Busier on the 4th as you would expect. To be perfectly honest, I kind had some real anxiety about the other ways it could have ended up.
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/8/2012 5:54:42 PM
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You left out GO FAST BOATS.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/9/2012 2:35:15 PM
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I'm not talking about any of that. My view is that it is the responsibility of the landowner to keep their boats properly moored given the kind of waves that happen at a lake. Water+boats=waves. If you don't like waves buy a farm. The point of my post was to remind folks to keep a look out ahead, not to talk about taking photos of boats and trying to get money for damage. I would never condone that.
Reminds me of people that buy a house near an airport and then complain about airplanes.
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/9/2012 2:52:28 PM
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If you buy a house near an airport, should you just keep your piehole shut if you have a barnstormer wannabe buzzing your swimming pool? Same concept - uninformed or wreckless boat operation causing damage is no fun, and is quite a bit different than responsible lake activity.
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| Name: |
bootyrunner
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/9/2012 3:47:14 PM
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I had a similar experience about 10 years ago but was able to circle around quickly and put my boat between my son and the oncoming boat. I thought we were going to have to abandon ship as the guy driving didn't even see my boat, much less the kid in the water. At the last minute, he swerved as I guess he saw me jumping up and down waving and hollering. All I got was a single finger salute and the same sick feeling of panic ( I'm sure you had) that one of my kids was going to be killed. What it did for me was to convince me NEVER pull anybody on a tube, wakeboard, or skis anywhere that is even the least bit congested. We go out early, or late before the traffic gets too bad. I am glad everything worked out for you and the other driver. at least you got an "I'm sorry" wave.
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| Name: |
btexpress
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/9/2012 7:03:42 PM
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Naw....they are ok. They go really fast, make some noise and move on.
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| Name: |
btexpress
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/9/2012 7:16:48 PM
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Careless/reckless conduct and the subsquent damage is the responsibility of the operator and is coverd under current Alabama marine law. Hope going forward we can expand those laws... Might save a life or two. Too much open water to be tearing up property in sloughs.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Scary experience this weekend
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Date:
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7/9/2012 10:11:13 PM
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Of course I am not talking about low altitude maneuvering around an airport. I am talking about people who buy homes near airports and then complain about the noise or people that buy homes on lakes and then complain about the waves from the normal operation of the boats. Believe me, those kinds of complaints far outweigh those that you are describing, not to mention Darwin takes care of the bold pilots.
And of course making waves up a slough, like to one I live in, is not the nicest thing to do but I know they are out there so I have taken that into account in how I built my dock and tie up my boats. Beats having to worry about keeping track of every discourteous boater and chasing people around trying to get them to pay for your floating dock coming loose.
Death, taxes and discourteous boaters.......
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