Scarry --- to me anyway!

[Flutterby]

Last weekend when I was at my boat, I noticed a lot of newbie boaters, mostly in boats 20' to 26' range. They new nothing of boating Rules of the Road; boating courtesy and etiquette.

Now, with used boat prices so cheap, folks who could not own a boat before just plunked down a couple hundred bucks and went boating!

They were going along in a No Wake Zone dragging the boat's A$$ in the water with $hit-eating grins on their faces. I shudder at the thought of being around them on the water this fall!

And then add the usually lake boaters whose lakes are too shallow for boating til winter rains arrive and I smell a disaster in the Delta!

Watch out everyone and be safe out there!

 

[FlyWright]

You're right, Liz. Folks can get into boating for a song right now. A dash of ignorance and an ounce of cavalier and a few pints of liquid courage and you've got a recipe for disaster. This weekend ought to be tough.

 

[j-d]

I was up late reading the accident report on the five fatality crash nearby this past easter sunday. That, and Liz' prognosis has me a little bummed. Years ago everybody in FL had a boat. Most were old, most broke down. I'm sorry everything got expensive, but a lot of folks dropped out 10-20 years ago and most of the boats we'd see were new. Now, you're right, boats are affordable again and so is gas. Not many breakdowns but a lot of rudeness and other craziness. Have fun, follow the rules of the road, assume others don't know them, be safe, be happy. Happy Labor Day!

 

[Flutterby]

Blessing to you too JD!

 

[FindMe]

I have a friend who has been sailing his entire life. About 8 years ago, he bought a 55' sailboat. Big and beautiful, with a big, beautiful loan. First, he demasted it. The insurance paid for a new big. Next, the boat broke from it's mooring during a storm, and went for a joyride. More damage. Another claim paid. Then came the boomerang. His insurance company refused to renew his policy. He could not find a carrier that would take him, his big boat, and his two big claims. The last time I talked to him, (several years ago) the bank holding the paper on the yacht had given him a drop dead date for providing full coverage insurance, pay off the loan, or surrender the boat. This is Darwin at work, and I suspect will be the future of a lot of big, fast boats being sold right now.

FindMe, without any insurance claims.