Inconsiderate Boaters

[jerseyjoe]

OK, I am going to vent some frustration; and try to keep the language safe for the forum...

Why is it that boaters can't just slow down when they see a kayaker? Of course, it is not all but just some boaters who show zero regard for kayakers.

Must they fly by at full speed creating a massive wake for us to deal with? Do they want to see someone tip their yak? Do they want to ruin our fishing?

Now, clearly we all choose to paddle a yak knowing that there are inherent risks and difficulties. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Conditions on the water are one thing to deal with; but even a 20' boat at 3/4 speed, relatively close to yak fisherman is going to cause a problem...not to mention when it is a 50' boat.

Is it possible that people don't know that they are kicking up a huge wake close to someone fishing in a yak ?...or do they just not care?

The best is when they fly by and wave hello! Oh yeah, Hi...thanks a lot a-hole!

Bottom line is be safe and wear your PFD (which I admit I am not the best at wearing 100% of the time).

Be aware, and be prepared to adjust position to handle those waves.

Safety is each person's responsibility...but come on boaters, cut us some slack!

BE SAFE!

[3spots]

I feel your frustrations. I too want to cuss, rant & rave, and possibly hurl a 3 oz. pyramid sinker at them, but that isn't what we should do. That would be like aggravating a semi driver on the Interstate. They are bigger and can cause tremendously more damage than we can. As kayaking and kayak fishing grows, hopeully will the enforcement of such infractions for the well being of all on the water. Some boaters just think it's an inconveinance for them to slow down and sometimes it's worse when they do and cause an even bigger swell.
Be professional and show courtesy or your best patience at all times. Who knows, they may feel guilty later.

What you can do is always carry a camera with you and photograph the vessel and occupants (preferably with hull number) and report the incident. We can even have a Hall of Shame section on the forum to show others inconsiderate boaters.

[fishingwithblue]

This is debated on many forums and I have seen some really good points on both sides of the coin(kayak vs boater), but for me the bottom line is common courtesy.

I will not make excuses for bad behavior but here are some tid bits to think about for both sides:

Coming off plane in a boat can cause the boat to run aground especially if the kayak is in the fairway or channel impeding passage to a vessel that can only operate in that channel. If you are anchored in a kayak near the mouth of Village Creek boat ramp on a Saturday morning as 20 skiffs fly out of there you are setting yourself up for getting waked or worse.

On the other hand, every vessel is responsible for there wake and any damage it may cause. Do you want to flip a father and son in kayaks because you can't idle for 1 minute?

I will never understand why some boaters get frustrated and even down right hateful to kayakers while on the river. I will never understand why some kayaks use zero common sense and safety when operating in an area filled with boaters.

I will save you the cliche of "can't we all just get along ?" I believe we are too impatient for that. Instead, we need boater education courses for both sides!

I agree with the Hall of Shame photo section, take a picture and post it everywhere.

[frankc]

The safety of a paddler is in his hands I fear. Some boaters are very considerate and then you have those who either don't know or don't care. A similar situation occurs when you attempt to cross a busy street on foot and expect the cars to see you and give way. Sometimes this can have dire consequences.

I paddled the waters here starting in the early 70's including the Ogeechee at Kings Ferry and the Savannah in Port Wentworth without misshap. Similar to defensive driving, I was always aware of my surroundings and just stayed as much out of the way of powerboats as possible. Of coarse, there were times when some nut caused concern, but your safety is primarilly in your hands. A 16 ft canoe is much more easilly swamped than a good kayak.

We are living in a world where people are thoughtless toward others in many cases. You have many who get into boating without knowing how to conduct themselves safely. We can complain about the other fellow and often be correct in our complaints, but the problem persists. Education is the key, so it would behove all of us if we made a determined effort toward educating boaters who we have the opportunity to converse with.

As far as the law, a person is responsible for the effects of his wake. That does not mean that everyone is aware of what he is doing or understands that slowing suddenly without dropping his stern wave can be worse than just contnueing on plane at times.

[nubby]

I have been on the stink pot side of the water for many years. Including being on a 46 footer. I have traveled the ICW north and south. I have been in kayaking for several years and can see both side of the coin.
I think a lot of what one has to be looking at is where you are. If you are in the ICW then you are asking for the wakes of transit boaters. The ICW was design for boaters to transit inter-coastal waters safely. To pull a large vessel off plane to pass a boater at anchor then to put it back up on plane is not feasible. Sure it only takes about 3-5 minutes to do but to do this every few hundred yards, not to mention the expense involved for doing this. Look at it on a larger prospects should a ship in the Savannah River have to idle past every boater they encounter?
Then again vessel need to be respectful of others. Be aware of there wakes. If there wake pose a danger to others then they must take proper action.

[laughinggull]

I too know the effects from both sides. The older I've got, the more considerate I am of my surroundings as well as the people around me. I wish most would just use common sense when getting out on the water.

I know some kayakers aren't very wise when they anchor or paddle in open water or in waterways, which they should be aware of when they get into kayak or smaller vessel. And better on the water education would definitely help.

Boaters on the other hand are operating a large vessel and should have proper training when navigating the water. A lot of people in boats are mindful of other boaters as well as kayakers, but some just don't get it. A great example recently was when jerseyjoe and I went out this past saturday.

Fully knowing that many boats will be running through the waterway most of the day, we proceeded to get to fishing. Most boaters would idle as they moved past us. Due to the bridge, they already were forced to idle and some would just continue to idle. Other boaters were so impatient to get back on plane, they would gun it almost immediately after the bridge. The one that got me was when there are two boats both running idle speed one behind the other and a 30'+ boat come flying by both boats and only 20 yards from my yak. I mean..COME ON. You have got to be an idiot not to know that the 2-3 foot wake your boats throwing 20 yds away isn't gonna cause me some problems. Thank God I was in real shallow water where i could straddle the yak while it got thrown up against the bank. All that only cause me to sit in 1-2" of water the rest of the fishing trip. I believe as SAVREDS has said before...You can't fix stupid.

It's funny how everything calms down when our local county boys show up in their boat.

[frankc]

It is a darned shame you could not get his numbers, but getting them is easier said than done. Passing the info to the county or CG might take a little wind out of the offenders sails before he kills someone.

[jerseyjoe]

I completely understand that we need to be aware of the waterways we share, our positioning, and the concerns of the boater at the helm (coming off plane makes a larger wake etc.)

What I am really talking about is when we are near or even in a no wake zone, and boats refuse to slow down a bit early, or when they gun it before even truely leaving the NWZ...or when they just flat out ignore it.

[frankc]

Maybe a few Kodak moments of the offenders are in order.

I feel your pain on being in a no wake zone and having an idiot do his stuff. I am thankful that you fellows were not harmed and think you probably would have received no help from the boater if you had been. Thoughtless people like that are out there no doubt but they will not allow us to just shoot them. Maybe cameras and witneses would cause them to rethink their activities.