Power turns driving me crazy

[GCSuper]

I know this is an old subject, but this weekend at our lake we had a MC 55, Nautique 230, a Tig'e 24V, plus all the runabouts doing power turns. Let me tell you, when a boat like the 55 or the 24V does a power turn at about 10 mph right in front our our dock, it's like a tropical storm rolling thru. It's even worse on a Holiday weekend. Maybe I expect the inboard crowd to be more knowedgable than the runabout crowd, but from what we've seen in our 3 yrs of lakefront ownership, the inboards are just as bad as anybody else. I'm 55 ys old and started sking at 6, so I was taught at an early age about wake management, but todays crowd of mostly younger wakeboarders and surfers don't seem to care or give a chit about anybody else. When I'm not totally aggravated by this, it can be humorous to watch as they swamp thier own boats and almost drown the skier with a sunami wake. Boats are supposed to stay 50 ft from any docks, but we've resorted to putting a bouy out at 45ft to keep some of these idiots from hitting the dock.
We spent about 15 yrs sking the narrow Brazos river where a power turn could send rollers up or down the river for miles, so everybody kinda policed themselves, and if somebody didn't, they would get a polite reminder that it wasn't cool to do that. Now, nobody polices anything. We do have a nuisance wake ordinance in effect that I've had to call the popo once for a guy who kept coming so close to our dock, we were forced to move off the dock.
It seems like all the boating forums bereate the powerturners, but where are all the forum people at the lake ? Sorry to vent, but after another weekend of it, I had to get it off my chest.
We've already made alternate plans for the July 4th weekend and will just plan more time there on off holiday weekends. I guess I'll save my rant about trash for another day.

[Nautiquehunter]

Sunday Lake Lanier Georgia we are the only boat on the water. We get in two slalom runs and here it comes. A newer 23 Malibu pulling a tube. The calm small cove is turned into a wave machine with the power S turns and full short circles. All this from 1 boat? I think its ignorance anybody can buy a high power boat and get out on the water with no training or experience. Think how driving a car would be if 2/3 of the drivers didn't know what they were doing. Education is the answer but they will probably ban wake boats and restrict engine size to 25 hp before they require a licence to drive a boat.

[obd666]

couldnt agree more, sad sh|t indeed ...

[ckdollar]

What lake was that on?

[Kmayotte]

We have a great term for these people..."Loopers"

As in, when you hop off the dock for a 7 am wakeboard set and you see the dude with the 23 ft Cobalt BR got up just as early for a an early-bird tube sesh, "The **** loopers are getting after it early today!"

[swc5150]

Maybe I expect the inboard crowd to be more knowedgable than the runabout crowd, but from what we've seen in our 3 yrs of lakefront ownership, the inboards are just as bad as anybody else.

From my experience, I think this was more true back when inboards were small, specialized 3 event boats. The spacious, open bow V drives are much more "family friendly", and hence have become the high-end runabouts for many on our lake. Heck, a month ago I was talking to a Moomba owner on my lake about running ball, and his look of confusion was something to behold. They kneeboard and tube - not a clue of the intended use of that tower.

[GCSuper]

What lake was that on?

Possum Kingdom, which I should say is not known for skiing of any kind. It's large, can be windy and has too many big boats, cigarettes, etc. All the good coves are full of docks and marked no wake, and the upper river is a no go as well.

[Texan1554]

As said above... ignorance. Marketting and overall curb appeal has made the newer wakeboard boats the go to Cruiser boat for those that can afford it. The fact that these boats are made to displace enormous amounts of water makes it worse. The drivers/owners generally have no clue that they are doing anything wrong. Folks that aren't born and bread boaters generally don't know the rules and don't know people who do and always invite just other newbies out. This is in no way a bad thing but there is no education. No boat ed required in Texas and no public notice about courteous boat driving. There needs to be a push by TPWD to educate boat owners about safety, courtesy, and the affect their driving has on building strucuture and erosion.

[jchamlin]

I've been on both sides. I skied in college and was educated on how to drive while on a closed course. I try to follow that same principle while skiing in open water. However, how often do you guys have a boat full or people who know that kind of thing? When my wife and I were dating, it was a real point of contention and I came to realize how anal I was about my boat and skiing and how you're supposed to drive. Even last weekend, I let my Dad pull me wakeboarding behind the deck boat, which I said I've never do because he can't drive it good enough and do what I ask. Then I get all upset because of it.

Here's the other side - when you've got some kids who live next door on the lake, in the same cove, who am I to tell them they can't tube there. I've even pulled some kids tubing and a (now pro) wakeboarder and his jacka$$ father flagged me down in a hysterical rant. I felt bad for them because I could relate, but the kids had just as much right to be there as anyone else. However, I never want to speak to that guy ever again.

If we as skiers and good boat drivers don't show some patience to those who don't know any better, are we any better off? North Carolina now requires some level of boating education. I don't know what it entails exactly, but maybe you should lobby for some additional training on etiquette.

[iceman991]

power turns are GAY!

[iceman991]

and tubes should be banned........

[Texan1554]

and tubes should be banned........

Can't support that but I would fully support a PWC ban on weekends. I know on Lake Austin at least they are banned on holidays.

[GCSuper]

I wouldn't ask for a ban on anything. We all have the right to do whatever we choose, as long as it's legal, which tubes, PWC's etc, are. I just wish people were more considerate of others. Of course, this is true for a lot of things other than boating. Hunting, 4 wheeling, motorcycling, fishing., etc. I guess it's just the way I was raised.

[swc5150]

Good point JC. I have to admit that I enjoy a tube run with my niece and nephew once in a while, and would never yell at someone for the same. Everyone does have a right to be on public water, even if they're ignorant od the "rules of the road". The scary part is that boats are getting much bigger/heavier (with ballast), and the uniformed of the times don't realize the havoc their tidalwave wakes can wreak. It's these people that the wakeboard community should be concerned about, as it could be just a matter of time before some waterways ban certain size/weight boats - targeting your ride. Our lake, which used to be opposed to a slalom course, now welcome it when comparing it to wakeboard machines. At least their off my back now:-)

[mnwild2]

From my experience, I think this was more true back when inboards were small, specialized 3 event boats. The spacious, open bow V drives are much more "family friendly", and hence have become the high-end runabouts for many on our lake. Heck, a month ago I was talking to a Moomba owner on my lake about running ball, and his look of confusion was something to behold. They kneeboard and tube - not a clue of the intended use of that tower.

SWC, I couldn't agree more, we had a 99 runabout, we wanted a 3 event AWSA approved tow boat. We don't board, air chair, tube, or wake surf, TB's have become the poster child for clowns (Note the lawsuit against MC). When I met my wife (15 years ago) she lived at a house in San Diego that had access to a barefoot sanger and friends of that owner owned Nautiques, they all ripped it up or footed. It's a sad state on the waters these days.