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Sad story--
A few things I'd take away/learn from this.
1) On most large lakes the unwritten rule is any open dock/pier is available to use for your own safety. I know on Tahoe it's that way when the wind picks up or thunderstorms appear.
2) I know we all carry cell phones now, but a VHF radio still can be handy-most VHF radios also have access to the local NOAA Weather Radio station it's important you know what's going on with the weather.
3) Try to avoid taking on large wakes/waves/white caps if at all possible one rouge wave can throw your boat all over or possibly throw a passenger
out of the boat.
I was out on the CA Delta about 15 yrs ago when the winds shifted unexpectedly. Literally in the span of 20 mins we went from glass water to waves rolling through over 5+. We had 2 PWCs, 1 large sailboat, 1 hosueboat, and my SAN. The sailboat had to cut their anchor free (45'+ sailboat), one of the PWCs was damaged, and my SAN was damaged when the houseboat it was tied up to crashed on the back corner of the boat cracking the gel coat pretty good. It was a wake up call from all of us luckily nobody was hurt but I remember the slow ride back to the shore was just as bad as the worst winter storm I have ever driven through. Waves crashing, water coming over the windshield, life jackets on, and two hands locked on the wheel.
A few things I'd take away/learn from this.
1) On most large lakes the unwritten rule is any open dock/pier is available to use for your own safety. I know on Tahoe it's that way when the wind picks up or thunderstorms appear.
2) I know we all carry cell phones now, but a VHF radio still can be handy-most VHF radios also have access to the local NOAA Weather Radio station it's important you know what's going on with the weather.
3) Try to avoid taking on large wakes/waves/white caps if at all possible one rouge wave can throw your boat all over or possibly throw a passenger
out of the boat.
I was out on the CA Delta about 15 yrs ago when the winds shifted unexpectedly. Literally in the span of 20 mins we went from glass water to waves rolling through over 5+. We had 2 PWCs, 1 large sailboat, 1 hosueboat, and my SAN. The sailboat had to cut their anchor free (45'+ sailboat), one of the PWCs was damaged, and my SAN was damaged when the houseboat it was tied up to crashed on the back corner of the boat cracking the gel coat pretty good. It was a wake up call from all of us luckily nobody was hurt but I remember the slow ride back to the shore was just as bad as the worst winter storm I have ever driven through. Waves crashing, water coming over the windshield, life jackets on, and two hands locked on the wheel.
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