Jet ski

[srock]

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[DVskier]

Annoying 247.

[markj]

Lol! That’s awesome. I’ll have you know though, that not all jet skiers are idiots. There are a few of us who have lengthy waterskiing and/or wakeboarding backgrounds and know exactly how to behave around skiers and wakeboarders: You keep a wide distance from them, don’t follow closely and drive in a very deliberate fashion around them. Not erratically. Not like a fly on a turd.

Living on the water and witnessing plenty of them, I’d say about 15-20% are various levels of annoying idiots. About 5% are not only annoying, they’re really dangerous too.

[Shamsra]

It's pretty easy to hate on the PWC crowd as a whole, but I save my jet ski animosity for PWC renters in particular. On the flip side, all PWC riders I have ever seen on our lake that have fishing gear aboard are strong, good looking and just several notches above average.

and in case you're wondering , .... yes, I've only seen myself on Lake Travis fishing from a PWC (2014 Sea Doo Wake Pro 215), though I am confident there must be others.

[MN Ryan]

Love it. Our lake has a bunch of pwc idiots. We have had conversations with a few-- my BIL is much more calm and tactful than I am. You do see some good ones out there, though. We had noticed one in particular this summer. One day, we wrapped up surfing while he was out, so I did him a favor and waved him in for some fun. We stopped and chatted for a while afterwards. I have no problem if they're safe and respectful, but if my wife or kids are behind the boat, back the F off. When they start getting too close, we've just started videoing them. They back off really quickly.

[DVskier]

I live on a public lake and rarely go out on the lake on weekends. Recently several homes down the cove from me sold and the new owners (3) promptly went out and acquired 2 PWC each, these idiots do not follow the state law requiring them to maintain idle speed when within 50 feet of docks. They rip down the cove just a couple of feet from my dock causing a dangerous situation. I really don’t get it. When I first got a place on the lake 30 years ago (different lake) I had a Sea Doo and always followed the laws. Times have changed and it isn’t the same anymore. To each his own.

[MN Ryan]

50 feet?!? Even that seems close. In MN, they're required to stay 150 feet away (though most don't).

[markj]

I live on a public lake and rarely go out on the lake on weekends. Recently several homes down the cove from me sold and the new owners (3) promptly went out and acquired 2 PWC each, these idiots do not follow the state law requiring them to maintain idle speed when within 50 feet of docks. They rip down the cove just a couple of feet from my dock causing a dangerous situation. I really don’t get it. When I first got a place on the lake 30 years ago (different lake) I had a Sea Doo and always followed the laws. Times have changed and it isn’t the same anymore. To each his own.

Preach it. I deal with this regularly. It’s usually boaters (mostly surfers). My method is this: I usually go out there and say something like, “cool boat, I dig those colors” etc etc and then mention what the laws are-like 200’ away from docks or whatever. It really helps when I tell them where the deeper water is and explain that their wave will be much bigger if they go “over there.” I’ve done this 5-6 times this year with no black eyes on any of us so far.

[03SANTE]

Let's face it there are idiots in each group...except those hardcore early morning skiers in search of great water (and I'm not one of them). You are either respectful of the local regulations and fellow boaters or not. Our lake has a blend of skiers, boarders, surfers, and PWC's. Many of the boat owners have a PWC and most follow the rules of the lake. My pet peeve is the tubers who feel like they are the only ones on the water on a busy day, driving erratically and almost putting their riders directly in your path. Bottom line is it's not any one group it's the operator controlling the watercraft. I think many people just aren't that aware of what's going on around them(or don't care) and ought to try using their mirrors once in a while.

[SkiTower]

the core problem with PWCs is usually not the owner but the non-owner. They give them a five second tutorial on operating it and then say go have fun. Generally you do not do that with a boat. NC passed the boater certificate law which pretty much killed the rental market and thinned down the ignorants. They still exist, just not quite as high a population. My pet pieve at the moment is the SUP that wants to sit in the middle of the already narrow channel going to and from the ramp. I try being courteous but they make it difficult.