Most boaters that know how to plane their motor can run wot with a tiny bit of wake. I have owned a number of different types of boats. I had a 28 foot Scout that threw up a terrible wake at a low to medium speed/RPM, and next to nothing when on plane. The biggest factor is the Captain’s experience.
I agree with Redstripe it’s all with the operator!
quote:
Originally posted by RedstripeMost boaters that know how to plane their motor can run wot with a tiny bit of wake. I have owned a number of different types of boats. I had a 28 foot Scout that threw up a terrible wake at a low to medium speed/RPM, and next to nothing when on plane. The biggest factor is the Captain’s experience.
That brings me back to the lack of knowledge of the “rules of the road.” It seems to me that a mandatory “boater’s course” of some sort would help remedy these “basic” issues. Yes, there are some things that can only be learned through experience on the water but a lot of the issues discussed here aren’t those types of issues and could be minimized with basic “training.”
You’re right, RS. I was out on the lake this morning (until 11:30) fishing. It was great until about 10:15-10:30. Then, the googans and booze cruisers showed up. Every once in a while someone would come by and if I hadn’t seen them or heard them, I could hardly tell another boat went by, but for the most part, it was bows pointed towards the sky, music pumping, and throwing monster wakes while wearing big’ol clueless smiles.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
BIG OLD CLUELESS SMILES! Love that saying! You sure hit the nail on the head! Thanks for a good laugh.
Lots of folks plowing in the waterway on Saturday. It amazes me the number of clueless folks on the water. Saw a big cabin cruiser of some sort with the name of ZING destroying stuff along the goat island area, twice. Folks either don’t care or don’t know any better.
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Down here is where a signature goes but they can confuse and anger some people so I don’t have one.
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Originally posted by CaptFritz…Folks either don’t care or don’t know any better.
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Down here is where a signature goes but they can confuse and anger some people so I don’t have one.
I believe the appropriate answer here is “yes.”
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
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Originally posted by CaptFritz… along the goat island area, twice …
Goat Island??? What? Are you lost??? 
Just got the press release from DNR. No charges to be filed:
PRESS RELEASE: No charges to be filed in April boating fatality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After conducting a thorough investigation, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has determined no criminal charges will be filed for the boating fatality that took place on Lake Murray the night of Thursday, April 21, 2017. The Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office was consulted and reviewed all of the files of the investigation and concurred with SCDNR’s decision.
The collision occurred around 11 p.m. when the 18-foot bass boat operated by Danny Phillips failed to give way to Bruce Dyer’s 32-foot center console boat. Based upon investigation, the bass boat had the responsibility of giving way to the center console boat. In an attempt to avoid collision, Dyer made a sharp turn, ejecting his wife and another passenger overboard. Despite the evasive attempt, the boats collided. Two of the three passengers in the bass boat were killed due to the impact, and the third survived with non-life-threatening injuries. None of the passengers on Dyer’s boat sustained serious injuries.
Following the incident, Dyer passed the Seated Field Sobriety Test and the Standard Field Sobriety Test, exhibiting no signs of impairment. Officers present also observed no signs of impairment. Based upon the results of the field sobriety tests and officers’ observations, under state law and training protocols, no further tests could be required.
All parties were cooperative and forthcoming throughout the investigation. Dyer willingly handed his GPS over to SCDNR officers, who then used the GPS to calculate the speed and navigation track of Dyer’s boat before and during the collision. This evidence, along with witness statements, helped in determining the nature of the accident.
South Carolina law states that, in order for a reckless homicide charge to be filed, the person must have been operating the
I still can’t wrap my head around how at least one of these vessels could not see the other in time to not make this a “last second” attempt to avoid a collision. I understand “responsibility to give way” but if both boats had the required running lights functional on their boats, then surely at least one of the vessels saw the other. I mean, if I’m on the water and confronted with a situation where I’m the “stand-on” vessel, I’m not going to hold my course if the “give way” vessel doesn’t recognize right of way and risk a collision. I’m going to do whatever needs to be done to avoid a collision and I’m going to do it early enough to insure there is plenty of room between my boat and the other vessel. Still seems like a lot of unanswered questions still. Hopefully the final report will tie up the loose ends. That said, additional answers won’t undo this senseless and totally avoidable loss of life.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
Friends of mine fishing a tournament the next morning out of Dreher said Bud Light cans were “everywhere”
Plenty of unanswered questions. Unfortunately, money keeps a lot of questions form ever being answered.
Love Lake Murray, but weekends are getting ridiculous.
HaHa!!! Those Bud Lights can are always out there! Lol!!!
I’m not ready to buy into any “conspiracy” about “hush money” but there are definitely a lot of unanswered questions.
As far as Murray, it’s relatively ridiculous during the week and it’s not just the pleasure boaters either. I was fishing a well-known flat on Tuesday, watching bass and stripers schooling, when I hear a boat approaching from behind me. I didn’t pay much attention because fish were schooling and I was catching’em. Well, I hear the boat slow down and before I know it, I’m now inadvertently involved in the conversation being had in that boat because of how close they were to me. They were literally a half cast away and didn’t so much as acknowledge my presence when I turned and said “good morning.” As if that wasn’t bad enough, roughly 5 minutes after that boat rolled up behind me and began fishing, a glitter boat comes hauling @ss from behind me so I turned to see where he was headed. Now, I was on the trolling motor and working west (up lake) across the flat following the schooling fish when this guy comes in at WOT and sets it down right in front of me, cutting me off from the flat. Again, he and his buddy completely ignored me when I gave the universal sign of disapproval (both arms raised over my head as if to say “WTF?” They never looked at me (we were within a cast of each other) and started casting to the schooling fish. I’m not proud to say it but I lost my composure and did something I’ve never done before. I calmly strapped my rods down to the deck, retrieved my trolling motor, started my big motor, idled in the direction of the schooling fish and in front of the glitter boat and proceeded to blow out the area as I sped away from the area. Again, I’m not proud of my actions and I hope I do a better job of minding my manners in the future but I had reached my limit by that point. At least they finally acknowledged my existence as was evident by him extending the same universal sign of disapproval I gave him earlier. I smiled a
You are correct about the mahem there, I haven’t fished there on the weekends for 10 years and now won’t go during the week! This belong on a new thread! Could fill 10 pages.
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Originally posted by bangstickHaHa!!! Those Bud Lights can are always out there! Lol!!!
I’m not ready to buy into any “conspiracy” about “hush money” but there are definitely a lot of unanswered questions.
As far as Murray, it’s relatively ridiculous during the week and it’s not just the pleasure boaters either. I was fishing a well-known flat on Tuesday, watching bass and stripers schooling, when I hear a boat approaching from behind me. I didn’t pay much attention because fish were schooling and I was catching’em. Well, I hear the boat slow down and before I know it, I’m now inadvertently involved in the conversation being had in that boat because of how close they were to me. They were literally a half cast away and didn’t so much as acknowledge my presence when I turned and said “good morning.” As if that wasn’t bad enough, roughly 5 minutes after that boat rolled up behind me and began fishing, a glitter boat comes hauling @ss from behind me so I turned to see where he was headed. Now, I was on the trolling motor and working west (up lake) across the flat following the schooling fish when this guy comes in at WOT and sets it down right in front of me, cutting me off from the flat. Again, he and his buddy completely ignored me when I gave the universal sign of disapproval (both arms raised over my head as if to say “WTF?” They never looked at me (we were within a cast of each other) and started casting to the schooling fish. I’m not proud to say it but I lost my composure and did something I’ve never done before. I calmly strapped my rods down to the deck, retrieved my trolling motor, started my big motor, idled in the direction of the schooling fish and in front of the glitter boat and proceeded to blow out the area as I sped away from the area. Again, I’m not proud of my actions and I hope I do a better job of minding my manners in the future but I had reached my lim
Oh, I thought about it. Probably would’ve really lost it if I would’ve been fishing a tournament but I was just out for a couple of pulls on the line and a relaxing time on the water. There are literally fish crashing bait on nearly every wind blown point right now, there are a couple of other points within sight of this spot had fish busting on them that morning too, so it’s not like the fish are bunched up in one spot. My guess is, he saw me fishing the area and noticed the water blowing up with schoolers and he came running…like a moron. Like I said, he sat it down right near the school so of course they quit busting. They never did come back up after he got there and definitely not after I blew it out. Lol!!
It just sucks that something as relaxing as fishing and being out on the water turns not so relaxing with morons like this and their clueless brethren.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
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Originally posted by bangstickI still can’t wrap my head around how at least one of these vessels could not see the other in time to not make this a “last second” attempt to avoid a collision.
On Murray and other inland waterways there is the issue of background lights. With all of the streetlamps, porch lights, dock lights, homes etc. sometimes a boat’s navigation lights just blend into the background. Add in the fact that the boaters are somewhat distracted by circumstances (such as engaging with their passengers and having a good time) and I can very easily see how these tragedies happen.
Good point Jack. When we were motoring uplake in the pre-dawn darkness yesterday morning for the Lake World, I sometimes found it difficult to tell whether it was a boat ahead or lights from a far off dock or home. Due to all the background lighting, distances are very difficult to judge at night. That can certainly lead to accidents.
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175 Yammy Jammer
Also, some folks just have better night vision than others. It pays to drive defensively, on Murray, day or night.
I get the “background lighting” issue but I too have been out on Murray at night and while you do see the background lights, it’s still pretty easy to see which are boats and which ones are in motion. Plus, most of those background lights are “white” lights. Bow lights are green and red and there are only a few red and green hazard markers on the lake. If I can only see a single white light, and it’s a boat, it’s either anchored or heading away from me.
I get none of this is going to change anything but there were clearly major issues with both parties involved that led to this completely avoidable tragedy. No one involved is without blame.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
bangstick, i had the same thing happen to be last year. I was casting on a school where some birds were, then quickly had two boats run up on me WOT, and of course push the schoolies back down. i left and proceeded to find another school, not 5 minutes later the same two boats did the same thing again, so i left again. This time i found a couple pack of crackers and started throwing them out in various spots, and before you knew it, birds were all over the place. i then left and found a school busting away from the birds. then i turn around and see those two boats racing in between the spots where i threw the crackers in for the birds. they scrambled for a while trying to figure out why they werent catching any fish where all the birds were.
If I’m posting, its because I’m sitting here at work, dreaming about fishing.
So much for the good ole days when gas was 3.50 a gallon and unemployment was up, and the lake was dead during the week for fishing and somewhat manageable on the weekends. Now that everyone can afford to boat, it has gotten really bad.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115