I know this has been discussed here at great lengths, but im really tired of inconsiderate and unsafe boat drivers. I have a wife and 2 very young children that love to boat, but i really question my sanity for taking them out there and risking our safely each time we hit the water. Lately I have been put in several bad situations while just cruising the ICW on both sides of the harbor. most recently on Saturday during low tide in the ICW behind sullivans (where the water is already quite skinny just off center channel) as I was approaching a boat heading in the opposite direction and about to meet him some dumba** decides to pass me between me and the oncoming boat. I literally had to drop off plane and swerve into shallow water to keep from having difficulty in the wakes and getting run over. Of course I yell at him and he shoots me the bird and drives off like it was my fault. Im not sure what the answer is, but i wish there were some mandatory boating education class that every operator had to pass in order to drive a boat here. The fine should be stiff if caught without proof of it.
You can educate some and they will never learn! Water seem to bring out dumb people!
U can’t really trust anyone now a days. I once had the Dnr boat try to overtake me under a bridge. Thankfuly there wasn’t an on coming boat but if one had come around the corner at the last minute it could have gotten ugly.
17’ Mako
You cant fix stupid. Thats why you need to have your head on a swivel at all times. And sometime that?s not enough.
I don’t know if the water has anything to do with it. Have you seen the buttheads driving a car???
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Dear Dawg…The reality of the local situation is something you must learn to deal with. There are close to 80,000 people living in Mt. Pleasant alone. The waterways are overcrowded, and there is no infrastructure solution. You must choose your times and locations wisely in order to ensure the safety of your family. Boating in the ICW behind IOP and Sullivan’s Is. at mid day in the summer is a zoo. If you can, being on the water by 7:00AM and off of it by 11:00AM is one way to limit your exposure to knuckleheads. Consider boating in the McCllenville area, or put in at Buck Hall…get away from the crowds. There aren’t that many booze cruisers up that way because there aren’t a bunch of flat bellies in the area. The harbor is a confusing, seemingly wide open area that is overrun with skiffs, sporties, and sailing vessels. That increases the need to follow Coast Guard approved navigation procedures, and you know how many idiots are committed to those rules. Stay out of it, and stay safe. You’re aren’t going to change the public’s behavior, you’ve got to change your approach.
Sol Mate
Mako 20B
225 Optimax
[quote]Originally posted by Happy Bob
I don’t know if the water has anything to do with it. Have you seen the buttheads driving a car???
Half way into an intersection on a green light pulling the boat same day, lady ran through red light right past me. Luckily I saw her stupidity coming and stopped. Never even checked up to the sound of my horn…everyone around just shaking their heads.
I’ve definitely tried to stay more in ashley river, stono, folly river area when I can. Wife just wanted to eat at Morgan creek grill. I’ll just tell her she has to cook next time…ha ha ha
Boss dog is wrong you should go south of the harbor.
Every time I go out something stupid happens. I find its mostly at the ramps. just have to be very careful out there
230 Tidewater 250 Yamaha
NikkiB