Dangerous Weekend Warrior Boating

[shrimpman steve]

Originally Posted by JBird

It's easy to grin
When your ship comes in
And you've got the stock market beat
But a man worthwhile
Is a man who can smile
When his shorts are too tight in the seat!

Coglins law. Cocktails

[CompTime Charters]

It is also fun to return from a days fishing and as you reach the manasquan coast guard station you must pull back on the throttle and come to a stop. There is no room to navigate thru the channel. Boats Everywhere!! Just give a small lane so we can return safely.

[JBird]

This happens a lot too. We are returning from the morning trip along with 3 other 1\2 day party boats and as we come to the cut, 4 big boats in a row, some guy just has to get through immediately. So he blasts between us rather than wait 1 minute.

[Deep C]

Ok... I'm sitting in Florida and was told to check this out. I'll preface what I have to say with I don't for a second doubt what the original poster described as what happened. I will however clarify something... I see the word "captain" used in conjunction with who was operating the boat that day. He is not the captain nor sole operator of that boat. He is the owner... For sharking and offshore tournaments I am that vessels master.
I'm 36 years licensed at the helm without a mishap of any kind. I've known the owner for close to 22 of those. I will say that he is one of the kindest, most generous, caring people I have had the fortune to run with over that time. No I'm not going to defend. I will offer a little insight, doesn't make what he did right but might give you a different look at what may be behind it.
He lost his son to an OD several years ago. It broke his heart and he crawled into his fishing world to escape the pain.
Now he's not ancient but certainly no spring chicken either. He's got physical issues and chemo as you might guess is nasty. Past the vomiting and hair loss and other stuff it affects ones ability to fully concentrate. Add on a little age and brain farts become more frequent. Maneuvers like described here aren't intentional on his part. Not some race to the dock. Not meant to be arrogant. Just lapses in good judgment. Again, doesn't make em right. Just what is behind it all.
I've talked to him, sometimes screamed, about this at some length. He knows what I'm getting at. It scares him but he knows... Hes afraid of losing what he loves, the only thing he has left. Kind of like taking the car keys from your parents it sucks. I have to make a living and that involves running boats in Florida, Bahamas and up there. I can't be there to tell him "No" all the time. I will be back up this next weekend and I'll bring a print out of this thread.
His plan is to upgrade to a Viking big enough that it warrants putting me on the helm pretty well full time and this might move that plan forward. Thanks for reading...

[KevinH]

He's got physical issues and chemo as you might guess is nasty. Past the vomiting and hair loss and other stuff it affects ones ability to fully concentrate. Add on a little age and brain farts become more frequent.

If he doesn't have the ability to concentrate he shouldn't be on the water at all. Especially with a 36 foot boat in weekend traffic.

[HDMarc]

I have to agree, regardless what has happened in his past, it doesn't give him the right to put others in harms way, period! It's as though justifying a drunk driver's reckless behavior because something bad happened in his/her past, you're still behind the wheel of a potential killing machine when not handled responsibly.

[JBird]

If the guy has troubles then he has my sympathy but, you know, that's life. Bad things happen.
There is absolutely no excuse for what he did and if he can't understand that his actions were extremely dangerous than he has no business operating that vessel. Period.

[Capt. Debbie]

Hooked up sport fisherman at the tip of SH is an everyday thing. I've fished there for a 14 footer. You take your lumps. No one is going to slow down because you have a little boat.

One 40' Sport fish named Shark Byte cut through the fleet near Shrewsbury #1. The wake on that tub was 3.5 feet rolling 25-30 footers on both sides. I was amazed at his indifference watching this. Some boaters slow, but most don't - like that pr*ck on Shark Byte did a few years back. It happens. Carry 4 or 5 oz sinkers to get his attention.

And it will happen again.



QUOTE=catsmeow;412914]Fish out of the Rumson Muni ramp and fish the hook area. Luckily semi-retired and can fish weekdays. Last year was fishing the tip of the hook and hear a load roar of engines and and huge sport fisherman rounds the tip full bore. The guy on the flying bridge waves to me as he goes by. I look over my shoulder and here comes this huge wake. I have 17' aluminum sea nymph center console with a 90 mariner. My eyes like bug out and we do a big up and over the wake. I say holy $%^%. So what was the wave like hey dude i'm gonna swamp ya. I know there are channels but like that close to shore do ya have to run wide open ? Anyway thats my 2 cents. Oh was also broadsided by a 24 ft sailboat in the Navasink by a couple under motor powere sitting back in the pulpit with no clear vision ahead. Had 3 small kids in the boat. Luckly but a huge dent in the aluminum hull and did not come up into the boat. Boat was totaled and this boat I have is the replacement. That was in 1985. The old boat was a durautic 16ft side console. Maybe a few of you remember Mac's up in Washington, NJ. Thats where I bought it. Most boating accidentstake place on clear days as was this one.[/QUOTE]

[Deep C]

Originally Posted by JBird

If the guy has troubles then he has my sympathy but, you know, that's life. Bad things happen.
There is absolutely no excuse for what he did and if he can't understand that his actions were extremely dangerous than he has no business operating that vessel. Period.

I don't disagree that he shouldn't be operating a boat like that. Heck, maybe shouldn't be operating it at all. I went back and read your original post. You say high speed? Her port side turbo is out so 17 is about all she would give. Max wake speed? More likely than "high" speed. Still not defending as I have seen him get a little impatient before. Usually cause he's not feeling good and wants to get docked before getting sick. Still no excuse...
Had long talk with him today. Plan is to finish the turbo job, get the Viking and I'll take the wheel so this is no longer an issue...

[shrimpman steve]

I feel bad for him. But time to take the keys