Here's a new topic - Jetskis. Paddling my Navarro canoe in the Oakland Inner Harbor in 1997, two jetskis began to harass me. They made a series of fast runs by me. At first I thought they were just inconsiderate fools, but on the fourth or fifth pass, they pointed at me, said "Let's get him" and ripped by me at their closest yet. One came by about 7 or 8 feet away, and the other was on the other side a little further away. I decided that the next pass, if they were within reach anyhow, I would do my best Mark McGwire on the first one by. It didn't come to that -- they got bored with me and moved on to something else. Luckily, my open boat is pretty hard to tip. (I have a kayak now but won't go anywhere near there alone again. No sense tempting fate or baiting fools.) All this was within about a mile of the Coast Guard station. I did not carry either a cell phone or marine radio at that time (I do now). I felt pretty damn helpless out there and still think about that day anytime a jetski comes within sight or sound of me. I really hate those things. Have others had experiences like this? I can't imagine I'm the only one. jerry. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> thought they were just inconsiderate fools, but on the fourth or fifth > pass, they pointed at me, said "Let's get him" and ripped by me at their > closest yet. One came by about 7 or 8 feet away, and the other was on the Evil people do evil deeds. > other side a little further away. I decided that the next pass, if they > were within reach anyhow, I would do my best Mark McGwire on the first one > by. It didn't come to that -- they got bored with me and moved on to > something else. I almost always have a good casting rod or fly rod on deck, rigged. I've yet to have to fish a jet skier, but I can hit just about anything within 50ft very accurately with either. I wonder what a solid 2oz spoon with treble would do to such a criminal. > Luckily, my open boat is pretty hard to tip. (I have a kayak now but > won't go anywhere near there alone again. No sense tempting fate or See, now you are allowing evil to triumph. Lay a big ugly speargun on your deck and paddle out into their favorite spots. Throw big treble hook bristling plugs by their ears as they go screaming by. > I did not carry either a cell phone or marine radio at that time (I do > now). I felt pretty damn helpless out there and still think about that > day anytime a jetski comes within sight or sound of me. I really hate > those things. > > Have others had experiences like this? I can't imagine I'm the only one. To be honest, I've never had a problem with jetskis. They simply don't have the displacement to be able to throw a wake that would even justify noticing. Tug boats and barges get my attention though pretty quick! Richard Walker Houston, TX http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, 6 Oct 1999, Jerry Hawkins wrote: .... > Have others had experiences like this? I can't imagine I'm the only > one. Not from jetskiers, but once I was doing a one-person cleanup of a small Miami River "tributary", the Caves Canal, from my Prism. (I was picking up debris from the edge of the water and putting it into big plastic bags which I then dragged behind me as I filled them.) Three teenagers spotted me from a nearby bridge and started throwing whatever rocks, etc. they could find on the bridge at me. Since the blades on my graphite Camano are fragile, I got worried and tried to move away from the bridge. I guess they were encouraged by my attempts to avoid them, and they followed alongside the canal for some distance, this time throwing bricks, bigger rocks, etc., some of which might have damaged the boat or capsized me in water one does NOT want to swim in.(Or a lucky hit could have split my skull as the canal bank was considerably higher than I was.) I eventually escaped up the canal out of their reach, but was nervous about having to retrace to get back onto the river. I waited a long time, and they were gone when I got back. I report this because I interpret your question as, "Have others had experiences in which utter strangers deliberately tried to harm them for no apparent reason?" and not, "Do jetskiers tend to pick on other people?" I know no reason why this kind of person would be attracted to jetskis, though I think (for reasons not entirely rational, perhaps) that he/she would prefer jetskis to paddling kayaks. The implicit question, of course, is,"How can there be such people in the world?" That is an important question, but one which isn't on-topic for this list. Probably just as well, too, since my hero Professor Inverbon has too much sense to address such depressing matters. Slainte! e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Although I loathe them, I have to say that I've never had a problem with them. My problems have always stemmed from idiots in powerboats. Several years ago, I was nearly run down while paddling on the Current River in southern Missouri. Although it's a National Scenic Riverway, one concession NPS had to make to secure the riverway was to allow locals to run their jetboats in certain reaches. One of them passed within two feet (literally) of my boat heading downstream. Several hundred feet later, I watched a large party of canoeists throwing stones at him from a sandbar; they were paddling in a very large group (30+ boats), and he'd nearly swamped the rear boats and didn't consider that half their party was already up and out of the water. Not that I condone these kinds of actions, but.... Myself and two friends also recently had our sea kayaks out on a local river one evening after work, and were repeately circled at close range by another powerboat full of teenagers, obviously trying to create waves and tip us over. Since we all have good rolls, we were unimpressed. One of our guys had picked up a rubber ball he'd found floating earlier in the river, and managed to hit one of the passengers of the boat in the back. Not much, but it gave us a good laugh, at least... ---------- > Here's a new topic - Jetskis. > > Paddling my Navarro canoe in the Oakland Inner Harbor in 1997, two jetskis > began to harass me. They made a series of fast runs by me. At first I > thought they were just inconsiderate fools, but on the fourth or fifth pass, > they pointed at me, said "Let's get him" and ripped by me at their closest > yet. One came by about 7 or 8 feet away, and the other was on the other side > a little further away. I decided that the next pass, if they were within > reach anyhow, I would do my best Mark McGwire on the first one by. It didn't > come to that -- they got bored with me and moved on to something else. > > Luckily, my open boat is pretty hard to tip. (I have a kayak now but won't go > anywhere near there alone again. No sense tempting fate or baiting fools.) > All this was within about a mile of the Coast Guard station. > > I did not carry either a cell phone or marine radio at that time (I do now). > I felt pretty damn helpless out there and still think about that day anytime a > jetski comes within sight or sound of me. I really hate those things. > > Have others had experiences like this? I can't imagine I'm the only one. > > jerry. > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
A couple of weeks ago a few teenagers led by what appeared to be their Father, of all people, decided it would be fun to try and get a rise out of me by making some close passes on their jet ski's. The wake was not my concern but rather that the younger or less experienced riders would be able to control their ski's at close range. I have to admit that I have logged more than a few hours on some very fast ski's and watched novices completely lose control not realizing the dynamics of what makes them turn, work etc. One cannot simply stop a ski moving at speed and the action required to make quick course correction (POWER) is exactly the opposite of what most beginners do when faced with a close call. I'd hate to get hit by one, they are Heavy! PS - I was paddling on the Intercostal in Virginia Beach just South of Captain Georges. Ciao, John -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Jerry Hawkins Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 8:27 PM To: Paddlewise Subject: [Paddlewise] Jetskis Here's a new topic - Jetskis. Paddling my Navarro canoe in the Oakland Inner Harbor in 1997, two jetskis began to harass me. They made a series of fast runs by me. At first I thought they were just inconsiderate fools, but on the fourth or fifth pass, they pointed at me, said "Let's get him" and ripped by me at their closest yet. One came by about 7 or 8 feet away, and the other was on the other side a little further away. I decided that the next pass, if they were within reach anyhow, I would do my best Mark McGwire on the first one by. It didn't come to that -- they got bored with me and moved on to something else. Luckily, my open boat is pretty hard to tip. (I have a kayak now but won't go anywhere near there alone again. No sense tempting fate or baiting fools.) All this was within about a mile of the Coast Guard station. I did not carry either a cell phone or marine radio at that time (I do now). I felt pretty damn helpless out there and still think about that day anytime a jetski comes within sight or sound of me. I really hate those things. Have others had experiences like this? I can't imagine I'm the only one. jerry. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jerry Hawkins wrote: Paddling my Navarro canoe in Oakland Inner Harbor 1997, two jetskis began to harass me..... Jerry I can almost relate the same story. I used to have a small sailboat that I would sail here on the Columbia River in Portland, Or. before I switched to a canoe and kayak. I remember sailing along peacefully and quietly when I looked on the horizon and saw and HEARD two jetskis. Well, they spotted me and zoomed out to me and proceeded to run circles around me Doing assorted tricks and whatnot, as If I cared. What a nuisance! Nothing like ruining a peaceful quiet sail. As far as I'm concerned They're nothing but motorcycles on the water. Noisy, Loud, Obnoxious.( I have nothing against motorcycles on land, mind you-except the real loud ones) Varoom! Walt Levins Portland,Or. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hmmm. Might this sort of harassment justify a "test" launch of a pocket flare? Maybe just one over the bow of the jetski? I would think this would prove to be a good deterrent as well as attract attention of others (including authorities). I took a quick glance at the C.G. Reg's and I'd say the behavior of these jetskiers falls under the negligent operation of a vessel category, a criminal offense which can bring a fine up to $5,000 and/or 1 yr in jail. I'm not sure if anyone would get away with firing a flare -at- a dangerous jetskier, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to report the skiers to the authorities. I have no tolerance when it comes to these type of idiots. -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Jerry Hawkins Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 8:27 PM To: Paddlewise Subject: [Paddlewise] Jetskis Here's a new topic - Jetskis. Paddling my Navarro canoe in the Oakland Inner Harbor in 1997, two jetskis began to harass me. They made a series of fast runs by me. At first I thought they were just inconsiderate fools, but on the fourth or fifth pass, they pointed at me, said "Let's get him" and ripped by me at their closest yet. One came by about 7 or 8 feet away, and the other was on the other side a little further away. I decided that the next pass, if they were within reach anyhow, I would do my best Mark McGwire on the first one by. It didn't come to that -- they got bored with me and moved on to something else. Luckily, my open boat is pretty hard to tip. (I have a kayak now but won't go anywhere near there alone again. No sense tempting fate or baiting fools.) All this was within about a mile of the Coast Guard station. I did not carry either a cell phone or marine radio at that time (I do now). I felt pretty damn helpless out there and still think about that day anytime a jetski comes within sight or sound of me. I really hate those things. Have others had experiences like this? I can't imagine I'm the only one. jerry. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
John's fear was our reality. The PWC didn't hit us, it smashed into the motorboat right next to us. The motorboat was anchored on shore and we were at the same beach practicing rolls and rescues. The motorboat had several young, bikini-clad females on board as well as a couple of adults. There were also 2 adolesents (with PFDs on) swimming around the boat. The young lad on the PWC apparently was trying to impress the ladies and came at them at full speed expecting to swerve away at the last second, coating them in his wake. Needless to say, the maneuver did not work out too well for him. He smashed into the boat, virtually head on at high speed (fortunately he didn't hit the children in the water). The motorboat family was gracious enough to pull him aboard (totally incoherent, perhaps unconscious, I can't remember). They knew him. Thus, do not trust that they have the skill to do what it takes. This happened on the Navesink River in NJ. Debbie Reeves Sandy Hook, NJ > ---------- > From: John David Fuller[SMTP:jfuller_at_newlink.net] > > > The wake was not my > concern but rather that the younger or less experienced riders would be > able > to control their ski's at close range. I have to admit that I have logged > more than a few hours on some very fast ski's and watched novices > completely > lose control not realizing the dynamics of what makes them turn, work etc. > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
"Reeves, Debbie (Debbie)" wrote: > John's fear was our reality. The PWC didn't hit us, it smashed into the > motorboat right next to us. If you look at the USCG statistics that were posted recently, you'll see that a slight majority of PWC accidents are collisions with other boats. These things are a disease. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Did you report the incident to the local police and the Coast Guard? If enough people bothered to report such incidents, there would be enough justification for the law enforcement agencies to conduct an investigation. Otherwise those two bullies will keep harrassing inocent people forever. Please, report the incident. Or riskt that one day a person close to you might get hurt by those idiots, and you would be sorry for not having done anything about it. See it as your good citizen's duty. - Julio *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
After an incident where I was intentionally almost run over by a ski boat, I carried my Glock for a while in case I was accosted again. Later I swapped the Glock for a flare gun. cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
! A Glock will interfere with your compass, and it is d**n hard to aim one while keeping both hands on the paddle. There was an incident I read about while visiting Seattle about 5 years ago (before I had the canoe & kayak). A homeowner on the Green River (or possibly one of the other rivers SE of Seattle) became enraged that paddlecraft were using "his" river. He took out his AK-47 and popped off a couple of clips. The range was sufficient that he missed all the paddlers. (By the way, he was buck naked during all this). He was charged with a misdemeanor and released the same day. The Times noted that his gun would be returned! If anyone knows the details more accurately that I have recalled them here please post. jerry. At 09:36 AM 10/20/1999 -0400, Bob Denton wrote: >After an incident where I was intentionally almost run over by a ski boat, I >carried my Glock for a while in case I was accosted again. Later I swapped >the Glock for a flare gun. > >cya > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not >to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >*************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I can't wait to hear the discussion on how to tether a 9mm to your pfd. -----Original Message----- From: Bob Denton [mailto:BDenton_at_aquagulf.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 9:37 AM To: Joe Brzoza; 'Paddlewise' Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Jetskis After an incident where I was intentionally almost run over by a ski boat, I carried my Glock for a while in case I was accosted again. Later I swapped the Glock for a flare gun. cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Actually, I have a neoprene holster which isn't noticeable under the PFD. And it's .40, not 9mm. 9mm is for Jet Skis. cya -----Original Message----- From: Joe Brzoza [mailto:joebr_at_burton.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 10:19 AM To: 'Bob Denton'; 'Paddlewise' Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Jetskis I can't wait to hear the discussion on how to tether a 9mm to your pfd. -----Original Message----- From: Bob Denton [mailto:BDenton_at_aquagulf.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 9:37 AM To: Joe Brzoza; 'Paddlewise' Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Jetskis After an incident where I was intentionally almost run over by a ski boat, I carried my Glock for a while in case I was accosted again. Later I swapped the Glock for a flare gun. cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Any way we could avoid starting up another counter-productive kill-all-PWCers thread on PW? The last one was too much. It's not worth the bandwidth. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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