www.iFourWinns.com

Maybe it’s a small lake phenomena but we seem to have an inordinate amount of clueless boaters on our small piece of water. So as part of my mid week therapy I thought I would come up with my top ten boating peeves. So in no particular order…


1. Boats towing tubes not paying attention to traffic. Generally when I am on the lake I try follow a steady course to my destination. These boaters are paying more attention to their tows and none to surrounding traffic. I frequently have to change course multiple times for the same boat as these folks zig and zag around the middle of the lake.

2. Running with no or improper lighting. I’ve seen it all; no lights, swapped navigation lights, running with docking “headlights” on, a strobe for an anchor light…

3. At anchor with no lights... yikes!

4. At anchor with your nav lights on. Are you getting ready to hit the throttle or just hanging out?

5. Speeding in no wake zones. We confront these folks regularly from our slip which is on the approach to the marina ramp. Jet skis are the worst since a ski at 5 - 7 mph can throw a significant wake.

6. Super loud stereos. I stay away from the party coves and hot spots. Please allow me a little solitude in my small cove.

7. Clueless as to who has the right of way. Take a safety course - please!

8. Poor boy power cords. Spare me your home depot extension cords or ancient Marinco cord patched with duct tape. And get it out of the water.

9. Jet skis running a full hour after sunset. Where is the lake patrol when you need them?

10. And finally, marina neighbors who don’t clean their boats. The spiders rule in my neck of the woods. Three years without a hose can get really gross.

So there, I got that off my chest and feel much better. Whats on your list?

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

Mate I'm with you on number 6.

When we camped up the Murray river at Easter the guys on the next pitch had a wake boat with great big speakers up on the tower. Not only did they play it at top volume up and down the river, they played it when the boat was on its trailer, right outside our tent at 11pm!!!

We got our own back the following morning - one of our kids packed a tantrum at 6am so we stuck her on the grass outside their cabin

JB

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2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

My peeves have to do with safety in general. You need proper lighting and need to pay attention. I honestly dont get to jacked up about stereos/party cove etc....not because my boat has 10 speakers in it (lol), but more because of the fact that people come to the lake for many reasons...family time, relax time, party time etc...we just all have to "share" the lake and understand that it sometimes means putting up with another idiots stereo etc....like I said...the safety issues are my concern.

With that said, there are common areas of the lake that are known to be "family areas"...on my lake, we call it family cove and I think most people know and respect it. Its common for us and 5-7 other boats to be tied up there, along with several other boats enjoying the cove and it is more of a family, quiet atmosphere. No matter what lake...everybody knows a quiet spot to go where you wont get bothered....so if you are looking for total solitude....find one of those spots and go relax and enjoy yourself and your family. When we want solitude, we often go up in our cove behind our house. There is a little boat traffic, but its pretty minimal. Find your sweet spot.

As for the spiders (heck yeah they are the law in Texas) and your dockmates...thats sick, lol.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

My top peeve has to be small cruisers that go on plowing water with their bow pointing at the sky without ever going on plane, creating a virtual tsunami for anyone trying to overtake them. Do they think that they actually save fuel by going at the most ineficient speed possible? There seems something about the beam to lengh ratio of some boats that allows them to dig bigger holes thant boats twice their size when driven just under the edge of plane.

If my kids weren't guilty of this from time to time I would also include folks that give bread to the marina ducks which invariably attracts a flock of seagulls who then show their appreciation for the free meal by pooping all over my boat.

People who get mad at me when I board their boat by grabbing their bimini.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Bimini or bikini???


Speeders in a no wake zone or under a bridge...(personal peeve....under bridges SHOULD be a no wake zone) IMHO.
I've never experienced a tube puller NOT paying attention to traffic... I FOCUS on traffic and tuber when pulling...I figure I'm totally responsible for them (and lucky....everyone I've seen is of like mind), but I'm quite sure it happens often.

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'90 Horizon 220 5.8

Oh I wish they were all like you. I do my best to give you guys a wide berth. Let's keep those kids safe.

Our bridges are no wake zones. I've seen a few blow right on through. I've also seen the Constables lurking nearby. I imagine they have written a few tickets there.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

Speeders in the no wake is a big peeve for me--but I will also extend it to speeders in coves or that have to speed by a groups of boats tied off together. Just because the area isn't maked no wake doesn't mean you can't be curtious. We boat on big lakes. There is plenty of room---no reason to speed by that close.

That does feel better!

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Sunday I went out and there was a husband and wife trying to lauch a jon boat out of the back of their pickup truck at the ramp. Once they finally got it in the water they tied up the lane for another half hour loading it. Sunday was a busy day here due to it being the weekend and one of the first great days weather wise. Oh, did I mention that they had to drive by the 'hand launch' area to get to the ramps only 200 or so yards later?

What really bugs me is the people that just seem to have no clue. When I started boating I researched all the information I could and took a boater's safety course. I still search for any info I can to make me a better boater- and that includes being a part of this forum. When I see someone that is lacking, I suggest the safety course and point them to sites like this along with lending a helping hand. We were all new once! Those that are unwilling to learn and improve have no business being out there!

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1998 Four Winns 205 Sundowner

TV: 2011 Toyota Tundra/2002 Chevy Tahoe

How about the guy that pulls into the cove, drops the anchor only until it hits bottom, and then ties it off. Then, not surprisingly, he drifts into you and is SURPRISED!!!

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2008 H210
Volvo 5.0 GXi
"Summer Sled"
Indianapolis

How about the tubers that pull in the river when it is busy!! Apparently, the safety of their child means absolutely nothing.

I don't understand what the difficulty is in NO WAKE!! We have a slip on the river and it is clearly posted no wake...yet 70% of people are under wake!! Either full speed, plowing, or whatever. Funny thing is we hear so many excuses....NO IT"S NOT...MY BOAT DOESN'T GO ANY SLOWER!! Unreal.

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Wayne & Kari
00' V338 Four Winns

My biggest peeve is jet skiers who try and jump my wake while underway. Some get way too close for comfort and in my opinion, it's extremely unsafe. I usually back off the throttle and come to a crawl, and they generally get the message then. A royal PITA.

Another is the fact that we boat on a big lake and often sit out and drift while the kids swim, etc. Why is it that other boats want to blow by you within a couple hundred feet or so on full plane? Do they not realize the resulting wake makes for an uncomfortable situation for those trying to relax?

Sometimes I just don't get it.

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1999 258 Vista
2003 Avon RIB280
1991 Freedom 170 (gone but not forgotten)

I could list ten just from the ramp!

#1-#3 do NOT park in the ramp lanes! staging, loading, or unloading.
#4 courtesy docks are not for tying up to go eat lunch
#5 courtesy docks are not for fishing (see signs) damn non-boaters
#6 check your gear BEFORE you are on the ramp
#7 make sure your boat is in proper running order before you are on the ramp
#8 if you can't back a trailer, ask for help
#9 move out of the way while you're waiting for your trailer to be backed down
#10 The guy in the yellow boat with the black Lexus will yell at you if you screw up on 1-3.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

1) motorcycles with no mufflers touring near the lake all day long.
2) Public boat launches
3) When the boating is done and back at the slip, your buddy throws his empty beer can in your full cooler. It's like putting your mouth in my cooler.

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Blue Baron
258 Vista 1999
Great Sacandaga NY

The guy in the next slip coming back drunk at the end of the day, untying my dock lines, removing them from my boat, and using them to tie up his empty beer can barge/30 year old never-waxed cruiser/garbage scow. Yep, it happened. It was only my wife who prevented the sumbitch from coming back to find his barge floating unattended out in the main channel, and if it ever happens again I'll wait 'til she isn't looking.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic