www.iFourWinns.com

OK, a brief run down of what happened on Saturday: My wife and I and three friends decided to go tubing for the afternoon, after about 3 hours of fun in the sun and some growing winds we decided it was time to head back to the marina. As I am aproaching the marina I can tell the wind has shifted and is having some large gusts so I prompt one of the friends (who has experience as an amatuer deckhand) the rules of engagement. As I come up to the dock and start to turn my stern into the slip, a large gust comes across the boat and starts to turn me sideways a bit, my deckhand jumps off the boat but is unable to pull me in, so I calmly pull myself back out of the slip and turn around to try again. Once again I start to make my approach and before I can start to make my reverse turn, three jet skis come around my starboard side so I have to stop and quickly "goose the throttle" to keep the wind from again blowing me into the dock. Now the jet skis could have really pissed me off but what was more frustrating was the fact that two slips over was a boat with about 5 people on it watching me, not attempting in anyway to help me. luckily a boats crew another dock away said they would be over to help, they had to sprint back down their dock to shore, across the shore to my dock and run up my dock to get to me. A transient who had docked just minutes ago saw me, rushed to tie his boat up and ran down to help (he had the same trouble as I did). Again, the whole time while the boat just two slips away sat there and watched never once asking or offering to help. Now, on my third aproach, with my friend on the dock and three helpers, of course I back it in perfectly, but my blood was boiling about that boat full of people. Now let me tell you they werent all dressed up, entertaining or in the middle of dinner, they were in their bathing suites livin it up. Now by this time my heart was racing from the difficult docking but it took all restraint, and an offering from wife to have a cold one and sit down, to not walk over there and tell them the courtousy to help a boater in and out of a dock, especially when they are having issues or when it is windy. For someone a whole dock away (and our docks arent close to each other ) and a transient who barely had time to tie up his own boat to help before them drives me crazy. As you can tell by this long and mumbling thread I am still a little upset. Am I wrong to expect this from other boaters? Am I too nice that I am always on the look out for boaters on my dock coming in when I am docked, or for helping every time someone pulls in regardless of weather conditions. Should I still say something?

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

I don't think you're wrong, just increasingly unrealistic. I've noticed the general rudeness of modern society is making its way into the boating world too. People don't offer to help at docks, they don't wave anymore, etc. Sad. I always offer to help at a dock when someone is having trouble, and the people always seem to be shocked that anyone would do that.

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

You have a right to be frustrated, but you're expecting others to think the same way you do. Not very realistic. Any "boater" would have done what the others did (and what you would have). So many "non-boaters" don't even recognize when others need help.

On the other end of the spectrum, I once attempted to assist a guy in a 40'+ go fast boat late one night at a bar/grill dock. I could tell he was by himself and figured I'd lend a hand with dock lines. He shouts, "DON'T BE TOUCHING MY BOAT!". So I calmly stood 2 feet away and watched the fiberglass damage happen... You never know what you're going to get with people.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

That's called Karma.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

It's not worth getting worked up over people that don't know how to conduct themselves.

I recently had a guy go ballistic because I had politely asked him to put his boat on the other side of the dock so I could retrieve (wife in boat directly behind, trailer about to be in the water). What I received was an obscenity laced response (in front of my 8yo) on how he was there first and can park there as long as he wants. Great role model for kids.

I will offer help and provide courtesy by staying out of other's way, but have come not to expect too much in return. When it does, I appreciate it that much more.

These are also likely to be the same people that will not stop when you need help. Karma is bound to happen.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Well half the time I can't even get my wife or kids to help when they are on the boat with me. Terrible first mates

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

Usually I ask my wife to help by going into the cabin and being quiet , she always gets on edge and thinks I am going to hit everything.

Thanks everyone for the feedback, I do have some dock mates that help out alot, they just were not around at the time so I guess I have learned who will help and who wont and know now not to expect it. I always plan on no one being at the dock but its nice to know someone is when you need them.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

Generally, skilled and experienced boaters will see the need for assistance and come to help. Those are the guys you want helping you even if they are a dock and a half away.

It's like boat-code or something.

The 5 people watching it happen were probably not skilled boaters OR were just jackasses. Either way, you probably don't want their help.

Frustrated... sure... something as easy as 'hey, I'll help ya in! Just tell me what you need'. But nope...

Most of us would jump to help 100% of the time. Some just either don't have the skill to recognize the need for help or are so stupid that you don't want them close by.

And yes, karma is a bitch. When that guy is broke down in the middle of the lake, you'll motor right by and of course, wave.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I agree with how you felt but am even more surprised that they are your slip neighbors and this happened. I could see this easily occuring at public or transient dock. But your neighbors?? Don't you all chat etc? Is this typical of their general behavior?

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Its not typical, everyone that I know on our dock helps one another except this boat and one other boat. it just so happened there was a luau going on at the marina so many boaters were not at their boats except for this boat. Generally we all get along, we have each others phone numbers, watch each others boats, invite each other over for drinks and snacks. Its one of the more expensive marinas in the city and I am in the bigger boat dock (generally for 34-50 footers), not that the cost or size of the boat means someone is nicer then others but you could generalize that most boaters who own larger boats would be more experienced (before I get yelled at for saying that, trust me I have met many non boaters who run out and buy large expensive boats and dont know a thing about boating.) I made it a point the next day in conversation with the boaters who DO help us out to mention that the boat did nothing to help and not many were surprised.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

Look at it this way, statistically there's a set amount of stupid out there. Be glad you're not stuck on that part of the curve. Be glad you've got manners, are willing to help people and know how to graciously accept help from others. Lots of people don't. Whether or not that's a new phenomenon is debatable. For folks to sit by and watch, especially after hearing others offering to help (and being on the wrong dock) is just plain rude. But that just means they're the stupid ones. Statistically they'll get the shaft someday, but will probably never understand why nobody helped them. What goes around...

I lend a hand whenever necessary to anyone else docking nearby. It's just the decent thing to do. Accepting help from others gets a bit tricky. At our home marina it's a no-brainer as everyone there knows how to help. But when visiting someplace new it's a challenge. The most important rule is passengers deal with me first, not anyone on shore. It's a real pain in the ass when someone on shore starts making decisions that conflict with what I need done. Now, I'm willing to concede I don't know everything, but I do generally approach a docking situation with a pretty good idea of how I want to handle the docking.

This was frustrating the first couple of times as the admiral (handling the lines on the bow) would get confused by those on shore. They might've meant well, but when trying to dock with winds and current I find it's really important to get the bow line snugged down quickly. So I can then pivot the stern back into the dock against the pressure on the bow line. When the line got handed off and the person on shore didn't cleat it I didn't have a way to get the boat to pivot. Not without dragging his drunk ass off the pier. It's hard to explain everything while it's all going to hell in a handbasket. So everyone on board handling lines gets a little talk before the docking, letting them know which line I need attached and why. Now when we dock the admiral makes it clear to anyone on the dock what she needs done, and I try to maneuver the boat in ways that make that happen. It's worked wonders to reduce the stress, for everyone on board.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

These days you really have to focus on the good...in this case there sounds to be a lot of it going on with the folks hustling over from the next dock in addition to the temporary slip holder. You can't let the onlooking group take away from that really. Glad it all worked out - I just figure I can't count on any help and if some pops up all the better.

As mentioned - the onlookers were either ignorant to the facts or just don't care......either way, sounds like you got the best help out there. My bro just called this morning and told me he was having probs with bad gas so his twin OB's were not responding well at all...while he waited for his wife to put put the boat around (she can't drive the trailer) he waited at the launch for her, so he could jump in and load it on the trailer.....during that time he helped 3 boaters who were in need at the launch. One stayed and waited with him til his boat arrived then helped him wrestle with it for 1/2 an hour to get it on the trailer. That's returning a favor and what its all about.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Damn, well that's a special event worth noting. Someone being polite AND helpful at a ramp. Who says society's done for...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

In a sue happy world some folks just dont want the be liable, f***ed up or not that just the way people are.

Mike

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Mike
2007 Horizon 200 SS
5.0 GXi SX drive.

+1 Couldnt' have said it better myself!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

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