Our cove is not a no wake zone, but beginning before you get to our house, it become too narrow for boats to ski and tube and turn around in at a high speed. Nevertheless, boaters continue to ski and tube as far as they can go, and then the skiier will just drop off since the boat cannot turn. The wake from these vessels causes our boats to be continually beat up at our dock. In addition, there are several families with small children who swim in the cove. There is going to be an accident before long. Does anyone know what we can do to curb this activity. I have been told that there are no more no wake zones going in, and when you call the marine police they do not answer on the weekends. We never see them patrolling in our neck of the woods. HELP!
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| Name: |
lamont
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| Subject: |
rude skiers
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Date:
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7/11/2005 12:23:18 PM
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Where are you located?
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Past Bama Park more than half way down the cove of Cooper Creek...
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 12:27:20 PM
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This stuff will always be with us. I used to think it was just boaters that don't care but I am now leaning toward ignorance. It is truly amazing to see tubers, skiiers etc being pulled around in areas near docks (and traffic) when LM has so many open areas where that wouldn't be a problem.
The stupidest thing I see and saw repeatedly last weekend is some newbie trying to teach some poor young kid to ski right in a narrow, busy and very choppy area when slick water is only 5 minutes away.
I'd like to see more questions on ettiquite on the boating exam for licenses.
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Oh yes
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Date:
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7/11/2005 12:29:16 PM
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Get a couple of your neighbors to just get out in the cove and anchor in the right spots. Maybe the igno will go somewhere else.
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Half the time, I think they are drunk. Surely they can't be that stupid.
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| Name: |
coopercreekgirl
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 12:37:35 PM
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How many of these idiots do you think are just day trippers with out property or a vessel license??? I would guess most of them! You are right that the boaters exam needs to have more questions relating to "manners on the waterway", but I don't think most of these people even have a boaters license.
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| Name: |
Feb
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| Subject: |
Oh yes
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Date:
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7/11/2005 12:39:56 PM
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I was about to post the same. During the day, strategically park a couple of pontoon boats in the main channel. Small paddle boat for a little morning exercise in placing and exercise in the evening retrieving the pontoon boats. Nicely decorated signs on the side of pontoon boats with arrows pointing to open water stating "Great open water for Sking this Direction".
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| Name: |
friendly
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| Subject: |
signs
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Date:
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7/11/2005 1:13:22 PM
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I thought of some signs you could put on your dock:
I RESPOND TO PIER PRESSURE
and
DON"T WAKE ME UP
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
rude skiers
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Date:
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7/11/2005 2:28:12 PM
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One thing that 99% of the boaters on Lake Martin don't realize and probably have never heard is that they are responsible for any damage their wake causes. I've boated for twenty-five years on the intercoastal waterway as well as in the bays and canals along the coast with boats from 30' to 42'. One of the first things you learn with a larger boat is to be aware of your wake at all times or you will get sued or SHOT. Regardless of the absence of NO WAKE signs the boater is always responsible for any damage caused by his wake. Check with your insurance company.
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
rude skiers
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Date:
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7/11/2005 2:33:01 PM
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While I'm on my soap box......What irrates me on the lake are people who do not know that a boat with a skier, tube, etc., has the right of way. For some reason people in pontoon boats make a point of getting in my way or crossing in front of me while I have grandkids in tow.
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| Name: |
Blue Creeker
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| Subject: |
But how many...
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Date:
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7/11/2005 2:35:54 PM
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...times have you ever heard of someone being held responsible?
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
rude skiers
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Date:
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7/11/2005 2:37:23 PM
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We are very close to you in a narrow slough. Our official no-wake marker is clearly posted yet we occasionally have someone who speeds thru the area. It amazes me that they have not run into a dock or submerged stump. I saw an "unofficial" no-wake marker ( a white bumper) about 50 feet off a dock near the park at Indian Shores. It seems to work for those who pay attention. Nothing works for the others.
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
But how many...
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Date:
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7/11/2005 3:12:43 PM
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Yes, I have heard of claims being made against boaters for wake damage. The Marine Police probably won't write a ticket ---they can't even begin to control the mess around the Rock, but you can file a claim against the boater as a civil problem. A video camera will prove your case--if the boater even sees you with a video camera he'll probably leave the area--which is what you want anyway.
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
rude skiers
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Date:
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7/11/2005 4:03:29 PM
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What is an official no wake marker? What's unofficial? I might like one.
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| Name: |
SBsigmapi
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 4:27:25 PM
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Dang it! Here we go again. . .I really wish you property owning elitist would chill out with the references to weekenders and day-trippers being the rude ones. Your money and your property dont make you right. I could probably teach half of the Lake Martin land owners a thing or two about proper lake behavior. . .and I am a P.O.S. day tripper. Elitists never cease to amaze me.
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| Name: |
Maddog
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 4:46:54 PM
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Signoid.....after reading many of your post, I believe you thing you could teach everyone a thing or three about anything. Get off your a$$ and buy a place at the lake and then you'll know what some of these people are talking about.
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 4:50:55 PM
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Sorry to offend. I am not an elitist. We own a tiny shack on the lake. If anything, I think Lake Martin needs more public beaches. I've seen children swimming at the boat lauches for lack of anywhere else to go.
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Just a whoopsy
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Date:
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7/11/2005 5:06:23 PM
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Don't feel badly about it... we all make statements sometimes without really thinking it through on how others will take it. The nice thing about this forum is most everyone can take a joke.
Actually Dare Park and Wind Creek are two very fine facilities-beaches, restrooms, campsites, picnic areas. I have hardly ever seen Dare full or even used much.
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| Name: |
Island Camper
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 5:12:44 PM
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I agree with you for the most part. I am also a "day tripper", but that does not make me rude or ignorant. You don't have to own an expensive lake lot to have common sense.
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
Just a whoopsy
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Date:
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7/11/2005 5:14:36 PM
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Thanks for the pat on the back.! I watched this forum for a long time before jumping in a few weeks back. Wind Creek State Park is very nice. Where is Dare?
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Dare Park
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Date:
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7/11/2005 5:24:07 PM
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Click on the link...it's in Dadeville. Has full time security when open too.
URL: Dare Park
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 5:26:52 PM
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Of course. In fact I'll bet most property owners on the lake were day trippers themselves at one time.
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| Name: |
coopercreekgirl
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/11/2005 5:55:19 PM
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I think most people that subscribe to this forum are concerned about Lake Martin in one way or another. The trouble is that the ones who are disrupting the peace on the lake whether it be in the water or on the shores are the ones not reading this and not interested in how they are ruining the lake for everyone else. We are from the Atlanta Area where lake Lanier has been ruined by the masses. We see Lake Martin becoming the next Lake Lanier. I would hope that the state Marine Police would get in the 21st century and do something about it before it gets completely out of control. The few officers they have on the lake do not take care of the current problem of abuse on the water. You cannot hold someone responsible for damage if you can't get their boat numbers and they are in and out of sight in an instant.
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Well...
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Date:
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7/11/2005 10:01:20 PM
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I lived on Lanier. I don't think it will happen here for lots of reasons but there are certainly going to be some changes and needed response from the good MP's that protect us. We need to support them in deed and $$.
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| Name: |
SBsigmapi
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/12/2005 10:33:14 AM
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Right. . .I should get off my 25 year old butt and pull the 200k out of my wallet and buy my own place. I am still a little young to have that much disposable income--perhaps in a couple of years (after law school). However, I am also intelligent enough to know that having a place at the lake would not instantly make me a better person, a better boater, more polite, or more knowledgeable than someone else. Those things have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you have a lake home. There are tons of people in this area that grew up on the lake--ON THE WEEKENDS. These people are great boaters, are very considerate, and very knowledgeable. From what I have seen, most of the time when you pick out a wild driving, inconsiderate boater and follow that boat, you will end up at a lake house. . .usually a lake mansion. It seems as though the more modest incomes (lake home owners AND weekenders) can afford much better manners than the extremely wealthy.
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| Name: |
JUA
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| Subject: |
Right of way
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Date:
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7/12/2005 10:37:44 AM
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I don't think boats pulling skiers have any special rights to right of way over other vessels. They are subject to the same "danger zone" as other vessels. That's the way our (TN) law reads and in FL. Alabama was that way unless it was changed.
You may have it confused with the vessels in tow regulations. They apply to narrow waterways and concern tow boats, etc., but not boats pulling skiers. Same for fishing boats who are trolling. Normal ROW rules also apply to the water skis with motors (jetskis).
Maybe GB can weigh in on this.
The way I alway look at it, the largest or fastest boat will win in a mishap, so I made sure to avoid the them by a wide margin, no matter where they are crossing.
You are 100-percent correct on the boater being responsible for wake damage. However, I'm sure a boat in a dock without any bumpers would have a hard time with a claim since wind could toss the boat around, too. Many of the cove skiers might not have insurance, so it will cost more than a boat's worth to sue in court for refief. Would you insure some of these boaters????
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| Name: |
Fountain Rider
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/12/2005 10:57:48 AM
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Its amazing to me how some people on this forum fuss about anything recreational such as water skiers, pontoon boats, power boats, jet skis, day trippers and wealthy people. Give it a break. Try going out and do something off the lake, around the first of the month especially. You be glad to be back at the lake.
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| Name: |
joyrider
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| Subject: |
Beaches
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Date:
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7/12/2005 11:32:11 AM
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I can remember (way back when) Bama Park and Real Island were the places to come to swim and picnic. Now look,.... the beaches are gone, and in the place are travel trailers and such. I guess this just shows supply in demand. "Supply the land because it's high in demand?"
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| Name: |
retiredfisher
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| Subject: |
Rude or Ignorant?
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Date:
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7/12/2005 11:50:14 AM
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I use to think bad boating behavior was rudeness, but after watching several neighbors in our slough, I now believe it's ignorance. I'm amazed each weekend as our neighbors come in our narrow slough with their jetskiis or pontoon boats at full trottle. They wave at us as we're fishing off our dock so I honestly believe they're nice people who just don't know any better. We usually get the last laugh as their wakes catch up to them as they're trying to dock their boats. You would think that they would figure out that it's harder to dock a boat in rough water. Over the past two summers, we've seen three of our neighbors slam their boats very hard against their docks because of their OWN waves they just created from going too fast. What's the rush to get home anyways?
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| Name: |
TH
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| Subject: |
rude skiers (bumper owner)
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Date:
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7/12/2005 1:18:09 PM
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That's my bumper. It's parallel and 30' off the end of my dock (they officially allow you 20' out for a swim area). I've been meaning to move it in to the correct distance and replace the red swim area bouy that was previously there. My neighbors, (the Allen's older kids), were using the swim area bouys as a salom course behind their Mastercraft. It just goes to show that in any group of 10 people, you're going to have at least one inconsiderate jerk (especially among young men). It doesn't matter whether you're talking about property owners or weekend part-timers.
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| Name: |
Smitty
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| Subject: |
rude skiers
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Date:
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7/12/2005 2:05:46 PM
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Clearly the skiers and tubers are looking for calm water when they go in the coves. I understand that. I really don't think they know what effect their wakes have on our docks and boats. My floating dock is getting the crap knocked out of it. I have asked some of the people to try a cove nearby where nobody lives. They were very respectful and said they understood. I tihink we need to somehow get the word out that the big water is a great place to ski and tube.
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| Name: |
Blue Creeker
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| Subject: |
Nope...
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Date:
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7/12/2005 2:48:46 PM
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...boats towing skiers has the ROW.
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
rude skiers (bumper owner)
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Date:
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7/12/2005 3:42:06 PM
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Hey Bumper, I really admire your initiative. It slows people down without making a big fuss over the issue. Others should follow suit. You could really use one or two more in the same area!
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| Name: |
JustAGuy
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| Subject: |
Nope...
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Date:
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7/12/2005 6:00:10 PM
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I have never heard of this before ... I checked the state boating website (link provided below) and found the following "Rules of the Road" - they don't say anything about boats towing skiers having the ROW. Where did you hear of this rule ... and can you cite a source or regulation?I'm not trying to be argumentative - I just want to make sure I do the right thing on this one.
Thanks
Rules of the Road
The water traffic "Rules of the Road" in the State of Alabama shall be as follows:
Vessels passing head-on shall keep to the right.
Vessels overtaking another vessel may do so on either side, but must grant the right-of-way to the vessel being overtaken.
When vessels are passing at right angles, the vessel on the left will yield right-of-way to vessel on the right.
Motor boats shall yield right-of-way to non-motor powered boats except as follows:
When being overtaken by non-powered vessels.
For deep draft vessels that have to remain in narrow channels.
When vessel is towing another vessel.
Motor boats must maintain a direct course when passing sailboats.
Any vessel approaching a landing dock or pier shall yield the right-of-way to any departing vessel.
Any vessel departing shoreline or tributary shall yield right- of-way to through traffic and vessels approaching shoreline or tributary.
Vessels will not abruptly change course without first determining that it can be safely done without risk of collision with another vessel.
If an operator fails to fully understand course of an approaching vessel he must slow down immediately to a speed barely sufficient for steerageway until the other vessel has passed.
Vessels yielding right-of-way shall reduce speed, stop, reverse, or alter course to avoid collision. Vessel with right-of- way shall hold course and speed. If there is danger of collision, all vessels will slow down , stop, or reverse until danger is averted.
Vessels will issue warning signals in fog or thick weather.
No mechanically propelled vessel shall be operated in a circular course around any other vessel or any person swimming.
In a narrow channel, vessels will keep to the right of mid- channel.
Vessels approaching or passing another vessel shall be operated in such manner and at such rate of speed as will not create a hazardous wash or wake.
No vessel shall obstruct or interfere with take-off, landing, or taxiing of aircraft.
All vessels shall be operated at reasonable speeds for given situations and must be under the complete control of the operator at all times.
No person shall, under any circumstances, operate a vessel in excess of an established speed zone.
No vessel or person shall obstruct or block navigation channel, entrance to channel, mooring slip, landing dock, launching ramp, pier or tributary.
Vessels shall keep at least 100 feet clearance of displayed diver's flag.
Operator shall maintain a proper lookout.
Whenever the director of the Marine Police Division shall determine that in the
URL: State Boating Regulations
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| Name: |
Blue Creeker
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| Subject: |
I stand corrected...
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Date:
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7/13/2005 1:15:05 AM
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...I guess it's just been an un-written rule all these years.
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