wrote:
Great post John...the fact is that there is no real distinction between
pwc'ers and boaters, the first are simply a subset of the former (with
lots of people in the intersection of both groups - in other words they
have and love both pwc's and larger boats). Both groups have an
enormous amount in common (both love the water, the outdoors, the
beach, cruising,

Really? I would suggest that what PWC'ers and loud speedboaters love is
attracting attention to themselves, and going fast.

Of course, 'going fast' is best done out of doors, but other than that
there is no intrinsic love of nature involved. Not at all.

How the hell do you know? How the **** would you know whether I or my
friends
love nature, what would give you the insight to think that the only
reason I love the outdorrs is that's
the only place I can "go fast"?

DSK you are dead wrong and just engaging in ignorant stereotyping. I
can tell
you you have us pwc'ers pegged ALL wrong.

Sure, "going fast" is part of the fun, but just a small part. In the
course of an day of riding my waverunner, I might do a few brief "speed
runs" just for the thrill of it and to see how my boat's performing,
but most of the day will be spent doing other things - the same things
any boater does I guess - cruising at a nice mid-level cruising speed
(often with my wife or kids on board, often solo riding along with a
friend on his machine) to get to a favorite beach or restaurant; idling
down a nice long side creek or canal to explore and enjoy the scenery;
tied off at a dock or anchored just off a beach to enjoy a picnic or a
relaxing break; or best of all, riding outside on the ocean and
enjoying the spectacular view of the beach, the sky and the sunlit
water....or, very often doing a long-distance or overnight
destination/travel cruise (have ridden from Florida to the Bahamas;
from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West and back over a week staying on a
different key each night; from Riverhead, NY to Newport, RI for an
overnighter with the wife; from Smithtown, NY to 50 miles up the
Connecticut River for a stay at a b & b also with the wife; from
Sayville, NY to Atlantic City for a mulit-day stay there; from Cold
Spring Harbor, LI up the Hudson River to Catskill, NY on a 200+ pwcer'
group ride/poker run to stay overnight and party there; to Block
Island; staying in the Thousand Islands in Alexandria Bay with my 'ski
tied up at the dock and spending four days with my wife exploring the
St. Lawrence River on the water all day long; and more, with more trips
and rides planned all the time.)....anyway....it's called BOATING,
that's what it is, that's what I do with my pwc's, and that's why there
is no doubt that I am as much a boater in exactly the same way as
anybody with a bigger boat.....and for the same reasons....the love of
being on the water, out in the sunshine (or the rain, or the cold
overcast sky in early spring through late fall), enjoying beaches,
islands, waterways....yes, loving and enjoying nature and the outdoors
exactly as I said.

There is no desire to "bring attention" to myself involved in any of my
pwc'ing, just to have fun with friends and family and enjoy the outdoor
recreation I love. And by the way I ride with many other fellow pwc
enthusiasts and they all enjoy the same kinds of activities I listed a
moment ago. I describe them to make the point that you are apparently
basing your statements on outdated ignorant stereotypes if you think
that "jetskiing" is just about making runs back and forth along the
beach spraying people, "doing donuts" and showboating, I can tell you
from extensive personal experience that you are mistaken.



... The only real guaranteed difference between a pwc'er and a
non-pwc boater is in the size and shape of their vessels - you can't
tell anything else about 'em as people from just that.

Yes, you can tell that they are the type of person who likes a
jet-ski... ie the odds lean toward their being immature & careless, with
a love of attracting attention to themselves and a lack of regard for
others.

Bullslhit DSK...I'm telling you your description doesn't apply to me or
ANY of the
serious pwc enthusiasts I ride with. Lack of regard for others? Just
because you're
riding a pwc? I am respectful of all other boaters out on the water,
fully aware of and respecful of
all the rules of the road and regulations governing my boating
activities; I have to obey the same
laws, face the same risks and all the same nautical issues and
responsibilities that ANY other boater
does....and so is ANY experienced long-term pwc enthusiast, unless
they're just an idiot to begin with I guess.
Sure, a first-timer or rental operator (there are basically no more of
these here in NY state now that
a Boating Safety certification is legally required in order to operate
a pwc on NYS waters) is going to be
a lot more clueless and careless, and since pwc's are easier to begin
operating, and more affordable than larger boats,
it is true that it is easier for an idiot to get one or get onto one
than traditional boats and go around dong stupid things. But just like
with anything else, if they are serious about it and stay with it, they
will learn as they go along and before you know it, become courteous,
knowledgeable responsible boaters like anybody else out on the water
should.

It's not necessarily true that they are, but the odds are if they didn't
have at least a little of that in their personality, they wouldn't want
a jet-ski in the first place.

Bull****, utter bull****. You sound unbelievably arrogant. You can't
judge anything about
somebody's personality by whether they enjoy riding pwc as a form of
recreation on the water.

I mean, again, yes, there is a fun aspect to going fast on
one....exhiliration....I guess this
"part of someone's personality" can also contribute to them enjoying
waterskiing, riding in any
kind of power boat, surfing, millions of other recreational activities.
Is there something inherently
wrong with enjoying a little speed?

You obviously know NOTHING about pwc'ing or pwc'ers except for some
long-harbored grudge and prejudice.
I take your statements as personal insults and lies about me and my
friends
Again, I am glad to note that I don't encounter that kind of toxic,
mean-spritied attitude from actual
boaters I meet out on the water where we all share our enjoyment of
boating - only from virtual/online/newsgroup
boaters.

I am sure you've encountered idiotic clueless reckless pwc'ers doing
dopey things endangering themselves and others. Just as you and I have
on all kinds of bigger recreational boats....all the time, every
weekend.

richforman