I am a cruiser and have every right to post here and join in these
conversations. (I also participate in lots of forums maybe more
populated by more likeminded fellow boaters and pwc enthusiasts, but in
a way this is more engaging and challenging.) PWC's aren't toys by the
way, that's one of the first things that these irresponsible operators
who annoy all of us, have to learn first. They're boats - when they're
treated and looked on as toys, that's when a lot of the problems start.
And I'm not any kind of speed-obsessed freak if that's what you're
implying, I've no interest in motorcycles, fast cars or especially fast
pwc's (mine's fast enough to give a reasonably exhilirating ride but I
don't have to be the leader of the pack and am not by a long shot; I'm
not fueled by testosterone-gripped frenzy as you seem to imply, I am a
mature, responsible, grown adult boater with a wife and children. See?
I don't fit your stereotypes.

But I am a fellow cruiser, reasonably knowledgeable and experienced, I
have planned and executed many ambitious and challenging long-distance
cruises on the water like I talked about before. Probably more so than
most other pwc'ers but I'm hardly the only one doing it. I deal with
the same issues as any other cruising boater, I have to know how to
navigate my way where I'm going, plan fuel stops and be prepared for
any kind of contingency that might arise, know how to use gps and vhf
and read charts and avoid going aground or running afoul of law
enforcement, keep my passengers safe and comfortable, etc. etc. I
cruise out on the open ocean, next weekend I am planning a long ride
from Jones Beach, NY to Barnegat Inlet (have done it before) and beyond
for an overnight trip, busy making the plans and arrangements even now,
it's a passion of mine just like it is for many of you. Anyway my
interest in boat cruising is what takes me to rec.boats.cruising,
thanks very much. Last summer I spent a week cruising with my wife all
around the Thousand Islands area in the St. Lawrenece Waterway, we
visited and took pictures of all the state parks, castles, and dozens
of the beautiful islands and other attractions there from the water.
I'll link you to the album of hundreds of pictures my wife took. We
weren't breaking any speed records or causing any trouble, just happily
coexisting with the thousands of other boating enthusiasts out there.
One great trip was with three other friends, we launched in Ft.
Lauderdale and rode to Key West and back over a week on our pwc's,
stopping at a different on-water resort each night, living off our
boats, enjoying the mangrove trails and snorkeling at Pennekamp State
Park, stopping for lunch at restuurants, all our gas stops planned out
carefully and our eyes trained to our handlebar-mounted gps' for
navigation the whole time. I want to know if any of these even tinily
budges some of you guys' preconceived notions about pwc users and
usage. The greatest trip of all was a crossing to the Bahamas for a
four-day riding vacation, six of us on pwc's (some had their wife and
kids meet them there, although I was still a bachelor back then a few
years ago) with more exploring, touring, snorkeling, no aggressive
highspeed antics, just a beautiful open-ocean cruise I'll never forget,
four days of beautiful experiences on the water, and a nicely harrowing
stretch through a scary squall line on the way back, but we hung
together and made it fine - an adventure I"ll never forget. "THis is
a cruising newsgroup." That's why I came. I belong here, I am a
full-fledged cruising boater just like anybody, and I just will not lie
down and take any bullying, insulting or discriminatory comments, and I
won't step to the back of the bus, sorry fellas.

richforman