"Scout" wrote:
Jon and Joe - I want to thank you and others here for giving me some
constructive criticism and sound advice for dealing with this event.


Is that what they were doing? I keep expecting to hear the teacher say
"Boys, get up from your desks and go sit in opposite corners."

There is some positive info, I guess... the requirement to report
accidents, some suggestions about how to deal with dangerous behavior
by others...



I posted my original message without much introduction, which may have been
a mistake. I had hoped to get some honest feedback without having to type a
long narrative, so I copied and pasted the letter that I sent to the
captains of the boat in question.

Did the job for me.

..... I'm not one to make up a story just
to stir trouble; the captain of that ship endangered my crew and greatly
alarmed us; I felt that no undue hardship would be caused him by the group's
discussion of the rights and responsibilities of large, fast moving boats in
narrow channels. Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned the name of the boat,
but at the time I wrote that piece I didn't exactly feel that I owed them
any courtesies.


Agreed again. In fact, I think that people who behave in such a way
*should* expect the public to bandy their names around.



I have not heard back from the company and I don't expect that I will unless
I push this further. I have written a formal letter of complaint and sent it
via USPS to the USCG because I was unsure of what else I could do.


In my experience, a video camera does a LOT to enforce reasonable
behavior in others. Your letter is a great idea, but it might be more
effective if you sent it to one of the directors of the finance
company that actually owns that boat.... would take some digging
around to find out who that is. If they are aware that they might be
liable, and will have their names dragged thru the mud, they might
tell the captain to shape up.... or just let him go. Lots of captains
on the beach, looking for jobs.

Frankly, I think a lot of power boaters are inconsiderate & impatient
fools, and that's why they wake other boats. A large number (probably
a minority) do in fact know that their wakes are very unpleasant and
potentially dangerous, but either don't care ("I'm in a hurry!") or
think it's funny. I've had a few power boaters that I spoke to, after
wake incidents, tell me that it would be *my* fault for not having a
boat that was "seaworthy enough."

Some places are very serious about enforcement. For example, on the
upper Hudson, local police boats will ticket wakers. In some of the
canal & river systems, a radio complaint to the next bridge or lock
will cause the bridge and/or lock keeper to hold up that boat; you can
meet him & the sheriff and tell them exactly what happened. In a case
like this, a videotape of the incident would be a perfect indictment.


I want nothing from this captain other than to make him more aware others
near him. I seek no wrath of God (Dave), I want no money, credits,
apologies, or compensation of any sort. I just want him to slow down before
someone is seriously hurt or killed.


Oh c'mon, you wouldn't turn down money.... or an apology... would ya?


Fresh Breezes- Doug King