courtesy on the water

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

So the past few weekends I've taken a new philosophy while on the water. All I did last year was gripe and complain about people flying past us or slowing down to throw rollers or riding just in front of us and mucking up our smooth water. So this year I said to my partner let's do something different. So when I see another rider coming and we're not pulling anyone I stop and ease to the side of the river. If we end up in front of someone trying to ride we pull to the side and let them pass. If we see someone down in the water or a newbie trying to get up we slow to idle for them. Over the past two weekends we have noticed people have started doing the same for us. I fell in front of this other boat. They slipped to idle and crept past us. We were trying to teach a new person to ride and others noticed he was having trouble getting up so they all slowed to idle or just simply stopped for a minute. Anybody else tried this on their lake instead of just b1tching about the other boats? Seems common courteous might be contagious. Just thought it was interesting. Now getting the bass boats and water roaches to act right is another story.

savage3221 · Posted: Jun 01, 2010 6:00 pm Post subject:

Absolutely, and a great job to directly affect the actions of others on your waterway. I always make sure to practice such courtesies for others because it frustrates me so much when people do it to me. People almost always notice when you are nice to them, so they will at least be nice to you, and eventually it bleeds out to everyone.

Props, Kudos, or whatever you want to say.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jun 01, 2010 6:13 pm Post subject:

Last summer was pretty bad a$$ed. Me and one of my brothers got up about every Sat. and Sun. morning right as the sun came up. We ride on a very small lake, little more then a pond really. Every time there was a crew of old school skiers on the lake. We'd let 2 of their riders take a couple turns around the lake, then they would park let us take a couple turns, back and forth till the wind and other boats started showing up.

mobywake · Criminal Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 52 City: Fort Worth

we do the same same on our boat as well. The fisherman on our lake are bitter which is disappointing because we try to stay away from them. They still have choice words when we get to close for their liking.

and kudos for spreading the good courtesy

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

the bass boats are the worst, they fish in a river that is about 100 yards wide and then get pi$$ed that our rollers almost roll them out of the boat, they have thousands of acres of open water but when they fish up in the river they get mad, not sure how we can get along with them

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

We try to kind of follow the "Golden Rule" as well. Sometimes others catch on and sometimes they don't. If it gets too bad in the area we're riding, we just work ourselves out to another area. We've noticed that trying to lead by example and/ or leaving when someone else is messing up the water is less stressfull for us and sometimes teaches others.

We had some interesting looks and even got flipped off once Saturday. The cove we were riding in was getting a little busy and we were having to maneuver around a couple people. One family was near where we turn around and they seemed to give us a dirty look when we looped around by them. They were getting ready to wakeboard themselves, in and older Sport Nautique. We passed them a couple times running one side of the cove, turning around and going right back through our line. They proceeded to get their rider up and run a big circle around the cove. Laughing

Definitely more used to skiing than boarding. I was hoping our example would catch on with them, but I'm not sure they got it.

Another time we turned around a little deep into the cove and got a little close to some folks that were parked. Still plenty far away. I waved and kinda tried to mouth and yell sorry. The one dude in the water just flipped us off.

It's interesting the dynamic out there on the water. Being courteous always does good, even if it is just for your own sanity.

CephalopodOverlord · Newbie Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

I've noticed other boarders can be pretty cool. It's the morons with tubes that are the real problem. On my lake there's one family/boat that just doesn't seem to get the rules. They're constantly making S-es, creating rollers that go everywhere, and some times not following the counter-clockwise around the lake guideline. The worst offenders of all though are jet-skiers. Ripping every which way across the lake turning beautiful conditions into nearly too much chop to ride. And following way too close behind boats towing someone just so they can hit the wake. It's an accident waiting to happen.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

One thing I remember is that I don't own the lake. Everyone has a right to have fun and it isn't anyone else's responsibility to provide me with smooth water. The only thing I get upset about any more is things that are dangerous. Jet skiers following closely behind the boat when we're pulling a rider will cause problems with me. Anything else I just firgure out a way to deal with it.

People that don't board don't understand that boarding on smooth water is better. If you get the opportunity, try to educate them. I'm sure with the right approach, the response will be positive.

We were talking about this Saturday when we were out. We had some friends with us that were unaware if the desire for smooth water. When we started talking about it, the wife said "Oh really? I always thought skiers and boarders wanted the rough water because it gave them something to jump off of". That sentence kind of put things in perspective for me.

CephalopodOverlord · Newbie Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

I don't care if the water is getting ripped up by lots of boats running up and down the lake following the guidelines, it's when it is a direct result of the idiots who think they own the water that it gets to me. You'd think that by watching everyone else go up one side of the lake and down the other that people would realize that there's a reason for this. Some people really are just that dense and no amount of talking will change their attitude. They think it's their right to do what they want for THEIR rider, to hell with the other boats.

When it starts getting too bad I just park it until it settles down. I've all but quit going on weekends unless I feel like having a picnic. It's infinitely better from mid-afternoon until dusk on a weekday.

Medina · Posted: Jun 03, 2010 12:33 am Post subject:

Great social behaviour, thats how it should be! Smile

mala1967 · Outlaw Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Posts: 155 City: Pepper Pike

We go out at the crack of dawn get a few sets in till the Yahoos get there and chop the whole lake up.Then the kids tube for the rest of the day and get another couple of sets in the evening.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 1:43 pm Post subject:

mala1967, that is the BEST way to do it if you have time then. I totally agree. Takes a lot of stress off and keeps you away from potentially dangerous drivers. Wink

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 1:44 pm Post subject:

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Yeah, it's kind of funny AND it puts it in perspective doesn't it? I think we can be quick to get upset and think people are being rude to us or they are blockheads, when in reality they just are ignorant to the fact that we want smooth water and there are things they can do that would help the situation.

eXtreme Burrito! · Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 5

As a family that has owned Jet Ski's before purchasing a boat, I can really attest and say that there are a lot of Jet Skiers/Renters out there that simply shouldn't be.

I used to enjoy going to open lakes that allowed Jet Skiers free reign on the water, but after moving into BOATing, I stick to lakes that have designated Jet Ski Areas so I don't have to put up with them.

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

ok, so my karma didn't work out yesterday, went out on dawn patrol and was riding down the main levee where the only smooth water was, well some bass fisherman was out there too fishing off the levee, we passed him and were at least 50 yards away, my driver comes back around to pick me up because i fell about the time we passed him, bass dude comes creeping by throwing a big wake and then cuts a u-turn and proceeds to do a big horseshoe around us cutting the biggest wake he can, what a d1ck move, and the a$$hole was staring us down the whole time to boot, my driver crept back by him to pick me so it's not like we were powerturning and jacking up the water or something, like I said these bass fishermen are worse than jetskis

WilsonH · Posted: Jun 06, 2010 8:46 am Post subject:

slidin_out, next time just ram him up on shore with your boat and i bet he'd leave you alone for the rest of the season atleast Smile

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

I'm about to the point where I just can't be nice to them any more.

nickl011 · Posted: Jun 06, 2010 5:17 pm Post subject:

Nate54SoCal · Newbie Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 31 City: LA

I think I'm on board with what everybody has said. I am always respectful of the waterways, but let's get serious, people just don't have a clue 90% of the time. So far this year I've had a jet skier try to jump my wake while my buddy was boarding and I've been pulled over by the ranger because a bass boat guy said I was too close to him (60 yds away). I can't even begin with tubers. Not sure if it's original, but my friend said it best, "tubers are like zombies, always uninvited, mindless, and they seem to always know where you are hiding."