|
Home | Forums | Gallery | Webcams | Blogs | YouTube Channel | Classifieds | Calendar | Register | FAQ | Donate | Members List | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
07-20-2009, 09:18 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,372
Thanks: 710
Thanked 758 Times in 393 Posts
|
Scary situation
A few days ago, our neighbors were out towing their grandkids on tubes out in Moultonborough Bay. A wooden boat came towards them, never slowing, getting closer and closer. It came within 10 feet of them, and the guy was looking right at them. The name of the boat was either the Margaret Ann or Magdeline Ann.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Why would anyone do this on purpose? It makes me think twice about taking my young nephew and nieces out tubing if someone is out there deliberately jeopardizing tubers safety. |
07-20-2009, 09:26 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,296
Thanks: 67
Thanked 166 Times in 126 Posts
|
The driver was either blind or stupid.
I'm not trying to "blame the victim" but it would have been wise for your neighbors to take evasive action before he got that close. |
07-20-2009, 09:45 AM | #3 | |
Deceased Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Gilford, NH
Posts: 2,311
Thanks: 1,070
Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts
|
Quote:
However, the single biggest problem I see on the lake is irresponsible boaters that are towing "tubers" . I can't count the times some dope with kids in tow totally ignores the rules. They seem to either don't know or ignore the fact that they are subject to all the same rules all boats need to obey. I think, that they think, they have some sort of special rules because they have someone in tow. They don't. They are required to obey all of the 150' and "give way" rules. http://boat-ed.com/nh/handbook/ski.htm
__________________
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown |
|
07-20-2009, 10:01 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro
Posts: 5,788
Thanks: 2,085
Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts
|
Wooden Boat? Uh-oh...
I have three neighbors who are sighted in only one eye. (!)
The neighbor I know best collides occasionally with cars pulling out of curbside parking spaces to the right. Because it is perfectly legal to drive having sight in just one eye, he has never been charged in those R.O.W. collisions. One other neighbor, here on Lake Winnipesaukee, would alarm most of us with the choice of his dreamed-for performance boat! Now for the "Uh-oh"... The economy keeps him in his old, wooden classic 26-footer. Speaking of tubers, I saw one skipper last week who stood astride the helm, occasionally glancing over his shoulder ahead, then alternately turning to smile proudly at his gifted offspring. I couldn't see any "observers".
__________________
Every MP who enters Winter Harbor will pass by my porch of 67 years... |
07-20-2009, 10:04 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Moultonboro, NH
Posts: 1,657
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 342
Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts
|
I had a similar incident a few years ago with the Margaret Ann, up near Ganzy Island. Came right at me from the left front quadrant (where I had stand-on rights). I pulled it back to neutral and he ended up passing about 20 feet from me at full speed. Old boat, maybe he DOES own the lake.
__________________
-lg |
Sponsored Links |
|
07-20-2009, 10:48 AM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,932
Thanks: 2,290
Thanked 4,941 Times in 1,917 Posts
|
Morons On The Loose
Quote:
Whew...That felt good! Dan |
|
07-20-2009, 11:03 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hudson - NH
Posts: 408
Thanks: 233
Thanked 212 Times in 88 Posts
|
Another one....
It was a great weekend on the lake. We were heading back to the marina in Paugus bay Sunday evening around 5:30 PM we witnessed a family pulling a tube towards the Wiers right in the middle of all the boats. I thought that was a poor choice by the driver but it is their right to the lake. Then we could not believe it when they continued right through the channel with a child on the tube (tow rope extended to around 60+ feet). We ended up being several boats behind. I was concerned that the fast flow may swing the tube into the oncoming boat traffic but they made it okay.
Is it only me thinking that this was a stupid action? I can't help being aggravated about the risk they introduced to everyone in the channel if something were to go wrong. I felt like I should have done something but you can not change stupid. |
07-20-2009, 11:24 AM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,072
Thanks: 336
Thanked 342 Times in 158 Posts
|
getting bad out there
Quote:
I sat on the dock and watched boat traffic yesterday and said outloud, "there are going to be some real serious accidents this year".
__________________
GTO |
|
07-20-2009, 11:56 AM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee
Posts: 2,825
Thanks: 1,016
Thanked 880 Times in 514 Posts
|
Quote:
Skip any words of Wisdom or obscure RSA that you know off here????
__________________
Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island..... |
|
07-20-2009, 12:06 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle)
Posts: 388
Thanks: 125
Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts
|
Cap'n Boneheads Everywhere
Saturday I was coming across the Broads from Wolfboro and just happened to be explaining what a "Captain Bonehead" was to one of my guests. We had our eye on a med-sized boat that was coming towards us from the port quarter and not slowing down or making moves to avoid.
Figuring we had a prime example of Cap'n Bonehead on our hands, I cut back throttle to let the joker pass. To our amazement, this tarter-head stops his boat directly in front of us, no more than 100 foot away and starts rooting around for something down in his cabin. After a few seconds, he reappars, guns the engine and takes off up the Broads. I don't think he ever realized that we were there. Never assume anyone knows what they're doing. |
07-20-2009, 03:47 PM | #11 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pelham, NH
Posts: 19
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
Yesterday I passed someone pulling their kid on a tube through the Weirs channel. He was at no wake at least.
|
07-20-2009, 03:59 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 301
Thanks: 539
Thanked 39 Times in 23 Posts
|
Cap'n Boneheads
We took the trip to Wolfeboro on Friday on the Mount and I couldn't believe how many boats were cutting across the bow and really close. One went acrsss the stern and could have been more than 50 feet away.
|
07-20-2009, 04:02 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 1,615
Thanks: 256
Thanked 514 Times in 182 Posts
|
Tubing regulations.....
Quote:
Both the boat and the towed individual are legal if both are observing all applicable boating regulations. Crazy but true..... |
|
07-20-2009, 06:31 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
lost tuber
without anyone getting hurt i would like to see the tuber in the weirs channel break free during this current and watch the ensuing panic of the idiot father seeing his son swept downstream while other boats try to miss him. OOOOH WHAT A SIGHT ! Then again, someone stupid enough to do that would just shrug it off.
|
07-20-2009, 08:15 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Laconia NH
Posts: 5,512
Thanks: 3,118
Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts
|
Towing regulation?
Quote:
__________________
Someday may never be an actual day. |
|
07-21-2009, 08:06 AM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 262
Thanks: 0
Thanked 23 Times in 11 Posts
|
Quote:
Right on the money! Over the years, I have had this conversation with MANY friends/aquaintances, most of whom are experienced boaters and safety-concious. They thought the fact that they had someone in tow gave them the right of way. |
|
07-21-2009, 08:12 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Isola Gatto Nero
Posts: 696
Thanks: 162
Thanked 263 Times in 81 Posts
|
Please, no more laws, reasonable, prudent or otherwise. I saw some chucklehead right about in front of Shed Brown's a week or so ago towing two kids on a tube with his jetski and no spotter. He was all alone without a care in the world. Every now and again he would turn around to check if they were still there. There is a law against that but this guy certainly had no clue of its existence. More laws won't help. To steal somebody's tag line, "You can't cure stupid".
__________________
La vita è buona su Isola Gatto Nero |
07-21-2009, 08:22 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,372
Thanks: 710
Thanked 758 Times in 393 Posts
|
Characteristic bad boating by the Margaret Ann operator
Thank you all for your responses. I got more info on the situation.
My neighbor, who I know to be extremely conscientious, took his grandkids out at 9 am on a weekday to take advantage of the low boat traffic and calm waters. Apparently, there were no other boats in sight, yet the Maragaret Ann came right for them. The evasive action he took was to power the boat down to neutral. As the many stories here can attest, there are plenty of irresponsible boaters who don't yield, or don't know when to yield, when towing people (or not towing people). From what Lakegeezer says, the owner of the Margaret Ann seems to be one of them. I hope he isn't boating recklessly deliberately, but it sounds like he has endangered the safety of a few boaters. So, if you are out on the lake and see the Margaret Ann coming towards you, take evasive actions, quickly, and if you can't, close your eyes, say a prayer, and for your sake, I hope you had the foresight to bring a change of underwear. |
07-21-2009, 08:46 AM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 2,836
Thanks: 326
Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts
|
Just for your info.....it is illegal to tow a tube in a channel. I've seen the MP stop people for it.
Also have a "bonehead" story.........Skier in the water waiting for power. Along comes a rental pontoon boat with 6-8 Asian men, all in long sleeved white shirts and long black slacks. All standing and all with a drink in hand. The captain was weaving deliberately, just fooling around and all were laughing and having a good time. Only problem was, they were heading right for my skier.......fortunately, I had time to quickly circle to protect her and they passed within 30' at about 20mph which was about WOT for a 50HP. Still shaking my head over that one even though it was several years ago. Don't know if they were a religious group, conventioners or what. Makes me wary of rental boats. |
07-21-2009, 09:15 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Weirs Beach
Posts: 1,949
Thanks: 80
Thanked 969 Times in 432 Posts
|
Samiam...
Can you point to a specific RSA that indicates towing a tube through a channel (with a person on it) or some similar device is illegal? I looked and could not find anything. I would guess that the MP stop you witnessed was to :advise: the boat operator that towing a tube through a channel was'nt exactly "wise". I too have seen the family bonehead out for a tube with the little ones with absolutely no regard for the safety of the child(ren) or other boaters... Bonehead #1 - Tows child on tube through Weirs Channel (Inbound to Paugus Bay) 4th of July weekend 3 years ago... fast current and LOTS of boats! Bonehead #2 - Tows 2 kids on Banana Boat (very easy to fall off) through the slot between Eagle Is & Governors Is... Bonehead #3 - Thinks that tubing off Marker #1 in the Weirs is a good idea on a busy saturday afternoon in August! So many small coves and bays and these morons need to risk thier kids safety to tube through busy areas! Woodsy
__________________
The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid. |
07-21-2009, 11:35 AM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 2,836
Thanks: 326
Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts
|
Think you're right, Woodsy......I couldn't find anything either. As I remember, they used that stop to do a safety check, as well.
|
07-22-2009, 11:12 AM | #22 |
Senior Member
|
It's good to see all is calm and quiet on the lake this year
Funny how not much has changed, including the MP's propensity to seemingly never be in the right spot at the right time. I'm sure those that have been shadowed by the MP, or have seen their tricks first hand, are delighted to hear these stories |
07-23-2009, 09:11 AM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 19 Mile Bay
Posts: 147
Thanks: 0
Thanked 90 Times in 29 Posts
|
Skip's almost right
The towing rules for people - as the RSAs read - that's RSA 270:d-3
1. Without a special permit, one may tow a maximum of two people, regardless of the number of objects. For example, two tubes, with two riders on each tube, is illegal (4 people). 2. You need an appropriate observer for each person. For example, one tube, with two riders, requires two observers. So - it's always the number of people that count! The one I love most is the inflatable "torpedo" with six kids on it, wearing only old ski belts, and one 10 year old observer. Argh. 3. There is no rule against towing someone through a channel as long as other navigation rules are observed. For example, if you tow through the Graveyard and you are the only boat there, have at it. You're good unless you meet another boat and have to slow down to comply with the safe passage rule. The Weirs Channel is a posted "no wake" area, so you would have to tow at headway speed (if you were dumb enough to try it). If I were still an MP officer, I'd likely not worry too much about the Graveyard guy. In the crowded Weirs Channel, I could easily construe such a maneuver as creating a hazard to navigation and take enforcement action that way. Either way though, towing anywhere but open water is one of the hallmarks of Capt Bonehead! Last edited by skprbob; 07-23-2009 at 12:36 PM. Reason: adding the RSA |
07-23-2009, 12:48 PM | #24 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 283
Thanks: 1
Thanked 66 Times in 38 Posts
|
Quote:
I thought of this rule yesterday when I was reading my local newspaper and they had a picture of 3 kids having fun on a tube on Cobbets Pond in Windham. Those 3 kids would be in Juvenile detention if they tried that on Winni 20 years ago I used to tow a person on a tube using 1 person stand up JetSki. Didn't need a spotter, when they fell off you picked up 10MPH speed instantly |
|
Bookmarks |
|
|