What does it take

Silver Duck · 07-12-2004, 06:53 PM

for people to learn that it's dangerous to let kids ride on the bow of a boat?

Yesterday afternoon I was heading out of Alton Bay, getting tossed around like a cork in a hurricane, when I saw two small children riding one on each side of the bow pulpit of an old, small cruiser.

The kids were hanging on to the bow rail with one hand and waving to passing boats with the other - and what looked to be momma was right up there with them, but not even holding on. It looked like they were riding a mechanical bull! AARRGH!

Silver Duck

jrc · 07-13-2004, 09:30 AM

I think I saw the same boat. Was it a faded gray or purple 20-something crusier. At least five people on the bow, four little kids and one adult. All the kids had there legs dangling over the bow, only one had a life jacket on. They were moving along pretty quick, any fall would have had tragic results.

The sad thing is we both passed a marine patrol near Little Mark, the MP seemed to follow both of us as we rounded the point and headed towards Roberts Cove. I went into the cove and the MP followed me, the cruiser headed towards Barndoor. To be fair, the MP probably couldn't see their bow clearly except for a minute when they passed him.

donnamatrix · 07-13-2004, 09:34 AM

Unfortunately, we see this all the time, including Saturday between Pine and Bear: a woman riding on the bow, no lifejacket... but obviously a death wish.
An even more frightening sight was in the Weirs Channel on Saturday afternoon. As this boat entered the Big Lake from Paugus Bay, two dogs (no life jackets) were on the padded area of the stern of a Baja or similar boat. Just one big wake would have tossed them into the prop. I worried about them all the way home. Hope they're okay

VarneyPoint · 07-13-2004, 10:57 AM

I saw this same boat from my jetski as I was sitting in the mouth of Alton Bay. What is truly ridiculous (besides the kids riding on the bow) is that the MP was sitting there before the boat came into view. The boat cruised right by and the MP didn't move a muscle and then proceeded towards Roberts Cove. I was completely shocked. Either the MP was "busy" doing paper work or he just didn't care. I considered going over the the MP to tell him because it was truly a safety issue, but decided that I am not on the lake to do the MP's job for them.

Silver Duck · 07-13-2004, 06:14 PM

jrc

Yup, same boat, same visually-challenged MP officer.

Since I haven't seen any tragic news stories, I guess they got away with it (thank God!)

Silver Duck

JoeP · 07-14-2004, 06:32 AM

Saw the same boat and the same MP. The patrol boat and I were less than 150' so I dropped to headway speed. Two (yes 2!) boats came barreling out of Alton Bay between us. White haired fellow driving the MP boat. Couldn't believe he didn't stop either boat. He inadvertantly taught my kids a great lesson - don't listen to your old man about the rules - they don't apply on this lake.

07-12-2004, 06:53 PM	#1
Silver Duck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Billerica, MA Posts: 364 Thanks: 40 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	What does it take for people to learn that it's dangerous to let kids ride on the bow of a boat? Yesterday afternoon I was heading out of Alton Bay, getting tossed around like a cork in a hurricane, when I saw two small children riding one on each side of the bow pulpit of an old, small cruiser. The kids were hanging on to the bow rail with one hand and waving to passing boats with the other - and what looked to be momma was right up there with them, but not even holding on. It looked like they were riding a mechanical bull! AARRGH! Silver Duck

07-13-2004, 09:34 AM	#3
donnamatrix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 833 Thanks: 24 Thanked 258 Times in 120 Posts	So Unsafe Unfortunately, we see this all the time, including Saturday between Pine and Bear: a woman riding on the bow, no lifejacket... but obviously a death wish. An even more frightening sight was in the Weirs Channel on Saturday afternoon. As this boat entered the Big Lake from Paugus Bay, two dogs (no life jackets) were on the padded area of the stern of a Baja or similar boat. Just one big wake would have tossed them into the prop. I worried about them all the way home. Hope they're okay

07-14-2004, 06:32 AM	#6
JoeP Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Walpole MA and Moultonborough Neck Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Same boat/same MP Saw the same boat and the same MP. The patrol boat and I were less than 150' so I dropped to headway speed. Two (yes 2!) boats came barreling out of Alton Bay between us. White haired fellow driving the MP boat. Couldn't believe he didn't stop either boat. He inadvertantly taught my kids a great lesson - don't listen to your old man about the rules - they don't apply on this lake.

07-13-2004, 09:30 AM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I think I saw the same boat. Was it a faded gray or purple 20-something crusier. At least five people on the bow, four little kids and one adult. All the kids had there legs dangling over the bow, only one had a life jacket on. They were moving along pretty quick, any fall would have had tragic results. The sad thing is we both passed a marine patrol near Little Mark, the MP seemed to follow both of us as we rounded the point and headed towards Roberts Cove. I went into the cove and the MP followed me, the cruiser headed towards Barndoor. To be fair, the MP probably couldn't see their bow clearly except for a minute when they passed him.

07-13-2004, 10:57 AM	#4
VarneyPoint Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MA Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I saw this same boat from my jetski as I was sitting in the mouth of Alton Bay. What is truly ridiculous (besides the kids riding on the bow) is that the MP was sitting there before the boat came into view. The boat cruised right by and the MP didn't move a muscle and then proceeded towards Roberts Cove. I was completely shocked. Either the MP was "busy" doing paper work or he just didn't care. I considered going over the the MP to tell him because it was truly a safety issue, but decided that I am not on the lake to do the MP's job for them.

07-13-2004, 06:14 PM	#5
Silver Duck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Billerica, MA Posts: 364 Thanks: 40 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	jrc Yup, same boat, same visually-challenged MP officer. Since I haven't seen any tragic news stories, I guess they got away with it (thank God!) Silver Duck