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Aquah0lic · 20-01-2009, 15:26

Several times since I first started seeing dolphins, I've run over a lump in the water and the boat lists to one side slightly. It feels similar to brushing a manatee when your idling. It seems very unlikely that such a fast agile animal could be hit by such a slow boat but what else could it be? This happened in open water or wide deep channel, not a shoal area.

Aussiesuede · 20-01-2009, 15:39

My 400lb narcoleptic sister, Imelda, likes to scuba in the ICW. She occasionally falls asleep and ends up with unexplained bruises so.......it's possible.

forsailbyowner · 20-01-2009, 15:42

Your post brings back a sea monster memory I have. We were cruising up along everglades and something directly in front of the boat made a huge ungodly boil in the water then left a large wake heading offshore. I would think giant shark but you would have to have been there to believe the scale of the size of the disturbance in the water and wake in around ten foot depth. Yours could have been manatee, theyre not that fast or agile, Ive seen one get hit by a catamaran that was in a no wake zone right in front of a marina.

Aquah0lic · 20-01-2009, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsailbyowner

Your post brings back a sea monster memory I have. We were cruising up along everglades and something directly in front of the boat made a huge ungodly boil in the water then left a large wake heading offshore. I would think giant shark but you would have to have been there to believe the scale of the size of the disturbance in the water and wake in around ten foot depth. Yours could have been manatee, theyre not that fast or agile, Ive seen one get hit by a catamaran that was in a no wake zone right in front of a marina.

I didn't think there were manatees this far north, especially in Jan. It has happened 3 times in about 100 ICW miles. Twice right around Beaufort where I saw hundreds of dolphins.

pete33458 · 20-01-2009, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsailbyowner

Yours could have been manatee, theyre not that fast or agile, Ive seen one get hit by a catamaran that was in a no wake zone right in front of a marina.

Not that fast or agile? They throw a wake when they're in a hurry (like after you bump them with your Pearson 31 in the ICW...).

forsailbyowner · 20-01-2009, 16:12

Didnt catch your location no I wouldnt think they would be that far north

not that fast or agile, I lived with many manatees in snug harbor between tampa and st pete. During the winter they were around constantly. Never saw one move what I would call fast.

stevensc · 20-01-2009, 16:23

I often feel the turbulence created by dolphins as the dive under the boat, I have never felt an impact with the actual mamal. I did see one with a dorsal fin that looked like it had been shredded by a prop.
Steve

Aquah0lic · 20-01-2009, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsailbyowner

Didnt catch your location no I wouldnt think they would be that far north

not that fast or agile, I lived with many manatees in snug harbor between tampa and st pete. During the winter they were around constantly. Never saw one move what I would call fast.

I agree. I lived in WPB for 7 years and the only time I saw a manatee moving quick was when I hung the hose off the dock and they rushed over to get a drink.

pete33458 · 20-01-2009, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsailbyowner

Didnt catch your location no I wouldnt think they would be that far north

not that fast or agile, I lived with many manatees in snug harbor between tampa and st pete. During the winter they were around constantly. Never saw one move what I would call fast.

Manatees typically swim at 2-6 miles per hour, but are easily capable of sprinting to 15 miles per hour. Just because you've never seem one move fast doesn't mean they can't. They can.

twisty · 21-01-2009, 15:40

Aquaholic, we see Mantees here on Topsail quite few times a year, never heard of them around in the winter though, but who knows they may be, there is just no one around to see them this time of year.

Chief Engineer · 21-01-2009, 19:33

Could it be "square" grouper.

Maybe a small cetacean....whale?

Aquah0lic · 22-01-2009, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Could it be "square" grouper.

Maybe a small cetacean....whale?

square grouper? That must be what the fast food chains make their fish sandwich from.

I'm basically convinced that they were dolphins but I still think they could get out of the way if they wanted to. Maybe, they just wanted to rub against such a fine vessel so they could brag to their friends.

DeepFrz · 22-01-2009, 15:05

Are you sure that you are not bumping the bottom again?

twisty · 22-01-2009, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquah0lic

square grouper? That must be what the fast food chains make their fish sandwich from.

I'm basically convinced that they were dolphins but I still think they could get out of the way if they wanted to. Maybe, they just wanted to rub against such a fine vessel so they could brag to their friends.

We have a dolphin around here that if he sees you on the dock sweeping he will come up to be "scrubbed" by the broom. It is an amazing thing to see. So really you may not be that far off