Bear Boarding Boats in the North Channel

[mottseng]

I have often thought about all of you sailing in the ocean and all the marine life that can harm you, and counted my blessings sailing the fresh water great lakes. Then this bear thing came up!!!

[introverted]

Those morons feeding the bear from their boat deserve to be sunk... in ice cold water. Teaching these "cute" wild and extremely dangerous animals to not fear humans is unthinkably irresponsible. The next cruiser to meet that bear is going to wake up in the morning with a 800 pound polar bear expecting breakfast served on a platter.

Early in this thread, of which I have not read all, someone made the suggestion of spraying a fire extinguisher in a bears face as means to protect oneself. That is only going to get you killed. I highly suggest bear spray or proper firearm... Hopefully you don't run in to any of the bears the fools in that video have trained to expect boat side feedings.

[captainkiel]

That's crazy. My parents are keeping their boat up in Petoskey, MI this winter and are planning on heading to the North Channel in the summer. They have boated in St. Louis their entire lives so they are in awe by the beauty of northern Michigan. I plan on flying up and spending a weekend or so boating with them around the North Channel. They did mention bears boarding boats and I didn't give it much thought. I guess now I will.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Kiel.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by introverted

Early in this thread, of which I have not read all, someone made the suggestion of spraying a fire extinguisher in a bears face as means to protect oneself. That is only going to get you killed.

Yet in post 66 there is some evidence that a fire extinguisher was effective. Do you have some evidence to the contrary?

I would have thought a CO2 extinguisher rather effective if the bear is close enough to climb on the boat, they produce a non breathable gas which is very cold and a heck of a lot of noise. People tend to drop them the first time they use a CO2 extinguisher due to the above.

Pete

[captainkiel]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Kiel.

Thanks for having me!

[introverted]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Yet in post 66 there is some evidence that a fire extinguisher was effective. Do you have some evidence to the contrary?

And post 66 is empirical evidence? No, I've never tried to ward off a bear with a fire extinguisher. I doubt a fire extinguisher has ever been closer than a quarter mile from me any time I've been in eye-shot of a bear. I did poke in a 20 yard chip shot from a bunker with my putter one time though. I'm Not sure that makes it the best tool for the job, though... Don't tell my golf buddies, but that was pure luck.