Personal Watercraft POLL!

[sabray]

I don't mind them as long as they are not operated anywhere near me.
Kinda like mosquito's. If I can't hear that buzz and their not trying to bite me They are not a problem. I have found that many of the operators are unqualified and clueless to regulation. The few I have confronted usually are surprised that they were irritating and operating unsafely. Like flying through a mooring field at 40mph.

[fishwife]

One can always hope that the Darwin principle will solve the problem in the end.

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by fishwife

One can always hope that the Darwin principle will solve the problem in the end.

Are you saying this because of their stated smaller penises, or the fact that they have a habit of doing themselves in?

Either way, DARWIN ALWAYS WINS!

[sailorgal]

Originally Posted by stevensc

We were at a nice quiet anchorage one afternoon (Ingram Bayou) when two guys on one of them started buzzing around making lots of noise and wake. Finally it stopped, then the driver swam up to my boat asking if I had a ratchet and socket set he could borrow, something was stuck in his impeller, "sorry I don't have any tools" I lied.
He had a phone in a waterproof case of some sort about an hour later some of his buddies showed up and towed him away. After Labor Day most but by no means all of them go into hibernation.
I agree there are lots of inconsiderate boaters around no matter what craft they are driving.
Steve

I've been anchored in Ingram Bayou a number of times. Great place! (we're in Pensacola).

As to PWCs -- I HATE THEM! Noisy, annoying, dangerous, driven by morons! What else can I say? I wish they were illegal. I think they are actually illegal in some National Parks. Used to be that they spit out a bunch of oil/gas that formed a film over the water. I don't know if the technology has changed, but I still hate them. They allow access to areas (shallow, quiet fish nurseries for example) that people should stay out of.

When I read recently that PWC were being rented out on Bora Bora, I was really bummed! I was there in 1981 and it was so beautiful. I can't imagine having to hear the incessant noise of PWCs in paradise. I won't go back there because I want to remember it the way it was.

[sec906]

There's nothing like a PWC to absolutely ruin the peace and quiet for hundreds of people along a mile or two of beach, and for dozens of people in a quiet anchorage. Nobody with an ounce of consideration and respect for others would be on a PWC in most places.

[S&S]

I claim the "tonnage rule" and refuse to alter course for them.

[Anzo]

I can like them just fine without liking everyone who uses one. My SeaDoo has 125hp and will do 65 mph easy. No brakes too! That said, anything that fast in the hands of inexperienced and/or morons can easily cause problems for everyone. While they can be annoying as hell, there's nothing that says my 'Rassy has any more right to a piece of water than my SeaDoo does. Almost exactly the same thing with fast sportbikes (which I also own). Can't stand alot of the riders, won't prevent me from enjoying mine, though.

[Reality Check]

They are illegal in the BVI......

But... lots of the locals have 75hp and up outboards on runabouts

I've seen some charter boat people through cans of beans at them.... as the pass within a few yards

[sandy daugherty]

Be kind: all PWC riders are earning some absolutely crippling back strains and will be incapable of reproducing in the near future.

[denverd0n]

I think the poll misses the point. PWCs are just another type of boat. They are an object, and nothing more. By themselves they sit there, completely still, doing nothing but being boring. It is the operator that makes all the difference.

The problem is that PWCs have a bit of a tendency to attract operators who are ignorant jerks. As such, there are slightly more ignorant jerks among PWC operators than among operators of sailboats and powerboats. But make no mistake, there ARE ignorant jerks among sailboat operators and powerboat opoerators. It is not the sailboat, the powerboat, or the PWC. It is ALWAYS the operator!

[Herbseesmoore]

reminds me of an old joke about Japanese bikes

PWC's are like (put your favorite derogatory term here) a lot of fun till somebody sees you on one!

Snortin Norton snob!

[Anzo]

Nortons coolest bikes there ever was!!

[Bash]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

The problem is that PWCs have a bit of a tendency to attract operators who are ignorant jerks. As such, there are slightly more ignorant jerks among PWC operators than among operators of sailboats and powerboats. But make no mistake, there ARE ignorant jerks among sailboat operators and powerboat opoerators. It is not the sailboat, the powerboat, or the PWC. It is ALWAYS the operator!

...the ignorant jerks operating sea kayaks tend to ruin far fewer anchorages for the rest of us.

Gotta love any boat that doesn't throw a rooster tail.

[sec906]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

I think the poll misses the point. PWCs are just another type of boat.

I'm not sure I agree.

PWC are in part designed to be very loud, and that is part of what attracts many of the operators. Few other boats are that loud, and if so it's not by design.

[James S]

I like them...I think they're cool...and I'd have one if the situation warranted.
As far as noisy and annoying....yes they are...so are helicopters, but they're also very cool and I want one as well.
Horses for courses...they have their place….they have sure been a help to beach lifeguards…or so it seems from some TV I’ve seen.

signed:
Small and Limp