I Hate Jet Skis

[gfspencer]

Yesterday I took the 23/3 out on a shakedown cruise.  (New rudder and new running rigging.)  There wasn't much wind but that was fine since I was getting used to the new rudder.  A few minutes into my sail I saw a jet ski bearing down on me.  I'll swear I thought he was going to broadside me.  At the last second he veered off and took several laps around my boat . . all the while laughing hysterically.  Great fun!  The wake that the jet ski created put me dead in the water for a few minutes.  Of course the jet ski was being ridden by two brain dead teenagers.  After they were finished with me they went on to harass a pontoon boat.  Why do some people get their kicks by making it miserable for everyone else?

On a sad note, the day before two teenagers on jet skis ran into each other.  One kid is still in the hospital.

I hate Jet Skis!!!

[MKBLK]

gf - Evil machines, they are! Tied up at the dock trying to do some tidying up, had to abandon ship because the rocking got so bad. These guys don't care. I recently took a USCG safety course - voluntarily. Several guys were there to get their jet-ski licenses - mandatory (PA - NJ). They hated every minute. Only cared about how quick they could get their license to go out and impress/harass other boaters. All about horsepower! You know somethings not right when you are required to wear a 55 mph + pdf!

Marty K.

[jpfx]

it's the people - not the machines.
however. my 'friend' in his powerboat once did a couple of laps around me while I was coming in to dock. I lost steerage way and ended up hard up against a lee shore. Had to get out and try and push/pull myself out. It wasn't easy even with the mildest breeze against me.
my friend wouldn't come close so I could throw a rope and get a haul out because he was scared of grounding.
however the boat didn't suffer at all and it was quite a funny story.

[Bob23]

   I can agree with most of the above and certainly moronic js operators are a case for legalizing grenade launchers but, lest we forget, the story I wrote a while back which was graciously published in "Messing About in Boats" which told of the rescue of our own PeterG by a Jet Skier.
   Being a motor head, I love the machines although I see no real reason for them to exist. I'll close my comment by saying that Earth is a wonderful planet except for some of the people living on it.
bob23

[jthatcher]

hey bob,  thanks for the balanced perspective on jet skis..    i have been known to spend some exciting moments on one   but, i would be quick to agree that there is a tendency for many jet ski operators to be a little reckless.    As a teacher, I am  reminded of the fact that frequently the agenda that i have as i enter the classroom is wildly different from the ones held by my students..   come to think of it.. that goes for parents and their teen children also ..  and,  it is certainly true for those who step aboard a sailboat for the afternoon compared with those who hop on a jet ski!   of course, the problem is that those of us on sailboats have life figured out, and it can be discouraging waiting for everyone else to catch up!   jt

[Billy]

.......... of course, the problem is that those of us on sailboats have life figured out, and it can be discouraging waiting for everyone else to catch up!   jt

Truer words have never been spoken!

[Bob23]

   Also true of us genius's. It can get boring waiting for the rest of the gene pool to catch up. Not that I'd know.
   Truly, they are very damaging to the shallow water ponds located in the salt marsh areas of our bays.

bob23

[chas5131]

When in Tortola I learned that if a jetski is brought into the BVI it is confiscated and the boat it came in on is also confiscated.   Must admit that I like that.

[jamato323]

Several years ago we bareboated in the BVI. There was a hand printed sign on the constable's door on Jost Van Dyke which
read something like "if you observe a 'wave jumper' please report it here as you would a firearm" yikes!

[kickingbug1]

    had a fishing buddy who kept a long rod in his boat with a one ounce "little george" basically a lead weight with a treble hook on it. when a jet ski or ski boat came too close when he was anchored fishing----well lets just say they better know how to duck or be wearing a helmet.

[nicktulloh]

    had a fishing buddy who kept a long rod in his boat with a one ounce "little george" basically a lead weight with a treble hook on it. when a jet ski or ski boat came too close when he was anchored fishing----well lets just say they better know how to duck or be wearing a helmet.

I hope you're joking. If I saw anybody do that we'd be having more than words.

[fawsr]

I'm sure nodie's chunking hooks at peeps ... in a similar vein though, I've been a powerboater all my life. I've been dabbling in sailing the last 6 or 8yrs ... Yesterday I was on the lake in my Sunbird and a few Jet Skis and several ski boats circled me close for no other apparent reason than fun ... for just a second, I was wishing I had something to chunk ... but then again, they were enjoying themselves too, just like I was ... just wish their pleasure didn't 'rock the boat' so much. 

[Bob23]

   Some of this conversation reminds me of the rude and ingnorant car drivers I'd occasionally encounter during my distance road bicycling days of yesteryear, before I was struck by vehicles twice and decided that it was safer on the water. These ignoramouses would intentionally throw stuff, yell, and swerve too close. How I yearned for a handlebar mounted rocket launcher! Come to think of it, they were probably on there way to run their Jetskiis!
   We tend to forget that Jetskiiers are people too. Most of 'em, anyway. In any group of people you get some good ones and you get some morons. Too bad it's the morons who always get the attention.
   bob23

[Keith]

And how about those damn snowboarders...

[brackish]

And how about those damn snowboarders...

Oh no! don't get me started!!  The one thing I can't figure out about them is why they seem to have to drop their boards and sit down RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE LIFT LINE ENTRANCE GATES!!! effectively blocking the entrances for those on skis who want to ski into the lift line without having to stop and pole.