- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 775
- Messages
- 1,222
Ok, so this is our first summer with our boat back at Lake Norman - we kept our 30' cruiser there for 5yrs until 2006. I'm keeping it in a dry storage which is working out very well. Lake Norman - more so than Lake Tillery has plenty of nice places to anchor out for the day, restaurants you can take your boat to etc. But, it is not without the crazy and clueless - especially on a holiday weekend.
We passed completely on the 4th (stayed home and grilled a big juicy rare steak), but took the boat out on Saturday - my college age daughter drove over from Winston-Salem and met me for the day. Spent the day out on the boat and then dinner at The Landing - highly recommend if you are on Lake Norman. On the water, and when the dock space runs out, you anchor out front in the cove and the Tiki Pontoon boat shuttles you to/from the restaurant. So other than the normal craziness of a holiday weekend, here are the two things I saw that really stand out:
1. Sat AM leaving the marina, two men 30's in a tricked out ski boat with two small children (under 10). Boat is moving at no-wake speed, and the kids are sitting on the swim deck dragging their feet in the water. They did have on life jackets - I guess safety first!
2. Later - anchored out in a big cove around a shoal - there are two markers about 50yds apart, water is < 3ft between the markers, and drops of around - good place to anchor swim etc. A 24' ish deckboat shows up, two families on board - all 4 children < 10. They tie up to the shoal maker (nice touch) and proceed to swim etc, etc. About an hour in one of the dad's announces - "I'm going to start the engine to charge the battery, nothing should move". He cranks the engine (drive is tilted since they are in 3' of water, and let's the boat run with the wives and kids swimming right around the back of the boat like no big deal.
I just can imagine take this kind of risk with my kids (or anyone) I've seen what a boat propeller can do - I don't care what you think, it's just not worth the risk. I won't even go into the CO discussion - either way, just stupid!
3. I guess this is our miss queue of the day - I have been boating for 30+yrs and have never dropped much of anything in water - a small tool or two, but nothing that caused me much worry. So Saturday we are relaxing listening to music - daughter is laying on the back of the boat and I hear a clunk then a splash, then "Oh Sh!T". Her iPhone had just gone in the lake! First thought was to go after it, but the water was 20-25' and I figured 1) I would never find it 2) if I did it's probably done and 3) diving 20' into a murky lake with just a mask probably isn't a good idea. Good news is the insurance I've been paying on these phones is finally going to pay me - the new phone is supposed to arrive today.
All in all a decent weekend.
Our boating right now is my 20ft bowrider and daytrips, but it's been nice - I am very happy with how the dry storage is working. I just send a text and they launch the boat, or put it on a rack so I can work on it. The place I am at is one of the older Marinas on the north side of the lake (a Cobalt dealer). The two men that run the dry storage have been there for years, they have college kids helping, but only the men run the lift. So far not one issue - seem willing to do about anything you ask. Very careful in moving the boats around - docks well fendered etc, etc.
Hope everyone here had a good 4th also.
We passed completely on the 4th (stayed home and grilled a big juicy rare steak), but took the boat out on Saturday - my college age daughter drove over from Winston-Salem and met me for the day. Spent the day out on the boat and then dinner at The Landing - highly recommend if you are on Lake Norman. On the water, and when the dock space runs out, you anchor out front in the cove and the Tiki Pontoon boat shuttles you to/from the restaurant. So other than the normal craziness of a holiday weekend, here are the two things I saw that really stand out:
1. Sat AM leaving the marina, two men 30's in a tricked out ski boat with two small children (under 10). Boat is moving at no-wake speed, and the kids are sitting on the swim deck dragging their feet in the water. They did have on life jackets - I guess safety first!
2. Later - anchored out in a big cove around a shoal - there are two markers about 50yds apart, water is < 3ft between the markers, and drops of around - good place to anchor swim etc. A 24' ish deckboat shows up, two families on board - all 4 children < 10. They tie up to the shoal maker (nice touch) and proceed to swim etc, etc. About an hour in one of the dad's announces - "I'm going to start the engine to charge the battery, nothing should move". He cranks the engine (drive is tilted since they are in 3' of water, and let's the boat run with the wives and kids swimming right around the back of the boat like no big deal.
I just can imagine take this kind of risk with my kids (or anyone) I've seen what a boat propeller can do - I don't care what you think, it's just not worth the risk. I won't even go into the CO discussion - either way, just stupid!
3. I guess this is our miss queue of the day - I have been boating for 30+yrs and have never dropped much of anything in water - a small tool or two, but nothing that caused me much worry. So Saturday we are relaxing listening to music - daughter is laying on the back of the boat and I hear a clunk then a splash, then "Oh Sh!T". Her iPhone had just gone in the lake! First thought was to go after it, but the water was 20-25' and I figured 1) I would never find it 2) if I did it's probably done and 3) diving 20' into a murky lake with just a mask probably isn't a good idea. Good news is the insurance I've been paying on these phones is finally going to pay me - the new phone is supposed to arrive today.
All in all a decent weekend.
Our boating right now is my 20ft bowrider and daytrips, but it's been nice - I am very happy with how the dry storage is working. I just send a text and they launch the boat, or put it on a rack so I can work on it. The place I am at is one of the older Marinas on the north side of the lake (a Cobalt dealer). The two men that run the dry storage have been there for years, they have college kids helping, but only the men run the lift. So far not one issue - seem willing to do about anything you ask. Very careful in moving the boats around - docks well fendered etc, etc.
Hope everyone here had a good 4th also.