What Is Wrong With People?

GeeBee

GeeBee

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The other day I was coming down lake and saw a runabout with his engine cover lifted. I pulled the throttle, circled back and asked the skipper if he needed help. He said , "Thanks but I have my neighbor coming to give me a tow, raw water pump failed". He further said, "You are the first guy to stop for me, this lake used to be better than that".

Yesterday, I ran on of my PWCs over to Bald Ridge marina for fuel. I cleared the no wake zone and was heading out of Bald Ridge Creek, about 1/2 mile later I see something strange in the water. It looks like a jacket or PFD afloat. I spin a 180 and get closer. It is a man with a bucket hat on clutching a yellow Lab. They are about 150' off the shore. I said, "Are you OK?" with a thumbs up signal. He shouts "Yes" and gives me the thumbs up. I get closer and he explains it is a service dog he is training and it needs to learn to assist the master should he/she fall in the water. Now Bald Ridge creek is a busy place and I saw at least 4 boats pass him before I got there.

Are people that self absorbed they won't even stop to check on people now? No wonder drownings are at record levels on my lake!
 
I am always fiddling with something on my boat and have the engine hatch up - rarely does anyone stop and ask if I need help. OTH I probably tow or help someone at least once a year -- it's just what I have always done. If you need a tow and I can do it I will - yeah liability blah blah - if you try to sue me for helping you - then fark you and your horse! Funny thing a few years ago, early spring I am out and see a guy waving in a 240 Sundeck - he had just put it in and it quit on him. I towed him about 2 miles to his house - I get him to the dock and am just waiting for a min to make sure he gets tied up etc. He thinks I am waiting for money and tries to give me a $20 -- he is almost surprised when I refuse.
I have made a few friends on the lake just helping people - it's just what I was taught growing up around the lake.

As far as drowning, I just don't understand that - the rules are simple:
If you can't swim wear a life jacket.
If you CAN swim, wear a life jacket - at least never get in the lake without a lifejacket or some type of float in hand.
I boat mostly alone and would never get in the lake without a life jacket on.
If you have a small open boat, wear the cutoff lanyard - it's the law now for boats less than 26ft.

There is an old saying I got from my father, he was a private pilot and avid boater:

"The air like the sea can be extremely unforgiving to those who fail to respect them".
 
Look at it from another perspective. Everyone is in constant communication. GB, you were 0 for 2 in helping people when asked. One guy already called / texted his neighbor and help was on the way instantly. We do the same at our marina, when someone breaks down, we get a phone call, grab the work boat and assist.

Last weekend I saw two people being towed. One was definitely a stranger, we helped tie up the disabled boat and saw the tow person on the creek an hour later, she asked how the poor guy was doing. The other was a jetski towing a jetski, I don't know if they were friends.

Things used to be different. If you had a VHF, you'd have to hail someone and ask them to call a friend (or sea tow). But most people just sat and waited. Think about road trips, do you stop and ask if cars on the road need help? I know lately I've only done it if I saw the person pull over.....and that's rare. I assume they have a working cell phone. I did pass someone recently, he looked to be in his eighties....I hesitated to stop, felt bad so instead I called the local police non-emergency number asking for a health check on the guy. I later read in the paper the car was gone when the police arrived. Glad it was nothing.
 
A guy in the water hugging a dog does not have instant communication, why did all those boats pass him?
 
GeeBee said:
The other day I was coming down lake and saw a runabout with his engine cover lifted. I pulled the throttle, circled back and asked the skipper if he needed help. He said , "Thanks but I have my neighbor coming to give me a tow, raw water pump failed". He further said, "You are the first guy to stop for me, this lake used to be better than that".

Yesterday, I ran on of my PWCs over to Bald Ridge marina for fuel. I cleared the no wake zone and was heading out of Bald Ridge Creek, about 1/2 mile later I see something strange in the water. It looks like a jacket or PFD afloat. I spin a 180 and get closer. It is a man with a bucket hat on clutching a yellow Lab. They are about 150' off the shore. I said, "Are you OK?" with a thumbs up signal. He shouts "Yes" and gives me the thumbs up. I get closer and he explains it is a service dog he is training and it needs to learn to assist the master should he/she fall in the water. Now Bald Ridge creek is a busy place and I saw at least 4 boats pass him before I got there.

Are people that self absorbed they won't even stop to check on people now? No wonder drownings are at record levels on my lake!
Click to expand...
I figure that if you need help you would be waving me down. Actually, I figure that if you need help you would have already called your towing service. There's not much I can do to help you.
 
GeeBee said:
A guy in the water hugging a dog does not have instant communication, why did all those boats pass him?
Click to expand...
Failure to maintain watch. They actually did not see him! The "operator' was likely texting as they passed by...
 
rwidman2 said:
I figure that if you need help you would be waving me down. Actually, I figure that if you need help you would have already called your towing service. There's not much I can do to help you.
Click to expand...
That is a real s—-ty excuse. There can be various reason for someone not signaling or waving, and as a boater it is our duty to make sure the guy is ok.

Over the years, I ve lost tracks of of how many boats i ve towed home saving them hours waiting for a tow to show up. I hate to think that fellow boaters think that they can drive by ASSuming commercial tower has been called.

Yep…what is wrong with people.
 
rwidman2 said:
I figure that if you need help you would be waving me down. Actually, I figure that if you need help you would have already called your towing service. There's not much I can do to help you.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I can't agree with you on this one...I'd rather stop and find out you don't need help than cruise by someone who might need assistance.

I've only towed a few people, there are no tow services on any of the lakes around here except a couple of the biggest ones that I avoid anyway. If I see someone that appears to need help, I'll stop and ask. I'd like to think they would do the same for me.
 
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