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Random Quote: You get all the sleep you need when you are dead.
This morning I was working on my boat. occasionally getting bounced around from all the boats going by,I was out on the bow of my boat and here comes this 27 ' walkaround creating this huge wake. I raised my arms to him and he looked behind to see his wake and said too bad, he needed to make 6 knots to get into the river. and don't raise your Fu#$ing arms to me. I said fine, then you will pay for any damages that we'll incure from your wake. He then proceeded to call me names and then told me to come meet him at his dock? continuing to yell out slurs as he kept going. I chose to take the high road and didn't say anything back. what legal action can be taken towards someone like this? if there is any. a few years ago I would have headed him off at the pass if you know what I mean
It's the same recourse as a car skidding around the corner and messing up your fence. If you have witnesses and his registration you can file a police report and then when the criminal charges are resolved, or dropped, you can file suit.
On previous threads on this subject, members have responded that the local water cops are reluctant to get involved in incidents they have not seen themselves unless there is personal injury involved even if there is a damage in an amount the law requires you to file a report.
If there is property damage that does not mandate a police report, I'd suggest you just file a claim with your insurance company and let them decide if it's worth trying to recover it. You could also file n small-claims if the sum is not worth the hassle of getting a higher insurance premium.
Good luck!
__________________ I'm not a boat expert, I just read THT!
If the guy was making a wake in a no wake zone then he is an a-hole but there is nothing that you can do about it. Happens every day just like getting cut off on the highway.
__________________ 2006 Skeeter ZX24 Bay
2006 Yamaha 300 HPDI
I love my Yamabomb
2010 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4
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Trying hard to become a 1%er
I agree with Enough Already--keep the video camera handy. I have used this effectively several times (including when the fire department ran over my lab and knocked down several small trees in a park with an out of control mini hoover craft.). But....unless there is real damage, you don't have any real recourse. Life is too short to make a large issue. I doubt if the marine patrol will do much. The other issue is this an official ordinance "no Wake zone"--or just signs painted by the marina or owners which say "no wake"--the latter have no real standing (Although out of courtesy I slow down when near any small boats, or marinas, etc.)
I would probably just get over it. It happens. You have no real damage, so don't worry about it. Oh yeah, if head him off and he hits you they coast gaurd will look into and split blame accordingly. You may end up paying him.
I would have just flipped him the bird and insulted his mother....probably as effective as anything else when dealing with an a-hole like that who doesn't care to begin with.
That is a VERY DANGEROUS situation - and the reason there are now police are at the public ramps in Miami FL.
Something very similar to what you described happened here. Except the other guy ("you") did not take the high road and DID follow the wake guy to the ramp. The wake guy pulled a gun and killed the other guy. So now cops are at the ramps. I presume that they are there to try to prevent any shootings, and if not then at least the shooter gets a few caps busted into them.
I would get the registration numbers and a description of the boat and call it in to LE on channel 16. Chances are the guy will have the same rotten attitude out on the water and if approached by the cops he may mouth off to them. At that point he will at the least get boarded for a "safety equipment check" and possibly even a clubbing. They might even catch him in other violations as well.
My grandfather used to tell me "you can not wrestle with a turd". It took me a few years to understand the profound wisdom in that statement.
__________________ 1999 20 foot Seagull power cat
Single 135 Optimax outboard
Let me get this straight -- the OP is ticked off because a boat throws a wake onto his moored vessel but no damage occurs and he wants to charge someone with a crime, misdemeanor or damage? Strange. I'm guessing that the OP is a pretty anal-retentive, micro-management, small minded-kind-of-person.
To the OP, get over it and start worrying about something real.
__________________ 46 Chesapeake Deadrise - 2x Cummins 6bt - Sold
35 Duffy - Cat 3208 - Sold (unfortunately)
23 Potter SeaCraft/Honda 225
Boats make wakes. Get over it. I'm 23 years old and I've gotten over it. You'd think someone boating twice or three times as long as I have would have gotten over it.
__________________ 2001 May-Craft 1800
2001 90HP Johnson OceanPro
It appears Crisrack and TurboDan were driving the boat! Ha! At least we know these two don't mind throwing a wake in a confined area around other boats. TurboDan you made one minor error. You are 23 years YOUNG, 23 isn't old except to a 6 year old. With all due respect, you might still have something to learn about respect and courtesy toward others on the water it would seem from my take of your response. By the way, enjoy your youth, don't rush out of it! Old shouldn't even be in your vocabulary except when you are talking about people my age and older. Why can't I find a smiley face or wink when I need it? In case you haven't figured it out, I am having fun with you.
You are right -- I'm too young at 37y/o to understand the daamge taht a wake CAN do. The potential is certain there. As is the potential for the computer monitor to explode and blow glass schrapnel onto my retina causing life-long blindness. My ponts is ..... to the OP ...... start worrying about something real.
Additionally to the OP, if a boat travelling down a narrow channel throws enough of a wake at 6kts to cause damage to your boat while moored to the dock, then you have failed to secure your boat properly. The avearge boat moving through a narrow channel would be hard pressed to create much or than a 1 or 1.5ft wake at 6kts. If this causes daamge to your boat, then you caused the problem by not fully understanding the fuction of spring lines and fenders. If you can't opearte or handle your boat, then don't burden those of us who have many, many years of professional boat opeartion with your dribble. You too Alec!!
__________________ 46 Chesapeake Deadrise - 2x Cummins 6bt - Sold
35 Duffy - Cat 3208 - Sold (unfortunately)
23 Potter SeaCraft/Honda 225
In SC, violation of a no wake zone is a misdemeanor and no officer in his right mind would write a ticket on a witnesses word. If you have video proof, go to a magistrate and swear out a warrant if, of course, you can positively identify the violator in court. If not you may be leaving youself open to a lawsuit. If this vessel continues to violate, ask for law enforcement to stand by, given you can give the officer some time frame that the violation is occuring. Congrats on keeping your cool. That a$$ hole will screw up sooner or later and get caught. We can just hope nobody gets hurt.
Boats make wakes. Get over it. I'm 23 years old and I've gotten over it. You'd think someone boating twice or three times as long as I have would have gotten over it.
No moderate wake is going to hurt my boat at the dock.
BUT: WAKES CAUSE EROSION OF THE GROUND SUPPORTING THE SEA WALLS, undermining them.
there was no damage because my boat is correctly tied to the dock. which has about 34 boats that are tied to the dock also. (which is in a no wake area ) I have been boating for 28 years and have my Captains license. I have seen my share of A holes on the water but also some really great, responsible and polite people . I guess today I saw the worst . there isn't anything you can do but hope for the police to patrol more often.
creating a wake in a no wake zone ? 
I chose to take the high road and didn't say anything back. what legal action can be taken towards someone like this? if there is any. a few years ago I would have headed him off at the pass if you know what I mean 
