Thankful to be alive. Be careful out there this next couple of weekends.

[ohboyitsrobby]

Man, we were fishing a night tournament last night and things got hairy. We were running about 45 headed from one spot to another and there were a few boats in the area. So as we're running we see a boat headed our way so we turned left to go past and they turned left a little so we turned right to go around. Guess what?? They started drifting right a little. Thinking they would see a 21 foot white skeeter with our light on.  We straigtened up and the other boat again just kept coming at us. About 50 yards away maybe closer it became obvious something awful was about to happen so my partner just jerked left and we did a 45 mph donut on the water. I ended up in his lap and soaking wet but we missed the other boat. Thank God. We chased the ppl down and it so happened to be a real good friend of ours who was real shaken and wet like us. He was apologising like crazy and said he never saw us. With everyone soaking wet and real shook up we parted ways. Then I got to thinking about my son and wife and how close they were to losing me and I'm pretty shook up. So to all y'all guys gonna be out these holiday weekends coming up be careful. 

[islandbass]

Glad nothing worse happened. 

[Deleted account]

Going 45 at night, one guy didn't see the other boater, and the other one keeps going left to avoid the first? Is this how fresh water guys do it? I'm glad no one was injured or worse, but ya'll really need some boating lessons, and a bit of common sense.

[WRB]

45 mph at nigh is a accident looking for a place to happen. Do you have any idea what your closing speed is?  Yours at 45 + their speed and neither of you can have any depth perception at night.

Tom

[BrianinMD]

Turned left, isn't it each go right in approaching boats which is taught in boater safety????

[Brew City Bass]

3 hours ago, reason said:

Going 45 at night, one guy didn't see the other boater, and the other one keeps going left to avoid the first? Is this how fresh water guys do it? I'm glad no one was injured or worse, but ya'll really need some boating lessons, and a bit of common sense.

This is exactly why almost every lake I fish has a no wake at night. It's slower, but I'd rather be alive than dead. 

[A-Jay]

Glad you're OK.

It's important that boaters first, know there are rules and then what they are.

Understanding how to "read" navigation lights, especially from a distance, is an integral part of boating; and not just at night.  If you are by and large unfamiliar with this you may be an accident waiting to happen. 

 

 

In every meeting or crossing situation, daytime & during periods of limited visibility (doesn't have to be dark), Course changes should be early, decisive and in accordance with "Navigational Rules of the Road".   So much so that ones intentions are Clear & Blatantly obvious to the other vessel.

Small incremental course changes are very difficult to interpret making it a recipe for disaster.

 

http://www.boatsafe.com/flash/reviewrules.html

 

 Again, Glad you're OK.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[ohboyitsrobby]

I'm assuming here because I wasn't driving but I believe my boater was trying to leave the wide side of the lake open as we approached each other. And as we got closer he realised that they were veering slightly that way. Then when we went right the other boat like we should have to begin with, that they veered that way away from the bank side. To me the worst part once I realised I was ok was the other boater admitting he never saw us until we drenched them. What may in the whole grand scheme of thing was I was the only one of the 3 with a life jacket on. 

[Sam]

Ohboy, I keep a very powerful spotlight in my Ranger that I can get to fast if I see another watercraft around me and they are not paying attention or doing something dumb.

 

Even in the daylight that spotlight gets their attention and they know I am where I am and to stay away.

 

I also have a small hand held blast horn that I have no problem blasting. That can get some attention, too, plus make for some good conversation back at the ramp for those who heard it and wondered what happened.

 

When necessary, I blow that horn when passing another boat. And yes, the guys on the other boat usually give me a one finger salute. But everyone is safe.

 

Some guys get upset that I "blinded" them for a few seconds. But they stayed away from my boat.

 

And nothing personal, but going 45 MPH at night is dangerous. Not necessarily for other boaters but for what is floating in the water. A floating stump, log, branch or sand bar or flat can cause some strong heartburn, even on waters you know like the back of your hand.

 

Plus the fact that critters come out at night to hunt and so do the knats and flies and mosquitoes and no-see-um's.

 

Glad you are OK but that was a close call and someone up there is giving you a warning. Please listen to the man.

 

 

[lo n slo]

two fisherman were lost last night here on Lake Norman. their boat was found capsized early this morning. as of right now, no one knows exactly what happened. so tragic.  http://www.wsoctv.com/www.wsoctv.com/news/local/search-underway-after-boat-found-overturned-in-lake-norman/780242764

[jbmaine]

Glad everyone was OK,

but I have to ask, If someone were driving down a road at night  at 45MPH with no head lights on, they would get pulled over in a heart beat for reckless operation, or some such thing, yet it is common for boats to go at speed at night, not being able to see far enough in front of them to avoid rocks, land, floating objects.

 And this is considered acceptable?

 Would you have been going as fast if it were not a tournament?

[NHBull]

.....heck, my lake has a 40 MPH like it during  the day. Glad nothing bad happened.  At night I carry a spot light that will emuminate a flyer *ss at a 100 meters. I would not hesitate to ruin someone's night vision.........at least that would stop them...

[lonnie g]

glad all is well and both parties acted like gentlemen , accidents do happen.nice reminder on being safe at all times

[Deleted account]

14 hours ago, jbmaine said:

Glad everyone was OK,

but I have to ask, If someone were driving down a road at night  at 45MPH with no head lights on, they would get pulled over in a heart beat for reckless operation

Not just that but the comparison would continue as  "and attempted to pass oncoming traffic on the left because the shoulder was wider"... Nothing short of stupid and reckless.

[WRB]

19 hours ago, ohboyitsrobby said:

I'm assuming here because I wasn't driving but I believe my boater was trying to leave the wide side of the lake open as we approached each other. And as we got closer he realised that they were veering slightly that way. Then when we went right the other boat like we should have to begin with, that they veered that way away from the bank side. To me the worst part once I realised I was ok was the other boater admitting he never saw us until we drenched them. What may in the whole grand scheme of thing was I was the only one of the 3 with a life jacket on. 

Please have your boater freind read the boater safety rules that AJ posted, it could save lives, including yours!

Tom

[Gundog]

The fact that the other boat driver says he never saw you would worry me. I don't know all the facts but I'm glad all parties involved were ok. I would talk to the boat drivers and find out exactly what went wrong so that it becomes a lesson rather than just a mistake. 

[Squarebill79]

You were running 45mph at night? Wow, just wow. Maybe start there when you are trying to figure out what went wrong. 

[38 Super Fan]

20 hours ago, ohboyitsrobby said:

I'm assuming here because I wasn't driving but I believe my boater was trying to leave the wide side of the lake open as we approached each other. And as we got closer he realised that they were veering slightly that way. Then when we went right the other boat like we should have to begin with, that they veered that way away from the bank side. To me the worst part once I realised I was ok was the other boater admitting he never saw us until we drenched them. What may in the whole grand scheme of thing was I was the only one of the 3 with a life jacket on. 

45 at night on a crowded lake with no life jacket? Your boater is an idiot, there's no way in hell I'd get in a boat with someone like that. 

[Log Catcher]

Around here we have too many people that are going to ignore the rules. They are going to do whatever they want to and hope everybody stays out of their way.

[sully420]

Don't you have horn's on your boats?

[ohboyitsrobby]

I have a horn in my boat along with one of those Stanley spotlights that sit beside me after it gets dark. I'd be lying to you if I said I knew if my partner did. I'm sure he does because it's the law but I've never seen it and theres a lot of stuff to look under and in to find it. We did talk to the other boater last night and he said he was going 40ish also and reiterated that he never saw us. He took responsibility. I don't know who's fault it was. I do know that my wife has informed me when she sees them they're both gonna be informed of how stupid they are. She don't care who's to blame. Just that something bad about happened. 

[Rahlow]

The lesson here is, no decision in this situation is left to boaters, the rules are clear, so even if one does not see the other, the correct actions are specified. And speed at night should be “no wake” speed.

And folks should keep the idiot and moron comments to themselves. IMHO

[scaleface]

I learned the hard way about navigating at night . On Mark Twain Lake I have never seen another boat at night , so late one night took off on plain too the boat ramp,  the   wrong way .

[Montanaro]

I would be investigsting WHY the other guy didnt see the lights.  His mistake, yalls?  Some people flick them off when fishing and yall may not have turned them back on.

[Catt]

@Sam see below ?

 

We run WOT all the time at night, one person operates the boat one handles the Q-beam!

 

3,000,000 candle power will turn darkness into light!