What is the biggest danger a bass boater faces?

[slowworm]

On 10/1/2019 at 9:04 AM, BassNJake said:

Drowning is the biggest danger.

I just saw where a guy drowned right at the ramp when launching his boat.

The truck was on the ramp door open and the boat was floating not too far off but no boater in sight.

They recovered the body a short time later. No PFD.

 

I would rate myself as an above average swimmer, with a pair of trunks and warm water.

I really sucked at trying to tread water with a full rain suit, boots and in 50 degree water.

 

And I've had people ask my why I wear my PFD as soon as I start backing the boat into the water ….

 

 

[Further North]

On 10/3/2019 at 3:03 PM, Way2slow said:

Yep, the nut holding the steering wheel.

 

Couldn't count the number of people I've seen with no real boating experience or maybe a little in a 16, - 17' aluminum that decide they need a 20' or 21' boat with a 250 or 300 on the back to make them feel like real bass fishermen, and in most states, they are legal to drive it as soon as they drive off the lot with it.

Scary stuff, that...

[detroit1]

Knowing your and your boats ability/ limitations would decrease a lot of danger, but accidents can happen without fault. Way2slo: I would guess that 100% of people that have a 20'/250hp rig is not their first boat....

[boostr]

On 10/2/2019 at 6:32 PM, Tony johnson said:

This exact reason california implemented all boat opererators must take a uscg approved class and carry a boater safety card.. as of January 1st it will be all people 35 and under... few more years then it will be everyone

That's mandatory up here in NJ.

[DanielG]

Maybe not the most dangerous but certainly not good. In the early spring, wood, even logs have been soaking awhile and they are often submerged or just at the surface and not visible. Not an issue with my small slow boat now but when I had a ski boat they were.

[kjfishman]

#1 danger:  Forgetting to call your wife and tell her you won't be home for dinner because the bass are biting.

 

[TnRiver46]

The bait monkey 

[boostr]

forgetting to put in you drain plug and livewell plug....

[Further North]

On 10/16/2019 at 10:44 AM, boostr said:

forgetting to put in you drain plug and livewell plug....

Are there really many boats left out there that won't still float even when flodded?  My 1992 Lund Pro-V would have...

[Tim VS]

It’s no different than cars on the road…. Perhaps 60% of the people driving have no clue. Just observe how awful these people are on road with painted lanes and now imagine no lanes or speed limits and the misconception that the water is soft when you fly out!!!!!

[senile1]

On 9/30/2019 at 11:11 PM, GreenPig said:

I'll come off plane and/or  turn away in a heartbeat .

 

Me too.  Meeting someone head-on, both boats should veer to starboard to avoid each other, but I don't know how many times I have seen the other boat turn the wrong way.  I will completely take a 90 degree starboard turn well ahead of time just to avoid a boat whose driver doesn't seem to know right-of-way etiquette on the water.  Meeting a boat coming from your starboard side, you are the port side boat and the one who is supposed to yield, but I don't know how many times I have seen this violated either by people who aren't aware, or who just don't care.  I make a habit of avoiding getting too close to these boats because one never knows which way they will choose to go.  

[Catt]

@senile1 That's the deadliest down here in our marshes. To get around you have to run boat trails that are wide enough for one boat. 

 

 

[senile1]

@Catt You are definitely in a world of hurt if a boat coming your way on that path doesn't slow down and try to avoid you.  There are some narrow boat trails on Smithville Lake in the treed portions but there is always room and then some for boats driven properly to pass each other port side to port side.   Still, I have had a couple of occasions where I had to pull over into the trees to avoid an oncoming boat speeding right down the middle.  

[Catt]

@senile1 imagine a 16' 52" aluminum boat pushed by a 40 hp coming straight at you!

 

I WILL PUT IT ON THE BANK!

 

[king fisher]

It's a tie between an asteroid colliding with the earth, or nuclear Armageddon.

[rboat]

1. Wake boats that give off a sunami at the back of their boat.

2. Reckless jet ski operators

3. Other boaters in general, on the lake and at the ramp.

4. Hitting an underwater stump or running aground in shallow water.

5. Storms/Wind/Lightning

6. Engine won't start when you are miles from the ramp, no one is around, and losing daylight rapidly.

7. Tow vehicle breaks down and you do not dare leave your rig on the side of the road due to thiefs.

8. Tire blows out on truck or trailer at highway speeds, real pucker factor.

9. Buddy rips treble hooks into you on the backcast.

10. Falling overboard, -  cold in winter, drowning, or possible gator attack if in the deep south.

11. A great hookset that sends a bullet weight into any part of you.

(Just off the top of my head, I am sure there are many more) (after fishing for many years, some of these have happened to me and it ruins your fishing trip). 😬

[DogBone_384]

After reading most of the above replies .... my answer is ....

 

....HUMANS ....