I agree with all that. 4bus said the jet ski seen him and he was 100% sure the jet ski knew his coarse and that 4bus was going to overtake him. That is the big thing making sure people see you before passing, turning, etc. The video just makes it look really close.

It's amazing how many people don't know the rules of the road, its not just jet skis. I am really tired of azzhats in big cruisers that think they have the right of way just because they are bigger than my 24 sunny.

My point exactly. You have to be aware of other boaters because most are ignorant to the rules laws and common sense

This is the last time I am going to attempt to explain this video. Bottom line I was the only one on this thread that was there, stop making assumptions.

First....ever try to avoid a rabbit in the road? The one that runs back and forth and you react and still squash it? What happened before this near miss was exactly that.

I went through the no wake cut and they caught up to us, came off plane waved and smiled. They went back on plane long before the no wake ended, I waited then slowly came back on plane. In the distance I could see they were waiting for us, and I already was getting a little peed-off, knowing I was going to have a ski bussing around me...and we were on a "Boat ride" with the intentions of going fast.

They did some circles in the middle of the "channel" if you will, then went into the bay you see on the left of the video. As we came closer to the bay they came out and started "racing" Both girls were looking back at me trying to race. At this point I was already wide open, they saw me and made eye contact out in front of me. They turned their ski to be on the same line as me, I started turning slightly to the left, the most that I could, as their line was going to the left a little more than mine.

I guess at this point I could have came off plane, yelled at them to go away, then start all over....not really my thing. Or I could have backed off, let them walk me on their supercharged jet ski, but I knew if I did that they would be back to race when I came back through 30 mins later lol. Some of these new skis are faster than 90% of the boats out there, so they most likely win these "races" all day long.

What happend next scared the hell out of me. I really think they think they had me beat on top speed, and started a very aggressive left hand sweeping turn until they saw my bow. I acutally lost sight of them for a second and thought for sure there was going to be a collision. Seconds before their turn they had looked back at me, again I truely believe they thought they had no issues thinking they were faster.

In a car, on the road you don't have to look behind you because there are "lanes" forcing everyone to basically go the same way. However, how many here check their mirrors when make a left turn on the road in a passing zone? I do, and have saved an accident at least 3 time in my life.

If you are racing someone and decide to end the race and turn left into their path, you are a jack ass IMO! Why would they turn towards me? Also that ski was capable of turning at that speed, I was not IMO.

And I ALWAYS look behind me when turning my boat, always. Maybe I shouldn't have to cause I have the right of way?!??, but I would rather not chance it seeing boats do not have directionals, brake lights, or lanes to drive in.

IMO all 4bus should have done was give 2 short horns while closing in and be prepared to change his course/speed if necessary to safely overtake the PWC.
I hate boating in situations like these channels. Both pilots were well aware of the other vessel and it's heading but the stand on vessel in spite of this knowledge changes direction right into the path of the boat overtaking him.
In motorcycle racing we have an unwritten but well understood rule. Slower riders HOLD THEIR LINE, the faster riders will come around them cleanly.
Sometimes they need a little wake up call later in the pits with a little hollering at them as to how you hold your line in a race,
this girl needed a little of that directed her way back at the docks.
I wonder if she realizes just how close of a call that was.
I'm certain 4bus did, it would have scared the $hit out of me too.

See ya,
Kelly

Sunrocket, I know exactly what your saying and I follow the rules at all times but there are certain circumstances that its not possible to do so.

For instance, when at LOTO the water is 15 to 100+ feet deep so its no problem following the proper rules. However, on Lake Shelbyville (flood control lake) the main channel is narrow and is 10-15ft deep but out of the channel its very shallow with stumps in some spots. I will absolutely not run my boat aground at speed with passengers on board just because some guy on a jet ski veers toward me at the last second.

Rocket, thanks for the link to this website, great stuff indeed.

I didn't even think of the 5 short horns signaling danger, I was just thinking of passing them on their port side.

Most of the SE Texas pleasure boaters don't even know horns, it seems to be for saltwater fishermen only here.

On the lake I'm as guilty as all the rest in not signaling intent, I seem to only be there in the channels of the bays or the ICW.
I guess I go from pleasure boating mindset to fishing mindset and remember to follow boating directive again.

4bus, your boat looks like it handles awesomly and was tracking great and riding very stable at the speed. Congrats on your purchase.

See ya,
Kelly

I don't want you to do that either. The main thing we all most focus on is driving defensively and offensively at the same time. Not everyone knows the rules or operate by them if they do know the rules. And there are just plain azzholes on the water, on jet skis and boats. Never assume the other driver sees you or is going to hold his heading. Assumption of what someone is going to do is the cause of a lot of accidents. Give yourself plenty of distance from the other boat/jet ski and have a way out (turning or backing off).

Thanks Kelly, wish I had more season to use it. 50 degrees and rain here today, u know Texas January weather :)

The air, not a bad idea. However I was doing 90 mph + and I am sure they were doing 60 plus, not sure anyone would have saw and, and I certainly wouldn't have had time to blow it.

Just a near miss is all folks. I am a responsible boater and usually see things before they happen, this one just caught me off gaurd

I have one of the handheld airhorns always in the cupholder right behind my throttles,
its friekin loud and i have no problem blaring it at idiot jetskiers and boaters,
as amazing as it most arent doing it on purpose they are just that stupid that they dont even realize they are putting themselves in danger. A nice airhorn blast wakes them right up..
I keep a spare in the cuddy besides the standard boat horn.