They are a blast>> I miss mine.. I do agree thou most of the operators have no sense and no clue.

I loved north winds on Lake Michigan.. big waves , lots of fun


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../jetski006.jpg

I guess they're everywhere. Had a similar situation this past weekend on the water of complete disregard. About 15 large boats (30ft+) tied up just outside of a small cove and they go flying by yelling it's not a "no wake" zone. Complete idiots w/no regard for saftey or their wake causing the boats to slam against one another.

I ve had them before and everybody has a right to have fun on the water. Some of the performance boats can be loud an annoying as well. But I will say if you want to jet ski and do crazy stuff, go do it in a corner where you want bother people. If you want to jump wakes then stay the legal distance away from boats. If you are going with the traffic dont stop, start, turn on a dime.

i guess we should just be glad they're not texting

I have owned jet skis for 10+ years and have never had a problem. More times then not its a high performance boater who thinks he owns the lake and everyone should get out of his way or familys towing tubes and not looking forward that almost cause collisions with me. It comes down to experience..jet skis are cheaper to buy so anyone can own them and you can also rent them at almost any lake. Believe me if they rented high performance boats at every lake you would hear about the 10people who died hitting another boat at a high rate of speed about every weekend. I also have owned high performance boats, so I am coming from both sides. I think you all should just say I hate uneducated boaters PERIOD. It shouldnt be just one type of boater... JMO..

Why does a PWC operator need a different license if he/she is operating a watercraft? That is the ultimate question.
If a watercraft owner is acting irresponsibly, report them. Get their numbers, call the authorities and shut them down. One would do the same thing with the owner of a 35 Fountain, if he were operating irresponsibly.
The complaining shoud be to the authorities, not online.
c

easier said than done:kiss:

ok, get an unlicensed pistol, and let your imagination run wild....:eek:

how about 4inch motors :evilb:

lake lice

Showing OFF to his Girlfriend... What a SHAME on him...

I had a ski.. Just sold it. It is true, when you are the only one, its boring. I just used it to get to my uncles boat, tied up and hung out with him all day. Long trips, forget about it. There are a lot of A holes out there, but not everyone is like that. Its like a motorcycle, they all get a bad name because of a few idiots.

You can insert "uneducated operators" into any of all of the motorsport enthusiasts who leave their brains behind when they saddle up, regardless of what they're enjoying at the moment.
My kids and I participate in almost every aspect of motorized recreation.
At the motocross track seasoned riders bellyache about newbies who forget to hold their line when they hear a faster rider approaching from behind and cross in front of us trying to get out of the way. In the national forest the hare scramble riders ***** and moan about riders riding the wrong way on permanently marked trails and we meet 'em head-on at speed. Don't even get me started about the 4 wheelers we ride everywhere we can legally ride off road. Riding cruisers with my buddy and our neighbor they ***** about the squids on crotch rockets riding recklessly on a public road and when riding our 10r's with my oldest's sportbike friends they ***** about the RUBS.
When we used to wakeboard and slalom a lot behind our old ski boat we *****ed about those boaters and jet skiers who didn't respect our flag while pulling our man/woman.
Regarding our jet skis, We have 4 GPR's that'll run between low 70's to nearly 80 depending on the water conditions, I love them unconditionally just as much as any of our toys.
I'll be scoring a large sport cruiser soon and the first thing I'll do once acquiring it is hiring the owner of a similar boat as how to properly operate and maintain it.
I know squat about drive height and trim except for what I saw on Reggie's Secrets of Speed video on youtube and I'm certain there's more to it than an engine flush and some fogging oil after enjoying it for the weekend.

We all, regardless of the sport, get grouped into a crowd by the actions of a select few who ALWAYS have left their brains behind the moment they started the engine. Lack of proper training is the one thing they all have in common.

See ya,
Kelly

You can insert "uneducated operators" into any of all of the motorsport enthusiasts who leave their brains behind when they saddle up, regardless of what they're enjoying at the moment.
My kids and I participate in almost every aspect of motorized recreation.
At the motocross track seasoned riders bellyache about newbies who forget to hold their line when they hear a faster rider approaching from behind and cross in front of us trying to get out of the way. In the national forest the hare scramble riders ***** and moan about riders riding the wrong way on permanently marked trails and we meet 'em head-on at speed. Don't even get me started about the 4 wheelers we ride everywhere we can legally ride off road. Riding cruisers with my buddy and our neighbor they ***** about the squids on crotch rockets riding recklessly on a public road and when riding our 10r's with my oldest's sportbike friends they ***** about the RUBS.
When we used to wakeboard and slalom a lot behind our old ski boat we *****ed about those boaters and jet skiers who didn't respect our flag while pulling our man/woman.
Regarding our jet skis, We have 4 GPR's that'll run between low 70's to nearly 80 depending on the water conditions, I love them unconditionally just as much as any of our toys.
I'll be scoring a large sport cruiser soon and the first thing I'll do once acquiring it is hiring the owner of a similar boat as how to properly operate and maintain it.
I know squat about drive height and trim except for what I saw on Reggie's Secrets of Speed video on youtube and I'm certain there's more to it than an engine flush and some fogging oil after enjoying it for the weekend.

We all, regardless of the sport, get grouped into a crowd by the actions of a select few who ALWAYS have left their brains behind the moment they started the engine. Lack of proper training is the one thing they all have in common.

See ya,
Kelly

PWCs are a lot of fun. I love riding the faster ones. We've all had our close calls with the clueless drivers who dart around without looking but don't blast them all. And if someone has a problem seeing me with one then tough sh*t. I don't own one but I ride a friend's sometimes. I do enjoy dusting the ones that think they can beat my Donzi. Ha; Not your typical 65 mph 22 Classic....

The problem really is as stated. 99% of the people on these things have no idea about the rules of the road and they really shouldn't be out there at all.

They think they have the right of way but they don't understand it takes more to turn or stop your boat than their little ski!!!

I have owned 3 of them, but now I can't stand them!!!!

We usually see small groups of them. Usually owned by 18 to 23 year old prolly cause its a cheaper way to get into water sports w/o spending 50K+ for a 75 MPH boat. Thats all good. BUT, young guys like that, are sometimes too drunk and irrisponsible to know how bad a water sport accident can be. Good times gone bad.....in a hurry. Usually a female passenger taking the worst of it too, also too drunk to stand up!

The majority of the ones down here are rentals, so it's really inexperienced idiots we get to deal with. It's funny, everytime a decent size wave hits the boat, my 3 year old daughter says "stupid jetskis"! I'm training her right.

jet skis
 

came out of the Chesapeake Inn two yrs ago headed back to the Del. River. I counted 11 jet skis spread out from one side of the C@D Canal 2 the other headed in the same direction. None of the idiots had any idea that i was coming up on them, i went all the way to one side and got by and gave them the minus one peace sign and now they want to race, did not have a clue about any kind of water etiquette. The people on those things are scary.

Any watercraft with registration should require a license to operate.

Jet Ski Dangers
 

I have a blown jet boat that shoots a rooster tail that is unbelievable and the jet ski fools come in real close trying to get wet in the tail. They buzz us from behind and many times I have almost run them over. The funny thing is when they do get in the jet of water coming out the supercharged pump, it would knock them off their ski. They get so absorbed doing donuts and tricks, they cut right in front of a boat without ever knowing it was there. I didn't understand how they could be so into riding and not paying attention until I rented a couple of ski's on vacation and I became so involved in horsing around riding them, I almost ran in front of a pontoon boat. They are dangerous from a standpoint of taking your attention away from scanning the water, watching what is going on like you do when boating.

I used to have a blown jetboat also- and boy was it fun running
with the diverter at a level setting, and getting some dumbass to
start jumping your wake too close, then popping the nozzle and
mashing the gas! would blow em' right off the ski! too much fun!!:drink:

I have boating friends who hate them as well. I don't give a rat's arse what they think. I ride mine and love it. If you're really bored riding one, you're probably on the wrong one. :)

I think requiring a license and/or training to ride one is a good idea. I'm all for that.

I ride my ski like I drive my boat... with respect for others. I also give boats the right of way, but we all make mistakes out there. When I do, and it's rare, I gesture an apology. Never had any close calls, though. Although lots of riders on skis need educating, there are still exceptions.

Yeah, what he said. They are a hell of a lot of fun especially on a really hot day because you get wet! You can do 180s and get soaked, all kinds of fun. There are quite a few boaters who also ride PWCs and they ride them responsibly. Just one question: How do you gesture an apology? :)

i have to agree with most of this post, i've had jetskis since 96 until this past sept and over 90% are totally clueless which does make the other 10% look bad, in pa they passed a law in 2000 that you have to have a boaters safety course licence to operate a jet ski which i am all for, so i went to the two 4 hour classes and took the test and was all good, then about a month after passing the law, you can take the test online in about 20 min with the book in front of you, whats the point of that?

lol Good question! On a rare occasion, I've had a boat mildly alter its course due to my presence. Not a big deal, but I try to avoid that situation 100%. I just wave to them as I'm moving further out of the way. Kinda hard to describe, but I think it gets the point across.

Btw, a ski's mobility can be a good thing. I've rushed over to a downed water-skier in our cove at LOTO (busy ski cove) to make sure other boats saw them. I thought the boat pulling them took too long to get back to them, making for a potentially dangerous situation. They were very appreciative.

If everyone pulls their head out and focuses on sharing the lake, it's not too difficult to get along.

Yeah, if I pull a bonehead move on the road or water I try to wave or just hold up an open hand. It's funny how we have gestures to say bad things but no clear gesture to say "I'm sorry"!

Wave to say I'm sorry
 

I ride street bikes and dirt bikes and as hard as I try to watch out for bikes on the road, I seem to be programmed to look for cars and trucks. When I cut a bike off or move over into their lane, I have a open handed wave and sheepish stupid look that is supposed to relay to the bike that I am an idiot and a fool for not being more careful and respectful of a fellow biker. I am not putting jet ski's down, they just remind me of riding my dirt bike where I do anything at anytime just for fun, sometimes not looking around due to the fact there are miles of wide open space where we ride.

On the other side of that coin... if someone on the water on a jet-ski or in a boat is pulling a head-up-the-azz maneuver and doesn't seem to understand the rules, I'll point to my temple and suggest they "think".
I'm thinking that one works about 10% of the time, but what can ya do? :grinser010:

Good point about looking for bikes, I find [up here] that I have to actually "remind" myself to look for bikes, its not bad in the summer, but, in early Spring or late Fall you dont "expect" to see a bike, so, thats when I have to make a conscious effort to look for them when changing lanes. I have seen guys riding bikes here when it was snowing, not the smartest thing, and I doubt most other drivers are expecting [or looking for] a bike on the road.

Michael

I used to love riding my jet ski. I had this strange ability to look before I turned. I know it is weird, but I never even came close to cutting off or hitting a boat. I must be a freak of nature or something with this strange ability to look before I turn. Now I can't hardly drive back to my condo with out running over at least 20 of those morons.

Something I saw on the front of a large cat was a sticker that said "Jet ski intake" I can't wait to upgrade to a skater and put that on the front of it.

As much as it pained me, I towed an idiot's jet ski in yesterday afternoon. I was coming back into the marnia and noticed a guy in the water next to an obviously sinking jet ski. I swung over and asked if he needed any assistance. He kept trying to get back on the non-running ski. I then suggested that if he kept doing that, he'd just hasten the inevitable. (He didn't think it was taking on water.) Finally he then picked up the seat and quickly discovered he was about half full already.

So I threw him a line, tied the ski off and took him on board for the short tow to the ramp. He got it back on the trailer just before it went down. I went over to see what had caused it to take on water and the main cooling line between the impeller housing and the cylinder head had come off. Further aiding the idiot, I got the tool box from my truck and put a new clamp on the hose for him. Then I did the first smart thing all day and had a cold beer as I took my boat back out. (Just one mind you.)

most of the jet ski guys are the same people or have the same mentality of those that drive crotch rockets (sport bikes) it's too bad that the actions of some stereotype the rest that actually are responsible.

Yesterday the launch ramp was a crazy place...it was 95 degrees and Lake Michigan was flat as a pancake, so at 5 pm, everyone and their brother was putting their stuff on the trailer. In retrospect, I should have waited, but I was sick of being in the sun and wanted out. I knew it'd be an adventure due to the crowd, but the fact that I was down a motor made it that much more fun (electrical issues took out my port).

So...I pulled up to a dock, tied off, and went for my truck. I was 15 trailers back and it was 95 degrees...patience was going to be required. The parking area splits where the line of trailers was, and a pickup truck skipped the back of the line (now three more trucks and trailers behind me) and pulled up the other lane. He had about six people in the bed and they all got out. I couldn't see initially that he had a trailer, but as soon as the line advanced, he put it in gear and pulled his two pwc trailer right in front of me. I drove up behind him, got out of my truck and basically did the WTF routine. I asked him if he'd like to get out and apologize to me and the other four boats he'd cut off. Nope. Suddenly, he didn't speak English very well (there is a big Polish population that all seem to own skis and have a hard time with our country's native tongue when they do something wrong). I just did a slow burn and went back to my truck. I finally get up to the ramp, which is a two boats wide in a well with piers extending about 100 feet out on each side. I back the truck down and see on my lane, there's a ski parked on the INSIDE of the pier, meaning I'd have to manuver around it (on one motor), then straighten out and hit my trailer. I asked someone to move the ski as I ran to the boat. Of course nobody did. My wife had asked another guy on a pwc to grab me and shuttle me over to the boat (across about 25 feet of water), saving me about a 1/4 mile jog. He swung over to the dock, narrowly missed another pwc and slammed into the dock. I jumped on, he brought me out to the boat and promptly came within 6 inches of driving right into my bow. I literally couldn't believe this was happening, but I had no time to deal with it. I pushed off the dock and headed to the trailer, dodging three more pwcs AND the Warbird turbine cat that had just spooled up and left the dock (which took everyone's attention away from the guy with one motor). I do not care to relive this adventure again...I'm just staying the fk away from all the idiots.

I was running about 75mph last year and was about 150ft off to the left of a jet ski when i was passing him. He decided to make an instant left turn without looking behind him. I had to pull the stick back to neutral and swerve just to barely miss him. He took off in a hurry with no apology or nothing. He came up to me the following day with an extended hand and an apology because he heard that I wanted to hurt him. Lets just say I gave him an ear full. The worst part about the whole thing is that the week before a 19yr old girl wrecked the same ski and died. Bunch of dumb drunk inexperienced kids.

It is sad that most of the "jet ski" idiots out there give the other Jet Ski people a bad name. However it’s the same with motorcycles. I’ve been on the water all my life and I like to take out my jet ski the most due to easier to play with then the jet boat out on rough waters. How hard is it to look behind you to turn or just to watch where you are going? The sad part is I have had to shut down my jet ski because some idiot from "justforfunboats" decides to rent a ski and don’t know a damn thing about the lake runs right in front of me. It does not batter on what kind of craft you have. Just watch where you are going and pay attention to everything around you....

I thank GOD everyday that I am fortunate enough to have a launch ramp on my property and dont have to deal with these idiots at public launches, sadly, not everyone is that fortunate [including all my friends] So, I feel your pain, and YES I agree, the "Jet Ski Jerks" are the most ignorant A-holes out there. I guess its a "money" thing, not alot of 17-20 year old punk kids out there can afford to own a decent boat, but, any yahoo with a part time job [or parents who spoil them] can scrape together the cash for a used Jet Ski, they are also easy to tow behind the 20 year old clapped out POS Lowered Honda Civic's usually owned by white dudes, but, blaring "black" music? at mind numbing volumes the entire time they are at the launch ramp, which is real "pleasant" for the guy who is there with his wife/kids/grandkids who has to listen to "F" this and "F" that every 10 seconds, very classy..........

Not looking to "tar everyone with the same brush", if I had the extra coin I would love a pair of 4 stroke's to play around on, they look like a blast [2 strokes drive me NUTS though!] and I am sure there are some VERY responsible and courteous Jet Ski owners out there, but, sadly, all it takes is a few idiots [or maybe in this case the MAJORITY?] to ruin it for everyone.

Michael

it is true. and for me being around houston thats all i hear at the boat ramp and it drives me nuts too..

You live in Houston, you can boat YEAR ROUND, wanna trade places?? LOL!!

Hopefully you can find a private ramp, or nicer public one to use, it REALLY ruins a good day of boating when the entire time you are wondering what kinda BS you are gonna deal with when you get back to the ramp, especially if you are tired, sunburned, windburned, and broke, which is 90% of the time! LOL

Marine store has those hand help horns just keep blasting it as they get away!They are fun but always cutting across traffic and our boats are not doing 20MPH more like 4x that:eek: