Who's responsible for tree logs
 

So we're a mile out from main gap harbor entrance Milwaukee River and I see a 20 foot by one foot in diameter tree log bobbing between the 2 foot waves.
So I get on the ship to shore and call milw county,milw sherrif and coast guard. Coast guard responds and say they are not responsible for debres. They do get on the horn and make a statement to all vessels saying that there is a blah blah blah.
Believe me l wanted to lasso and drag it to shore but I could not with the 20 mile an hour winds, waves and no second operator.
My question is I thought the coast guards responsibility was to patrol the waters and make them safe for area vessels.
If somebody hit this thing at 30 plus miles per hour that boat was going down. So what the hell, what Gives, are my tax dollars being wasted here?

Went through this every year when we boated in lake Erie out of Huron & Sandusky. Came across trees, half submerged 55gallon drums, even a set of wooden stairs from one of the cliffs. We would report it with coordinates & move on. They just didn't seem to care.

No one cares. Just be super careful in the spring. I see the same thing every year on the Great Lakes and also Lake Cumberland.

Bobbing tree trunks are small potatoes. Sheriffs, coast guard, you name it have bigger issues than floating timber. If I’m stranded out on the big lake one of the last things I want them concerned about is debris in the water.

I like to show that wood who’s boss
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I hit a log last weekend, luckily the prop just got a little dent and speedo hole was of course chocked full of wood . Took me a darn hr to get it all out !
^^Man That drive shower really got clogged up IGetWet!!!

Yea schmuked it pretty hard. Had kids on the boat, evasive maneuvers weren’t an option. Took it head on, solid thunk, no vibrations after hitting it, kept on going. That was MKE bay as well.

i couldn’t believe how the wood fibers got jammed in every little crevasse they could.

This is 100% accurate. If the USCG and or Sheriffs Department spent all day chasing marine debris, THAT would be a huge waste of your tax dollars. USCG will put out a safety navigation broadcast on VHF 16, but unless its a piece of life saving equipment, navigation aid or another vessel they aren't going to bother going to even investigate.

You should see the St. Lawrence Seaway right now at record flood level beyond 2017. We had a telephone pole with metal spikes wash up. Trees and stumps are common along with docks and pieces of docks. Currently a no wake within 300 of shore in the Seaway. Maintain a proper lookout and safe speed is the bottom line.

You're seeing all of the debris flushed from the Great Lakes. The Detroit River and St. Clair River get pretty bad every spring too.

sounds like a clear day on the ohio.

if flood waters are what the cause is not looking good the next few days?:hitfan:

Imagine hitting a huge metal container that fell off a cargo ship, they typically float flush with the water surface.

I was playing dodge the debris fields last weekend on LOTO. Only going to get worse the next few weeks.

Our rivers can get so bad after heavy rains/storms that I have made conscious decisions NOT to go boating because the debris is so bad for 3-5 days afterward. It's not often and usually in the spring when the rains are worst.....but it happens.

I hit a log that I could not avoid at 80 mph with my Talon years ago. With a large vee or cat I would not suggest stopping until your at a safe haven or your destination. I knew there was major damage but I made it the 4 miles to my dock. The log knocked my Sportmaster almost completely of the midsection. Three studs out of 6 were holding it on the mid. It was 5k for a new case and gears. DNR on my lake will help remove debris if you notify them. I have stayed with debris until they showed up. I then secured a floating dock section with a rope and DNR hauled it to shore. I guess I'm lucky our DNR will assist in situation like this.

Storms come and then there is debris...logs, trash, etc...deal with it or don't boat....wanting or expecting the USCG or any other marine patrol affiliate to deal with it proves to me that those who expect it are just another reason why this country is so F'ed up....

This guy gets it!