Re: Is Everybody Prepared For Drunk Boater Amateur Week End
 

I was out and was stopped twicw only because they were bored.....Dude it was dead here in Tpa(Gandy Bridge). Law enforcement was confused as to where the crowds were. It was worse (dead) then a normal Saturday weekend. I'm going out again Sunday for the races in Sarasota,so will see if there all waiting for Sunday.

Re: Is Everybody Prepared For Drunk Boater Amateur Week End
 

Forecast Rain, so I will be alone on the water :D

Re: Is Everybody Prepared For Drunk Boater Amateur Week End
 

I've got a few friends that think like this too. Don't really understand it myself.

No offense, but those weekends are three of the main reasons I own a boat.

Buck

Re: Is Everybody Prepared For Drunk Boater Amateur Week End
 

Exactly!

Re: Is Everybody Prepared For Drunk Boater Amateur Week End
 

Speaking for SoCal - the Independence Day Fireworks at the Queen Mary in Long Beach harbor were outstanding.
The weather was warm on the water, but windy. Choppy and confused 2-3+ outside the oil islands.
On the way out of the harbor (in the dark) I counted a minimum of four boats being towed in by the law. I stopped counting the number of boats I saw with non-existent or malfunctioning running lights.
Law enforcement was everywhere.

When the fireworks were over, it was like the flag dropped for a NASCAR race, boats headed south for the jettys at Naples, Huntington Harbour, and Newport. Big wake-slop from EVERY direction ( on top of the already snotty conditions ), some big holes, the oil islands, totally dark freighters and tankers, unmarked barge buoys - all in TOTAL darkness ( no moon at all ). . . . Man, it was pandemonium. Drunken amateur boaters everywhere.

Re: Is Everybody Prepared For Drunk Boater Amateur Week End
 

I made it through the fourth without being killed or breaking anything, but I have to say I was really surprised by the amount of idiots out this year. We watched the fireworks from the boat along with everyone else. When they finished everyone started up and took of in all directions. My boat almost got hit several times while I sat and waited for them all to leave. Just when we thought we had seen all of the biggest idiots here comes a boat running by at 20 - 25 MPH pulling a guy on a tube wearing a black life jacket. Every so often the people in his boat would use a spot light to make sure that he was still on the tube. Could not believe it...........