In your example, does the boat have major, known safety defects that are purposefully being ignored by it's operator? Is he performing these actions in an area that a reasonable person would consider safe or is he rocketing down a narrow channel? Does he have occupants that are well aware of all these known issues and are willing participants or do they have a reasonable expectation of their safety being looked after that is not? If so, I'd say that for the activity he's performing, he's being irresponsible.

BINGO!

I apologize if I have offended you.

We seem to have a non-stop stream of posters on here that ask this same question and get pi$$ed at the answers they get. We even have one fool here today that in essence said "I know what I'm doing is wrong and dangerous and I don't care" Do I care if he kills himself? No. He's clearly made an informed choice. The problem is that he's likely to take some innocent person with him and that's wrong.

There's little difference between this charachter and the habitual drunk driver. They're both doing something dangerous to others and they are both well-aware of the consequences of their actions. They just don't care. These are the same people who hate the MADD people because they interfere with their good time.

By the way, every time one of these clowns destroys their boat- whether on the trailer or on the water- it makes both of our insurance bills go up. You don't honestly believe that a guy who won't tie his boat to the trailer practices any safe boating procedures, do you?

Just like the drunk drivers (and the drunk boaters) it didn't begin to go away while people were making polite suggestions they stop. It took people screaming at the tops of their lungs and pounding their fists to get it curtailed. Maybe that's what's in order here.

No, the bigger truck is my choice. Towing witin the law is a requirement. There's a difference.

A Kia and a Mercedes both meet the MINIMUM safety standards. Not everyone can afford the vast difference in crash-survivability that the Mercedes affords. On the other hand, a new Kia is about the same $$ as a nice, used Taurus. I know which one I'd rather have one of my teenage kids driving around.

I think you know how I would answer all of those scenarios. Of course, I was talking about proper equipment that's well maintained -- my point is about perception, may it be fast boats, fast bikes, fast cars, skydiving, smoking, whatever, you name it.

My point is that one man's acceptible risk is someone else's irresponsible behavior.

I've had crotchedy old sailers approach me and look me in the eye at the marina and blurt out, "So, you're one of the ones who endanger all of us out there."

Thanks, but I'm not offended. I simply took exception to the way in which you chose to deliver you message.

What is the point of having a Trailer and Tow Vehivle section if people are afraid to ask questions? How does John Q Public become enlightened? People drive boats drunk all the time. People disagree about how much booze defines them being drunk. This stuff needs discussion apparently....

Hey Chris,, I have no doubt you drive 55 in a 55 and 35 in a 35 and you have NEVER driven over the speed limit correct ??? cause if you have, then your knowingly breaking the law and putting people besides yourself at risk right ???? which means you are no better than people who are knowingly exceeding their tow limits...

I had an old geezer call my boat a pecker boat once.

i know its unsafe, and clearly some guys get very very emotional about this subject, but im wondering, and im sure there are, if there are any stats on accidents, for ex: how many boats being towed got in accidents, how many were towing over there limit, how many were within the limit, what the damage was, cost personally, and cost to insurance co.. What the percentage of boats being towed "unsafely" actually get into an accident.. and how many being towed "safely" get into accidents, this would be very interesting,