Wake Boat Ban?

[stephenkatsea]

Payment for Damage by your Wake - I know of a situation where about 7 figures were paid by the owners of one vessel for wake damage. Newport Harbor - still daylight, Christmas Boat Parade time, mid 1980s. A small boat caught fire at the dock near Cano’s, the original Stuft Shirt. A small Radon type Harbor Patrol boat soon responded, quickly cut the dock lines of the boat in flames. Towed it out into the bay away from the other docked boats and extinguished the fire with their fire monitor. The 2-3 guys on the little Harbor Patrol boat did a great job, right out of their training manual. I watched the entire thing from our docks at Lido. About 10 minutes after it was all over, here comes the local USCG cutter (82’ ?) which docked out towards the ocean entrance, blasting down the bay at what appeared to be near full speed and throwing a huge wake. Causing obvious damage to boats and docks. Unfortunately the owners who had to pay up ? ? That was us, the tax payers.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

We should just ban passing 50 cars at once on Rice Road, and go from there.

 

[EarpRider]

It's not the wake that kills docks, it's the owners.

Until you change their mindset to being responsible and respectful, docks will continue to die.
So.....never.
(I'm not a fan of them. I do see the importance of family time though)

The only way to have "family time" on a narrow strip of water like Parker is to put out a wave that F's Up the water for all the other family's?

 

[Bpracing1127]

We should just ban passing 50 cars at once on Rice Road, and go from there.

It already is illegal.

The difference is you Karens are complaining about someone also having fun. And you fail to realize that it will not stop there. Why do we keep suggesting laws and new laws. Havnt we had an enough? So if your suggesting new laws and want it to be like is was in the 80’s your either stupid or a moron so which is it?

No wonder cali took a shit. It was from you Karen’s

Just like with tranny and gays need to start calling them for what they are fags and homos

You Karen’s need to be told to shut the hell up and get off the water.

Funny you preach to me slow down the river will always be there. Shit it’s from fuckers like you that it won’t!!! Again you are either stupid or a moron cuz you don’t see it

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

It already is illegal.

The difference is you Karens are complaining about someone also having fun. And you fail to realize that it will not stop there. Why do we keep suggesting laws and new laws. Havnt we had an enough? So if your suggesting new laws and want it to be like is was in the 80’s your either stupid or a moron so which is it?

No wonder cali took a shit. It was from you Karen’s

Just like with tranny and gays need to start calling them for what they are fags and homos

You Karen’s need to be told to shut the hell up and get off the water.

Funny you preach to me slow down the river will always be there. Shit it’s from fuckers like you that it won’t!!! Again you are either stupid or a moron cuz you don’t see it

Well to be fair, we have two large boats ( a 26 and a 30), neither of which are wakeboard boats, and yet “big boat” also is negatively looked at as being a wake problem.

I defended large boats, and wakeboard boats in general to the Arrowhead Lake Assoc. that it wasn’t the size of the boat that was the problem but how the owner drove it. They backed down on banning boats based on size.

However, the ALA decided to still go after wakeboard boats despite the fact that you could disable the wake enhancements and still let them do their thing. But the ALA doesn’t have a track record of listening to logic, or to people that actually know about how boats work.

Also it’s worth mentioning that we are part owners of a Malibu Axis, and a Wakesetter since 2005, and I’ve always tried to be conscientious about driving it and when and when not to use the wake enhancements and when done put them away. We only use the Axis on Havasu, though we ran the Malibu on the river a few times.

 

[riverroyal]

The only way to have "family time" on a narrow strip of water like Parker is to put out a wave that F's Up the water for all the other family's?

You missed the point. Boating as a family is good thing. Large wakes are not.
The boats are fine in the correct spots. Not on parker.

 

[reb939]

I don't see this surfing thing lasting. I find it quite boring. Even the group of people in the boat look bored. Hence the over the top sound systems.

 

[BingerFang]

Just make it illegal to surf infront of peoples property, problem solved… these irresponsible wakeboard boat owners are going to ruin the river for all of us unfortunately.

 

[mbrown2]

That’s the thing where will it stop once started. I think sections of the river would be a nice trade off

There is only 13 miles ...who decides where... I don't support any bans of any boating activity ....Once you turn on the sprinkler it comes back around at you...

 

[Badchoices03]

This ban can actually be forced. Wake enhancing units are banned on the lake where I live, Canyon Lake, CA. The wave tractors are quite destructive. One can only hope this happens in Parker, AZ.

But they hardly ever enforce it....our lake is a fkn mess on any summer weekend from wakeboats...

 

[Badchoices03]

Isn’t 9/10 boats in canyon lake wake boats?

I think more like 50% pontoon boats, 40% wakeboats, and 10% everything else...

 

[Badchoices03]

For all you guys saying ban them, or even entertaining. How about you just stop going to the river.

Of you are on the side of ban anything then YOU are the problem and a river Karen.

In fact Dave should be giving you a vacation for even mentioning it!!!

Go be a Karen somewhere else!!!

Wants people banned for suggesting something else be banned....is that like an uno reverse card Karen??

 

[Singleton]

Almost everyone saying ’no’ has never owned any property that has been damaged due to the operating not caring what the wake does.

I was the voting member of the family cabin who voted to ban large displacement wake boats. 100% it was the operator (usually a family member under the age of 25) not the boat owner causing the issue. Most folks would not surf/wake in front of their property, they would go to another section of the lake to surf/wake. Our family had a normal ski boat, fishing boat and a toon. We would wake behind the ski boat. The waves were not as big, but it worked.

What got 95% of HOA members to vote was a video by the local fish and game department. Video was an operator getting stopped on the lake for causing damage to docks (my dock was one of the docks damaged). Officer was enforcing current laws, and my neighbor was the one who reported the boat. Our lake was one of only a few in the county that had a F&G camp on the lake that would patrol Thursday through Saturday.

• When asked if he lived on the lake? he answered yes.
• When asked where? he said down around the bend.
  When asked why was he surfing a mile away from parents property? he answered ‘my dad told me not to surf in front of our property to avoid damaging the dock and shore patio.’

That was enough to piss almost all voting members off and force the vote.
HOA also ended up forcing that owner to sell!
Lake HOA have some major power.

Call me a Karen if you want, but until operators wake up, options to reduce damage are limited.

 

[hallett21]

Banning anything has never worked. They’ll come for you eventually

 

[mbrown2]

Almost everyone saying ’no’ has never owned any property that has been damaged due to the operating not caring what the wake does.

I was the voting member of the family cabin who voted to ban large displacement wake boats. 100% it was the operator (usually a family member under the age of 25) not the boat owner causing the issue. Most folks would not surf/wake in front of their property, they would go to another section of the lake to surf/wake. Our family had a normal ski boat, fishing boat and a toon. We would wake behind the ski boat. The waves were not as big, but it worked.

What got 95% of HOA members to vote was a video by the local fish and game department. Video was an operator getting stopped on the lake for causing damage to docks (my dock was one of the docks damaged). Officer was enforcing current laws, and my neighbor was the one who reported the boat. Our lake was one of only a few in the county that had a F&G camp on the lake that would patrol Thursday through Saturday.

• When asked if he lived on the lake? he answered yes.
• When asked where? he said down around the bend.
  When asked why was he surfing a mile away from parents property? he answered ‘my dad told me not to surf in front of our property to avoid damaging the dock and shore patio.’

That was enough to piss almost all voting members off and force the vote.
HOA also ended up forcing that owner to sell!
Lake HOA have some major power.

Call me a Karen if you want, but until operators wake up, options to reduce damage are limited.

Since the HOA has so much power, couldn't you just fine, or have the owner moved out for the negligence vs taking away others freedoms to have a boat they choose that could be used responsibly...

 

[Croz]

Banning anything has never worked. They’ll come for you eventually

I think they already are lol.

 

[Taboma]

Banning anything has never worked. They’ll come for you eventually

I disagree, I find that paramount to stating there should be NO LAWs regulating anything, anywhere, at anytime, because eventually somebody will create one that will negatively impact you.
Rules, regulations, laws and bans are implemented due to the negligence or blatant inconsideration of one person by endangering or adversely impacting the lives of others.
What you are suggesting is outright chaos and if that's the case, then I should also have the right to STOP you using any means necessary.

 

[Singleton]

Since the HOA has so much power, couldn't you just fine, or have the owner moved out for the negligence vs taking away others freedoms to have a boat they choose that could be used responsibly...

That was done.
What forced the vote was when the owner admitted he told his son to surf somewhere else to not damage their property.
I posted earlier the ban was for non-property owners. Owners were allowed to keep their boats, but were forced to surf more than 500 feet from shore.

 

[hallett21]

I disagree, I find that paramount to stating there should be NO LAWs regulating anything, anywhere, at anytime, because eventually somebody will create one that will negatively impact you.
Rules, regulations, laws and bans are implemented due to the negligence or blatant inconsideration of one person by endangering or adversely impacting the lives of others.
What you are suggesting is outright chaos and if that's the case, then I should also have the right to STOP you using any means necessary.

There are already plenty of laws on the books.

When do we ban fast boats?

I can’t think of a ban that has ended positively?

 

[Taboma]

There are already plenty of laws on the books.

When do we ban fast boats?

I can’t think of a ban that has ended positively?

Most likely when the level of untrained, incompetent, or completely inconsiderate operators cause a sufficient number of speed related casualties that causes the public to pressure for control of it.
If you're unfortunate enough to be a causality of such a tragic occurrence you will be on the evening news and writing a thousand letters demanding change.
The other thing that will bring a ban or increased regulation will be litigation against a public entity.

I was accustomed to many regulations during my youth at Lake Arrowhead, being a small lake with the number of boats increasing annually, having some clown doing 100mph across the lake would have been ridiculously dangerous.
Of course we all pushed the lake's 35mph speed limit, but if so we did it away from traffic and during off hours.

I think there's times when it's safe for boats to run balls out up river and I believe there's times when they shouldn't, but unfortunately far to many still do because some operators are fucking stupid and inconsiderate.
It's the stupid and inconsiderate that almost always ruin it for those of us who are responsible. You know, like Wake Boarding in front of docks.

Positive or negative outcome of any regulation, law or ban is dependent to how you or yours had been affected or impacted. It's strictly an opinion, as such, some will see it one way, others another.

I believe we'd see regulations to CONTROL fast boats before there's be any attempt to outright ban them. Even in the 70's the authorities didn't ban us from launching our Hondo drag boat at Lake Perris, they just gave us a damned stern lecture on how we were going to be on their radar once it touched water.

If operators of fast boats want to maintain the PRIVLEDGE of going fast on public waters, then they damn well best be policing themselves and their peers or that privilege will be revoked.
YES PRIVILEGE, when you're sharing the water with the general public, on a public waterway, they have more right to the expectation of being offered safe passage then YOUR rights to endanger their well being by unsafe behavior.

PS: I don't favor a ban on fast boats, I own one that's faster than yours, so HA --- BUT, as the owner of a smaller boat, I'd sure be selfishly digging a ban on boats longer that 30' on Havasu.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I think what’s funny about all this is the Cal Boater ID didn’t cover bad behavior. It teaches rules but not results.

There ought to be a “blood on the waterway” section to get people to understand why the rules are important, and what’s the most common waterway accidents to be aware of.

I’m trying to get the ALA to come up with a more results focused drivers license test than just some rules open book test the parents fill out for everyone and turn in, and then there’s a dozen license holders who never saw the rule book.

 

[rivermobster]

Wants people banned for suggesting something else be banned....is that like an uno reverse card Karen??

 

[ClownRoyal]

Pretty sure they are banned on the Spokane River Below CDA.

Nope and it will never happen. 90% of the houses on the river have a Wake Boat.

 

[CammdSS]

Maybe the lake lice will ban together to create a cult against the tsunami boys and maybe there could be a turf war

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Nope and it will never happen. 90% of the houses on the river have a Wake Boat.

I recall reading an article in the paper a couple of summers ago about the proposed ban due to erosion and dock damage; I guess it never happened. They made it seem like it was a done deal, and Spirit Lake was next.

 

[ChrisV]

More complaining on here than "The View"

 

[skifaster]

Maybe the lake lice will ban together to create a cult against the tsunami boys and maybe there could be a turf war

I could go on and on with my negative feelings towards the impacts of the wake boats. And yes, it has impacted me financially with the destruction to my dock in Parker. But there is zero chance to go after anyone for the liability because it all happens over time.
But even with my dislike for the river wreckers, I am against more regulation. As many have said, they will soon say we can't go over 35MPH, my boat will be too loud, then 10' Schiada's will be illegal because they are too small. Parker will become over-regulated, just like Lake Arrowhead.
It is all a slippery slope.
They already took away the best stretch of water for skiing when the casino was built and they put the buoys up river. Not sure how big of a hassle it is now, but when I was organizing the ski races for a couple years, it was a big battle to allow the race course to go past the buoys in front the casino. All because of too much regulation (erosion, endangered species, etc.).

Marine Stadium is another example, literally built for racing, and now it isn't allowed anymore.

Bottom line, I am sick of wake boats, but I hate over regulation even more.

 

[poncho]

I could go on and on with my negative feelings towards the impacts of the wake boats. And yes, it has impacted me financially with the destruction to my dock in Parker. But there is zero chance to go after anyone for the liability because it all happens over time.
But even with my dislike for the river wreckers, I am against more regulation. As many have said, they will soon say we can't go over 35MPH, my boat will be too loud, then 10' Schiada's will be illegal because they are too small. Parker will become over-regulated, just like Lake Arrowhead.
It is all a slippery slope.
They already took away the best stretch of water for skiing when the casino was built and they put the buoys up river. Not sure how big of a hassle it is now, but when I was organizing the ski races for a couple years, it was a big battle to allow the race course to go past the buoys in front the casino. All because of too much regulation (erosion, endangered species, etc.).

Marine Stadium is another example, literally built for racing, and now it isn't allowed anymore.

Bottom line, I am sick of wake boats, but I hate over regulation even more.

Yep

 

[poncho]

Like I said in my original post I'm not affected by these boats where I live, word got out my lake has some hidden goodies just under the surface and us locals have really bad amnesia when asked where they are.

 

[77charger]

Banning anything has never worked. They’ll come for you eventually

IMO that is how environmentalist work. They divide and conquer. They place their bullseye one group in an industry and go for it usually the roaches like sxs,jet skis,wake makers etc.

They know others have hate for them they go along and away goes the roach. Next they go for others as they now know the banned group won’t stick up for them as they are divided.

I know the two stroke ban at Powell was to target pwcs. Was easy go for the two stroke engines. The boaters were for it til they realized every outboard was also two stroke. We’ll that number was more than the pwc was so it was changed to allow the outboards still.

 

[EarpRider]

Nope and it will never happen. 90% of the houses on the river have a Wake Boat.

90%
Just because a boat has a tower doesn't mean it has ballast tanks, wake shapers, etc..

 

[EarpRider]

I could go on and on with my negative feelings towards the impacts of the wake boats. And yes, it has impacted me financially with the destruction to my dock in Parker. But there is zero chance to go after anyone for the liability because it all happens over time.
But even with my dislike for the river wreckers, I am against more regulation. As many have said, they will soon say we can't go over 35MPH, my boat will be too loud, then 10' Schiada's will be illegal because they are too small. Parker will become over-regulated, just like Lake Arrowhead.
It is all a slippery slope.
They already took away the best stretch of water for skiing when the casino was built and they put the buoys up river. Not sure how big of a hassle it is now, but when I was organizing the ski races for a couple years, it was a big battle to allow the race course to go past the buoys in front the casino. All because of too much regulation (erosion, endangered species, etc.).

Marine Stadium is another example, literally built for racing, and now it isn't allowed anymore.

Bottom line, I am sick of wake boats, but I hate over regulation even more.

The buoys at the casino weren't put in because of some regulations. They were put in because the CRIT owns the land and they can do whatever they dam well please.
They had waterski races from Bluewater past the boys , turning at Rivershore Estates two weekends ago.
Marine Stadium being shut down was because of a racing death of a driver at another venue and then the insurance went through roof and the City of LB didn't have the balls to have the possibility of a death in their city.

 

[MOUZER]

Like I said in my original post I'm not affected by these boats where I live, word got out my lake has some hidden goodies just under the surface and us locals have really bad amnesia when asked where they are.

yeppers my lake 3 yrs when i moved here there quite a few do to good CLEMSON college 3 miles away had a couple of dealerships on main st now 3 yrs later theres 5 dealerships in this lil town.....ther asking like $200k for these things.....ive never seen so may stereo speakers on a roll bar boat

 

[MOUZER]

this is so t

ypical...........

 

[hallett21]

Some of you don’t rip speed alley and it shows.

 

[skifaster]

The buoys at the casino weren't put in because of some regulations. They were put in because the CRIT owns the land and they can do whatever they dam well please.
They had waterski races from Bluewater past the boys , turning at Rivershore Estates two weekends ago.
Marine Stadium being shut down was because of a racing death of a driver at another venue and then the insurance went through roof and the City of LB didn't have the balls to have the possibility of a death in their city.

I understand the CRIT part on the buoys, I also understand they had ski races past the buoys two weeks ago as I was there. I also know for a fact, from being the one dealing with CRIT, Bluewater, and the Coast Guard when I put on the ski races at the Casino, that they were not going to allow us to go over 5MPH past the buoy line. It required a lot of back and forth and we finally got approval but it wasn't going to happen and put events at Bluewater in jeopardy. Not sure if there is still an argument on that these days, but it 100% was when I ran the ski races there in 2009-2011ish.
I am aware of the death, insurance, city of LB stuff as well. I ran a couple of ski races at Marine stadium in 2012 and 2013, and am familiar with dealing with the city of LB and the challenges of all aspects from permits, life guards, insurance, etc. that all make it difficult to host events that the stadium was perfectly built for. It sounds like you are familiar as well.
My point was that people have been trying to shut down races in marine stadium for multiple reasons for a long time. The noise, accidents, etc.
Hopefully this doesn't come across as argumentative, but I've personally dealt with the powers that be in these locations and it is painful.
My point stands, over regulation sucks and is a slippery slope.

 

[rrrr]

Banning anything has never worked. They’ll come for you eventually

I disagree, I find that paramount to stating there should be NO LAWs regulating anything, anywhere, at anytime, because eventually somebody will create one that will negatively impact you.
Rules, regulations, laws and bans are implemented due to the negligence or blatant inconsideration of one person by endangering or adversely impacting the lives of others.
What you are suggesting is outright chaos and if that's the case, then I should also have the right to STOP you using any means necessary.

Indeed.

The "slippery slope" arguments are a bit ridiculous. Boats throwing out a 6' wake on a river lined with private docks are causing great economic damage and shoreline erosion. The operators have no consideration for others, and are oblivious to the damage they cause. These are real, quantifiable facts.

Those people are the antithesis of the vast majority of boaters. I don't count those fucktards as members of the boating fraternity. By defending them, all recreational boaters will be tarred with the same brush. Do you want to tell non-boaters you strongly support people that thoughtlessly destroy expensive private property and public recreational waters while causing significant ecological damage, or do you support regulations that limit specific, identifiable, and irresponsible behavior? Which position is going to result in restrictions on all boaters? Hint: It's not the latter.

Have you noticed that not every Hellcat is seen driving on freeways going 175 MPH? The car is capable of it, but the car isn't illegal. Violating the law is. Can you understand the correlation I'm making?

 

[hallett21]

Indeed.

The "slippery slope" arguments are a bit ridiculous. Boats throwing out a 6' wake on a river lined with private docks are causing great economic damage and shoreline erosion. The operators have no consideration for others, and are oblivious to the damage they cause. These are real, quantifiable facts.

Those people are the antithesis of the vast majority of boaters. I don't count those fucktards as members of the boating fraternity. By defending them, all recreational boaters will be tarred with the same brush. Do you want to tell non-boaters you strongly support people that thoughtlessly destroy expensive private property and public recreational waters while causing significant ecological damage, or do you support regulations that limit specific, identifiable, and irresponsible behavior? Which position is going to result in restrictions on all boaters? Hint: It's not the latter.

Have you noticed that not every Hellcat is seen driving on freeways going 175 MPH? The car is capable of it, but the car isn't illegal. Violating the law is. Can you understand the correlation I'm making?

I support enforcing the rules and laws on the books that say you’re responsible for your wake. Can anyone tell me a “ban” that was positive? From prohibition, marijuana to wake boats. I’ve yet to see one that comes with no future repercussions.

I’ve had 26-40+ boats throw wakes that border on surf boats. Ever seen a Hallett 340 take their time getting on plane lol? Or an Ebtide? Neither have ballast tanks.

I can legitimately throw a 3ft wake with a Hallett Vector if I wanted. Everyone in the back of the boat, motor trimmed up past neutral and keep it at 2800 rpm, nose so high I gotta look over the side.

These 6ft wake stories are told all over the place. And I know, I know, everyone has crossed these twice a trip. Reality is most boaters do not understand what a legitimate 6ft wave looks like.

Edit. To your hellcat point. For everyone that gets wrapped around a pole, how many have broken 175mph on a road and gotten away with it?

 

[Ultra912]

Local private lake here in the High Desert (Spring Valley Lake) has had their clay liner eroded to the extent that prices to repair are in the 10-20 million dollar range. The consulting firm that did the liner testing and diagnosed the cause and it was found to be 87% surf boats and 13% natural erosion.

 

[rrrr]

I support enforcing the rules and laws on the books that say you’re responsible for your wake. Can anyone tell me a “ban” that was positive? From prohibition, marijuana to wake boats. I’ve yet to see one that comes with no future repercussions.

I’ve had 26-40+ boats throw wakes that border on surf boats. Ever seen a Hallett 340 take their time getting on plane lol? Or an Ebtide? Neither have ballast tanks.

I can legitimately throw a 3ft wake with a Hallett Vector if I wanted. Everyone in the back of the boat, motor trimmed up past neutral and keep it at 2800 rpm, nose so high I gotta look over the side.

These 6ft wake stories are told all over the place. And I know, I know, everyone has crossed these twice a trip. Reality is most boaters do not understand what a legitimate 6ft wave looks like.

Edit. To your hellcat point. For everyone that gets wrapped around a pole, how many have broken 175mph on a road and gotten away with it?

We're saying the same thing. I think people that cause the damage I noted should aggressively be held responsible for it.

But I'm also saying that those boats aren't compatible with constricted waterways. There's no way they won't cause damage while surfing.

I don't see anything controversial in that statement.

 

[hallett21]

We're saying the same thing. I think people that cause the damage I noted should aggressively be held responsible for it.

But I'm also saying that those boats aren't compatible with constricted waterways. There's no way they won't cause damage while surfing.

I don't see anything controversial in that statement.

I’m with you on that. I just think it’s silly to ban the boats because if you run them with no ballast they’re the same as anything else.

But then like @Crazyhippy said if you ban ballast, now you’ve banned a ski race boat.

Imagine doing everything right at your local lake with a 2-500k “surf boat” and having it banned. This is the same guy who’s funding the local gas station, bar, tipping staff around the lake etc. All because other people couldn’t get it together? That doesn’t sit well with me.

My whole point is change surf boats to, K boats, fast boats, big boats, loud boats, etc etc etc.

 

[done]

I don't see this surfing thing lasting. I find it quite boring. Even the group of people in the boat look bored. Hence the over the top sound systems.

I think most people would never put the effort to be a great slalom skier these days....Seems wakeboarding ,wake surfing is kind of the new Knee
boarding back int the day.Takes a lot of effort to pull off a EP 65" on your elbow, and a beating practicing that at 37 MPH. Shore Start, LOL

 

[hallett21]

I think most people would never put the effort to be a great slalom skier these days....Seems wakeboarding ,wake surfing is kind of the new Knee
boarding back int the day.Takes a lot of effort to pull off a EP 65" on your elbow, and a beating practicing that at 37 MPH. Shore Start, LOL

I’d say the majority of our crew water skis but it’s fun to surf too. It’s just a different dynamic.

I don’t own a surf boat so I can only partake with friends. But loading up 10 people with some good tunes is a good time. We never do it in the way of traffic etc.

 

[rrrr]

I think most people would never put the effort to be a great slalom skier these days....Seems wakeboarding ,wake surfing is kind of the new Knee
boarding back int the day.Takes a lot of effort to pull off a EP 65" on your elbow, and a beating practicing that at 37 MPH. Shore Start, LOL

Believe it, the effort for me just learning to get up on one was considerable. Imagine weighing 240 and trying to get up behind a tri-hull powered by a Merc 140 and carrying five other people. I started with my back foot free, moving my center of gravity back trying to minimize the resistance on the ski.

When I said go, a huge bubble of water formed around me, and I had to hold my breath for what seemed to be minutes. Finally the ski began to support my weight and I could kick in the back foot.

After three seasons or so and a tournament boat, I could run a course without crashing. I'm a slow learner. Pulling off rope? Beach start? Forget that.

Wakeboarding wasn't much better. It took a while before I learned a trick other than the face plant. But I became a good slalom skier.

Of course, that's like all the other stuff I post about. Used to be good at everything. I still have my Kidder Redline, but it's in a bag out in the shop. Hasn't been used in anger since around 2003.

 

[hallett21]

Is this ok?

Wakeboarding on Instagram: "Nothing like wide stances, board shorts past the knees and the Guano Apes blasting from the tower speakers. Find your favorite classics on #FlyhighTV. & ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST @flffilms @stream_flyhigh_tv #wakeboardi

4,062 likes, 49 comments - wakeboarding on March 18, 2024: "Nothing like wide stances, board shorts past the knees and the Guano Apes blasting from the tower speakers. Find your favorite classics on #FlyhighTV. & ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST @flffilms @stream_flyhigh_tv #wakeboarding #wakeboard...

www.instagram.com

 

[EarpRider]

I’m with you on that. I just think it’s silly to ban the boats because if you run them with no ballast they’re the same as anything else.

But then like @Crazyhippy said if you ban ballast, now you’ve banned a ski race boat.

Imagine doing everything right at your local lake with a 2-500k “surf boat” and having it banned. This is the same guy who’s funding the local gas station, bar, tipping staff around the lake etc. All because other people couldn’t get it together? That doesn’t sit well with me.

My whole point is change surf boats to, K boats, fast boats, big boats, loud boats, etc etc etc.

What? A real direct drive ski race boat is built to put out as little wake as possible.

 

[EarpRider]

Is this ok?

Wakeboarding on Instagram: "Nothing like wide stances, board shorts past the knees and the Guano Apes blasting from the tower speakers. Find your favorite classics on #FlyhighTV. & ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST @flffilms @stream_flyhigh_tv #wakeboardi

4,062 likes, 49 comments - wakeboarding on March 18, 2024: "Nothing like wide stances, board shorts past the knees and the Guano Apes blasting from the tower speakers. Find your favorite classics on #FlyhighTV. & ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST @flffilms @stream_flyhigh_tv #wakeboarding #wakeboard...

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Yes! That boats wake is NOTHING compared to something like a Super Nautique G23 Paragon.

 

[hallett21]

Yes! That boats wake is NOTHING compared to something like a Super Nautique G23 Paragon.
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Is that a 6ft wake? Cause apparently that’s what’s running around every lake and dock.

 

[hallett21]

What? A real direct drive ski race boat is built to put out as little wake as possible.

A surf boat with no ballast puts out a similar wake to a Hallett 240…..

 

[rrrr]

Is that a 6ft wake? Cause apparently that’s what’s running around every lake and dock.

Who said that? Do some surf boats throw a six footer? Yes. That's not the issue. Exaggeration and ridicule, regardless of the source and its intent, are not facts.

Is this a serious conversation about the reaction some people and groups are having which might result in a wholesale ban of the boats on some bodies of water? If it is, then what needs to be discussed is what the surfing community is saying and doing about the situation. They're the ones that will be ultimately responsible for what happens on specific lakes and rivers.

They shouldn't dismiss the complaints as cranky old fucks that want to ruin their fun. An alliance of property owners, politicians, climate freaks, environmental "justice" supporters, and similar groups can assemble powerful and successful opposition to surfers. Supporters need to produce a coalition of interested parties, involving users, media outlets of the sport, manufacturers, and others, and they must be proactive.

They have to convince the guys on the water this is a real issue, and it's not going away. The way the users operate, which means where, when, and how, is highly visible to the public. They had better figure out that some self imposed limitations and concessions to those opposed is a much better outcome than shutdowns by politicians that will be advocated by the above mentioned alliance.

California isn't the only place where government excels in telling people what they aren't allowed to do. This could get ugly.