jet ski ban them

[terence]

Well I hope you all enjoyed the bank holiday sail the only thing that marred mine
was the jet ski chappys they were running circules round the yacht at megga speeds then off they went up the blackwater .well sailing at about 3knt we got up to
the top and they were draging this body out of the water it was one of the jet skiers
dead of course ?what a waste only a young man?
I have come across these peopole before i had one of sand head he said can you
tell me the way to land I said its that way keep the sun on your back plus I gave him a gallon of petrol to get back to land he had no compass gps radio or cell phone or petrol ???dead meat out near sand head!
there has been no end of death caused by these blasted things even my daughter
wanted one i said over your dead body ?? no lets ban them thats the best bet!!

 

[BarryH]

Its not the jetski that is dangerous, its the person on it. You could say the same about any form of transport, Raggies,Stinkies, Cars, Motorcycles, Trains even kiddies pushchairs are dangerous in the wrong hands. I think these things are the waterbourne equivalent of motorcross bikes. I think it all boils down to the advertising image of these things.

It brings us back to the old argument of licensing again. Its the age old problem of the minority and majority thing. I've met a few people using these things and most were quiet decent sensible types of chaps. True one or two were complete morons that needed protecting from themselves.



OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[kingfisher]

\"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

...it's the person who uses is". Utter B*ll*cks. Some things should not be put in the hands of the general public. So ban them !

Another thing: when I go sailing, it doesn't bother the other water users, whether raggie, stinkpot or diver.
When 5 jet skis venture out, even when they behave themselves, all tranquility is gone.

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[John7]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

Using the Blackwater, and a lesser extent the rivers up the east Coast, I have found them a real pest. The problem is what do you do with jet skis other than 'mess' about. The last time we were out we had two or three racing about in Salcock Creak, this is a restricted area. Latter out on the Blackwater the same ones were racing in and out of other boats. Off Stone there were more, racing each other and weaving in and out of moored boats. In our creek, Maylandsea, again there were two weaving around the moored boats and throwing spray over them. This again is in a speed restricted area. They were doing this for well over an hour.

Last weekend my son used the boat and said they were cut up by jet skis and had spray over them a number of times.

Clearly its a minority, but a growing problem, again I ask what else can you do with them but have 'fun' at the expense of most other water users. I would say the problem would be helped if more Marinas did as ours has (The Blackwater Marina)and stopped day launches of motor boats and jet skies.

 

[poter]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

Jet Skis are great fun but should be properly supervised (helmets, kill cords, life jackets) in a club environment. They are a menace when mixed in with other boat users.

I would have thought that the best way to deal with them is to restrict their use to Waterski/Jetski areas, or licence them to professional clubs, or for hire only and rigidly enforce it.
Anyone caught using a jetski out of these areas should have the equipment confiscated.


poter

 

[yachtcharisma]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

There are surely two rather different issues here. Jetskiers as a danger to themselves and jetskiers as a danger to others.

I'd be strongly against any legislation to ban / license jetskiers "for their own good" - I see no reason to stop people doing something dangerous just because its dangerous. It seems to me its up to people themselves to assess risks and take the consequences - I value very highly my own freedom to mountain walk, climb and sail where, when and how I want, all of which are activities that are potentially dangerous. Helmets, kill-cords (to some extent) and life jackets all come in this category and I don't have any problem with people dying because they chose not to use them - that was their decision.

Jetskiers as a danger / nuisance to others are a more difficult issue, but one I'd have thought better dealt with by creating jetski-friendly areas, maybe with their own challenges. Since I've never used one I'm not quite sure what this would be - slalom courses, perhaps?? But I do think that banning / limiting things you don't like is a very risky way to go - sooner or later someone will decide they don't like something that YOU do.

All IMHO, of course.

Cheers
Patrick

==================
Sailing a Corribee
vzone.virgin.net/patrick.fox
==================

 

[BarryH]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

I,m sorry I don't agree. Its thinking like that that will hold up the human race and put it back into the dark ages. As for the jet skiers ruining your tranquility, again the same could be said for any type of water craft enmass. I use poole a lot, on a number of occasions dinghy racers come across the harbour in swarms of 10 or 15 at a time. Alot of the time with total disregard for other craft I dont like it, but that doesn't mean i want to ban them. The same could be said for yacht racing in the solent. They have as much right as you or me to use the water. Agreed, do it responsibly and with consideration to others.

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[robp]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

In this sort of situation it has to be down to local enforcement. If there is a speed limit, then the local authority has to enforce it. It's generally agreed that any problem like this is worse on the South Coast, which is where the highest concentration of water users is. In Chichester Harbour there is virtually no problem with PWC's because the Harbour Conservancy is out there with Radar. I've seen several Bikes, Ribs, Sports Boat chased and caught. Now people know and it's expensive!

A much bigger problem in the Solent, which is getting worse daily, are large motor craft who are ignorant of their effect on sailing boats. I know it's a Chestnut and I don't usually get invloved with it. But last couple of weekends have been ruined by lost lunches, damage to boat interior, danger to crew etc.etc.

Where there's a limit though, keep reporting them until the authorities do something. Keep a camera handy.

 

[robp]

Re: There is a simple solution

You can't ban them, it just won't work. The arguments would go on forever. How fast does a tender with a 5 HP go?

I think it's in Italy, probably elswhere too - If it goes at more than 10 knots the user needs a licence. Simple!

 

[dickh]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

They are certainly a pest in the entrance to the Deben. last monday whilst entering just before high water, very crowded with boats coming in and out in the narrow entrance and there was a jetski towing a wobbly waterskier weaving in and out of the boats - passed straight across my bows about 10 yards away, if the skier had fallen(as he had two or three times already) there could have been an accident.
They should stay in the waterski or other designated area.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Guest]

Re: Jet Skis, ban them.....

I based in Ramsgate and have had no problems at all.

As it's my first season I admit I have made some mistakes and probably not given way when I was supposed to but have found everyone to be very courteous ( and forgiving) and found the Motor Boats have always passed giving plenty of room.

Perhaps it's just down to the fact that there just aren’t as many people out on the water around this part of the coast or just the people here are just more considerate. Who knows?




<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by TimE on 29/08/2002 13:22 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

If the waterskier fell on the ebb in the Deben other boats would be the least of his problems! I don't know what they're thinking of. My son and I saw one alone miles out by the Gunfleet. If his motor had gone phut there we'd be talking body bags. Completely mad.

 

[wpsalm]

Re:jetskiers

yes they,re a nuisance so what....calls to have anything you don,t like regulated by the relevent authoritys is not the answer... your out on the water not your back garden.. get on with it be alert pay attention and stop complaining.....

 

[poter]

Re:jetskiers

' yes they're are a nuisance so what...calls to have anything you don't like regulated'

Thats not the point.

I agree that you should not ban someone just for being a nuisance. But the regulation of jet ski users should be enforced, if not save their lives then mine.

It is now getting to be a major problem here in the west country with jet skiers being one of the largest causes of inshore fatalities and accidents and as recently reported there has been an increase this year of some 28%.

So what do you want to do about it just let them carry on?


poter

 

[wpsalm]

Re:jetskiers

If protecting jet skiers from themselves and any passersby is important then I agree ban them also ban motorcycles two seater automobiles and any outboard motor greater than 4 hp, the list goes on and on ....

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

Unfortunately they are Moron Magnets

We have had a few close shaves up in North Wales. The problem is they want to impress their mates on the beach so have been known to cruise amongst the swimmers.

At one beach they went over to the RNLi inshore station to ask about repairs. One guy there looking at the lifeboat (not rnli) said he would have a look at it but they were to keep to 4 knots when coming in the bay and not just cruise up and down the beach.
He found the problem (no fuel. doh)
They went back out and carried on slaloming around swimmers and an Oppy fleet.

He was told to f off when he went down to the water to repeat his illumination of local bye laws. He called the police to make them aware but could do no more. I would be at pains to state he was acting as a responsible citizen and not as a member of the rnli.

I have racked me brains I cannot see what licencing will do, it doesn't work on the roads. Taxing them favours rich morons. Banning them is not practical.

The best i can come up with
Educate them and corale them into specified areas, but they then will be more likely to hit each other ( some may view this as a good thing) but that bis my best shot.

You sail on the white bits, anchor on the blue bits, get drunk on the yellow bits

 

[BarryH]

Re: \"It\'s not the gun that\'s dangerous,...

Unfortunatly giving them their own area doesn't work either. Various zones were set up in poole, including a PWC zone along the north shore of Brownsea Island complete with a floating "rest" platform. I was around the area for 2 weeks, we saw only one jetski actually using the zone. The rest were buzzing around the entrance using the wash of passing boats and the Seacat! Now Poole has more "official" craft mulling about than most other ports I've been too. Not once was one of these people stopped and spoken to. For the period over the bank holiday there was a PHC boat at the entrance with a big 10 Knot sign on it with PWC's buzzing right passed it.

Is it not that the rules are there, but they are just not being enforced effectivly!!

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[paulstevens]

complete rubbish!

Youre ignoring the basic point. To drive two seater automobiles and motorcycles you need to be competent and insured. You also drive on highy organised and regulated roads and the vast majority do this with regard to other peoples safety.

As I see it there are two issues:

1.Safety: Picture a busy country park on a summers afternoon. People walking, flying kites, picnicking, perhaps playing games with the kids, birdwatching etc etc. All fairly sedate and safe pastimes. So along come two bods with their new scramble bikes they have just collected. They read the instructions whilst downing 6 pints of lager, then drive off at random into the park at 60mph.
Obviously it wouldnt happen because there are sensible laws to protect the public. However this is exactly what happens on the Blackwater every weekend in the summer. And dont give me that crap about the majority being responsible. I have sailed here for over 30 years and its just not true. These high speed pastimes are simply irreconcileble with a large number of other people moving around at relatively slow speed.

2.Enviroment and nuisance: One jetski ruins many other peoples enjoyment, be it boating, fishing, swimming, walking or just enjoying the peace and quiet. Thats not democratic but this local council has allowed a minority to run roughshod over the majority for years. We are also constantly told many of these areas are of outstanding importance to wildlife etc. Its like building a scramble track in the new forest.

The only solution is segrated areas as operate off Dovercourt, on the Deben and Ore.

 

[nicho]

Sailing up Southampton Water last week, there were two of these PWC's wake jumping - one of them was a larger type with two adults and a child squeezed between them. Nothing particularly odd about that these days, except the wake they were jumping was from a large containership (large enough to be escorted down past Fawley by the Harbour Masters launch!). Having tired of the wake at the stern of the ship, they then proceeded at speed some 50 metres off the starboard side of the vessel, right down to the bows. Luckily they did not try to go in front of it!!. Tired of life or what!!??

 

[Guest]

What if it\'s your daughter though ?

Lets say you have a daughter and she meets a chap with a waterbike.

If she went with him in a car society gives her some protection.

In the case of a waterbike capable remember of 40 KNOTS she has none and you could end up with a dead daughter.

I agree that some things are best left alone for the individual to decide but we have to take action on this one for the common good.