Jet Skis

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smth448

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Is there a way of dealing with people of questionable parentage playing with these irritating toys. Yesterday on the Medway, many yachts were buzzed by one particular &*&^$^$ who then went off to terrorise people trying to launch from the Wilsonians Sailing Club. After receiving a drenching in our cockpit and realising that there was absolutely nothing we could do about it thoughts turned to suitable retaliation. In th end the Medway Ports Authority turned up in a displacement launch. Of course they had no chance of catching him.
Any ideas on a good way to deal with them?
 
A big net. A harpoon gun. A big stick.

Last year or so I saw one or two jet skis doing this by Rochester bridge, coming up behind a boat and turning to soak those on the back. Then doing the same to a load of moored boats. Impressive it is not.
 
unfortunately mines are a somewhat indescriminate answer
the real answer is education.
The best way IMHO is launch officers at slipways and likely spots who charge for launching
They can give people a prep talk before launch pointing out local bye laws limits and good behaviour and if they spot an idiot should have power to take details and refuse launch rights and ciculate the details.

having said that there will always be idiots and these things can be idiot magnets. And they seem to want to pose close to shore rather than heading off out where noone can hear them see them or worse hit them.

having been on one i can confess the urge to hoon around at top whack is pretty irresistible, but the location is crucial. but once you have blasted around for 5 mons i found it all a bit pointless. whihc is why they seem to be owned for a summer then sold once they have had their fix.

i have known bays ruined by them launching en masse so no doubt they can be a nuisance even when they are not acting dangerously.

maybe some sort of cull???
 
It's not necessary for them to be en masse as a single one can ruin an area of about four square miles for hours at a time. I see no future in trying to educate these people who have achieved no sense of morality after ten years of so-called education already at my expense mostly. An outright ban in any waters where other water-users, people on shore, or natural beauty or wildlife exist is the only way for what pretends to be a civilised country. And properly policed,
 
Film their activies including their towing vehicle so as to include the reg no. Save to multiple discs.

Write a letter, include the by-law violations and the safety hazards to other boaters. Offer yourself as a witness. Ask what is their organisation going to do about it?

Mail to: Harbourmaster, owner of the launch slip, Police, Coastguard and Local Authority (leisure and recreations dept.)

See what happens.

Hereabouts PWCs are now licensed. The licence no is on view in big numbers. Local PWC riders know their access to the water is conditional. Moronic behaviour is now very much reduced.
 
indeed - a sensible constructive suggestion.

alternative is to contact the cg and log it with them

generally on the Medway they launch at an unregulated slip and use the estuary/river as a playground.

direct confrontation is not recommended - launch site altercations with marine police on the south coast have to be seen to be believed.

IMHO national registration with clearly visible numbers is the only sensible first step and should enable those considerate and sensible skiers to continue their sport in the long term with the minimum of inconvienince
 
I'm always having to fend off jetski's when out with divers on the RIB. They seem to completly ignore the big A flag I have hoisted, and come flying through the dive site! They soon get the idea when the big orange thing is keeping pace with them and the skipper is hurling abuse! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif In a way I guess I am educating them !
Once they slow down they usually appreciate the info i'm giving them.
Although saying that, unfortunately I sometimes have to do the same thing to motor boats!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Think you and Andrew are right, licensing is the only way. I know any steps toward increasing regulation is not where we want to be, but as usual a few selfish 'I will do what ever I want, when I want' people will ruin it for all.

I'm a biker as well as a boater and similar things are happening. First loud exhaust pipes were legislated out (no bad thing in itself - but a starting point for legislators) and the EU is now talking about imposing power limits on bikes. People love to exercise their rights but don't always care about responsibilities and new laws often result.
 
I think you are right. Its a shame but if the thing had had a registration number on it we could at least have found out who it was and reported him. Calling the police and saying there is a prat on a jet-ski being a pain is a waste of time. Obviously someone had done so in this case as the Port Authority turned up with sirens and blue flashers going. The prat ran off but they couldn't cath him as they were in a very nice displacement launch.
 
just to be clear I said 'registration' not 'licencing' - completely different things with different objectives - like number plates rather than driving licences.

I think however from the balance of your posts we are on th esame wavelength.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Calling the police and saying there is a prat on a jet-ski being a pain is a waste of time.

[/ QUOTE ]
No it ain't a waste of time if Kent Police are out and about in the area on their black RIB, it seems capable of Warp Speed. Several of the crew are also yotties and they are very interested in catching these people.
 
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