Wakeup Call on the Parker Strip

[surfer2001]

Ok, first history, IÂ’m a Seadoo rider & a Boater. I grew up on boats and started riding jet skis when Kawasaki first brought out the 440 standup (early eighties) .
On this last fourth of July, I was driving my boat (a 25’ Nordic Rage) down river towards “The Roadrunner” for the wet T-Shirt contest. I had 11 passengers on board. The river was really busy with both boat and Jet Ski traffic. Knowing that many Jet Ski riders don’t look before turning, I was watching VERY CAREFULLY, but still it didn’t matter. We were probably doing about 55 when this guy (on a new Seadoo) flips a bitch right in front of me. His ski was so new it didn’t even have the registration numbers on the hull. I missed him by inches, he was riding parallel to me (two-a-clock), 50 ~ 60 feet off my starboard bow also doing about 55. This bozo turned without even glancing over his shoulder, and he was maybe 35 years old (not a kid). I was so shaken by this I turned around and chased him down only to see him do the same thing (on the other side of the river) He was so lame he didn’t realize he almost died. Meeting up with him, I ripped him a new A$$ hole and I told him to get off the river until he learns how to navigate better.
To me itÂ’s partly the dealerÂ’s fault; new skis & boats should never leave the showroom floor without the operators given comprehensive instruction.
I have to share responsibility for the near miss because I did not have time to do ANYTHING. I thought I had enough room and time to take evasive action. NOPE, the 50~60 feet combined with 100+MPH closing speed = a near fatality
EVERYBODY needs to be aware of his or her soundings. Just like driving a car in heavy traffic. Would you change lanes without looking?
Also taking any new toy out on one of the busiest weekends of the year makes no sense. The Parker Strip is one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. I own a house there, and IÂ’ve been going there for years, it seems every big holiday there are deaths, usually more than one. If you own a ski, donÂ’t let inexperienced riders out of your site. DonÂ’t launch if itÂ’s busy, keep the toys on the trailer. Handing the keys to somebody without training is asking for trouble. Protect your kids and friends, and always keep drunks far from the water.
Sorry for the long post, but I had to get this off my chest. Almost mowing a guy over was not fun, I thought about what could have happened over and over.

[mirvin]

God forbid you had a drink within the last hour too!! Even though it was his fault you'de be facing big trouble!
mirvin

[JustMVG]

You know i felt the same way after doing a 75yard wheelie with my F4i the day i bought it, there needs to be some training before you buy or rent. I am kidding of course it was only 50 yds, tires were still new kinda slick. What you bring up though is a serious problem, safety versus the dollar, i can't begin to tell you how many lake lice i nearly ran into or ran into me, i don't drink so i'm good there it's just that the rental guys do not seem to give a darn anymore, you got the money great sign here, this here makes it go fast, real fast and if you turn it using this you go real fast and turn on a dime, oh and don't worry, the other boats will get out of YOUR way 'cause they have too. Yup i can hear it now.
Glad you made it out of there without any damage or worse.
MVG

[HOOTER SLED-]

Not to be a dick, but do you think that 55 was a little fast on a narrow river if it's that congested?? That big of a boat doesn't turn on a dime right?? I agree w/ you on the dealership thing. I think a mandatory boater safety class should be required. No #'s on that thing? You're given reg when you purchase one of those. Again, the newbie doesn't realize they should put their #'s on their ride before they take it out. Someone has to tell them. The dealer just cares about the sale.

[IN2-IN2MX]

Wow! Scary. The same thing happened to us...some chick on a jet ski totally cut us off and didn't even realize she almost got slammed. Thank goodness we weren't going that fast. We started yelling at her to "be careful" and "watch where you're going" but she looked really confused, like WE'D done something wrong. :mad:

[Krazy K]

Kinda OT but the 440's came out in 1977. They were yellow and black.
I haven't been out to Parker since '98. (I've been here 6 years) I can only imagine what that river is like now.

[Debbolas]

At least you were watching and ready when this guy pulled this stunt. I always expect the Sea Doo's in front of me to do something stupid.
And how about the jerks that ride 15 ft off the back of your boat?
And the ones that ride right behind your kids that you are tubing!
(Last time we went to Moabi on a weekend):mad:

[superdave013]

Originally posted by IN2-IN2MX
Wow! Scary. The same thing happened to us...some chick on a jet ski totally cut us off and didn't even realize she almost got slammed. Thank goodness we weren't going that fast. We started yelling at her to "be careful" and "watch where you're going" but she looked really confused, like WE'D done something wrong. :mad:
Same here but she was not so lucky. Ran a waverunner right in the side of an 26' American Offshore. Just about killed her. Oh, she was 14 years old too. Her aunt (~30yo) was riding on the back. That was a bad deal. I'm sure Boat Cop remembers that one.

[Toomstone]

this last week my brother was wakeboarding in havasu. it was the middle of the week. some girl who had no idea what she was doing was making a circle(not a wide circle at that) at about 10 or 15 around the boat talking to her frend on the back and my brother is floating behind the boat. remember this is the middle of the week wide open lake. then we yelled at her to get away and she started coming closer. we yelled to get away from the boat and she finally listened.

[Boatcop]

it seems every big holiday there are deaths, usually more than one.
Not to take away from the point of Surfer's message, but since 1995 there has been only two collision deaths on the Parker Strip on a major weekend. One was July 4th weekend, 2003, the other was July 4th weekend 1995. We have averaged 1-2 fatal accidents per year since 1990.
All other boating fatalities were either during the week, or in the off season when crowds were down. AND every fatality, (with the exception of the current case where the responsible party fled the jurisdiction for 2 days, and could not be tested) has involved boater(s) who were legally impaired.
Keep in mind that the Parker Strip is the 2nd most used waterway in the State. Only Havasu attracts more boaters. And in a time when boat use in Arizona is down from previous years, by anywhere from 10% on Havasu, 35% in the Bullhead area, to 50% on Mead, boat use on the Strip has increased by 35%. The only other waterways in Arizona to increase is Lake Pleasant and Lake Alamo.
When developers try and put more land in the hands of private persons, congestion goes along with it. Add the Casino, new parks on the California side, a new planned development north of Holiday Harbor, and the problem will just get worse and worse.
We have our hands full just trying to keep up with what we have now, much less contend with what may be coming in the future. With only 4 of us to handle the strip, not to mention the other 110 miles of River, South Lake Havasu, and an inland lake, our work is cut out for us.
I was able to obtain funding for an additional Officer, but that won't go into effect until July 2005. In the meantime, we do the best we can with what we have in helping to provide a relatively safe environment for ALL boaters to enjoy.
All we ask is for some level of cooperation, common sense, and courtesy from our visitors. Most comply. But there are always those who don't.
Or won't.

[Havasu Hangin']

My my...that is terrible.
Parker is crowded?

[moonridge]

Boat cop...........how do we go about not letting them build any more along the strip. Cant a moritorium be put in place?

[TCHB]

I had a home on the Parker Strip from 1980 thru 1995 and watched the river change. They have added over 3,000 new spots on the river (Emerald Cover 600 plus) and the building continues. Now you add all the jet skis, more boats, bigger boats, faster boats, and all the cement walls along the river and you have a mess on most weekends. What do you think it will look like after the mobile home park fills up across from Roadrunner??

[shueman]

Originally posted by Boatcop
......We have our hands full just trying to keep up with what we have now, much less contend with what may be coming in the future. With only 4 of us to handle the strip, not to mention the other 110 miles of River, South Lake Havasu, and an inland lake, our work is cut out for us.
Hat's off to you and your team, BC....that's not much support for that busy of an area...4 only?

[Kachina26]

Originally posted by HOOTER SLED-
Not to be a dick, but do you think that 55 was a little fast on a narrow river if it's that congested?? That big of a boat doesn't turn on a dime right?? I agree w/ you on the dealership thing. I think a mandatory boater safety class should be required. No #'s on that thing? You're given reg when you purchase one of those. Again, the newbie doesn't realize they should put their #'s on their ride before they take it out. Someone has to tell them. The dealer just cares about the sale.
You ain't being a dick, that popped into my head right away. The information comes with the ski, you must read/watch it. I did when I got mine years ago. I bet most don't.:frown:

[Debbolas]

Originally posted by moonridge
Boat cop...........how do we go about not letting them build any more along the strip. Cant a moritorium be put in place?
Only if you there is Indian Land around..................jk/lol;)

[surfer2001]

I did say I accepted some of the responsibility (even though I was going straight). 55 mph, yea maybe too fast, but at that time the guy on the Seadoo was the only watercraft in my vicinity. When I do come into close contact with other boats, I normally get way off the hammer. As I said it was a wakeup call. This incident happened just down river from Foxes, maybe ½ mile down. In that location the river is fairly wide, and I thought there was no chance of anything bad happening, and that was my mistake. Never again!

[Kachina26]

Originally posted by surfer2001
I did say I accepted some of the responsibility (even though I was going straight). 55 mph, yea maybe too fast, but at that time the guy on the Seadoo was the only watercraft in my vicinity. When I do come into close contact with other boats, I normally get way off the hammer. As I said it was a wakeup call. This incident happened just down river from Foxes, maybe ½ mile down. In that location the river is fairly wide, and I thought there was no chance of anything bad happening, and that was my mistake. Never again!
When you least expect it............ I had someone cut off the guy on my left and nearly got killed by me. I figured with Chump Change running right next to me I had no worries...........WRONG!

[JustMVG]

Originally posted by HOOTER SLED-
Not to be a dick, but do you think that 55 was a little fast on a narrow river if it's that congested?? That big of a boat doesn't turn on a dime right?? I agree w/ you on the dealership thing. I think a mandatory boater safety class should be required. No #'s on that thing? You're given reg when you purchase one of those. Again, the newbie doesn't realize they should put their #'s on their ride before they take it out. Someone has to tell them. The dealer just cares about the sale.
Hooter your 100% right , the situation was not right and that accident was avoidable, all i am saying is that there needs to be more training, and i am not talking only about watercraft, automobiles, hell, if i am lucky enough to be 16 and have Ross Perot for a daddy, i can go purchase any of the supercars out there, with a little time behind the wheel of the "training" car,usually a sub compact, ii get a little bitty test and voila i have a license, get in my 700 hp super machine and with my little bit of experience off i go, i have always said there should be a licensing system that proves your ability to drive the type car you are going to drive, no matter how much money i have i am not going to be allowed to race in any pro series without the proper training, you have to work up to the big leagues.
But as with cars and Boats money gets you what you want but not the experience that you REALLY need, and thats my rant on the rental part of this, give a kid a turbo honda wave runner or whatever they are called and he/she is gonna go full throttle right out of the gate, the heck with the 5mph or Flat wake or No wake zones ,i gots to have my fun.
If you try and tell these guys hey you are in the wrong slow down or follow the rules you get the finger or they try to spray you with what ever( Bad Choice with me kids) and go on their merry way , there are not enough Boat Cops to patrol everypart of every piece of water that we navigate, overall, i think we as boaters are a great bunch, it's the gumby's that are never made aware of the rules or demonstrate any true "ability" to handle the machine they have rented and or bought, as i was growing up boats were changing all the time , suddenly there is lots and lots of HP available, but not alot of experience with it i learned the hard way, but there were not as many boaters then when compared to today, my goodness just getting to the lake you can count the PWCS and realize they outnumber regular boats by a bunch, this is meant for the local lakes So Cal local.
I guess the bottom line is we need to police ourselves a little bit more , don't be going for a speed run if it's crowded, and not follow so close if your on a PWC. But hey thats just my 2 friggin cents on the internet and lets just see how earthshaking that'll be:frown:
Mike VG