Surf's Up....Is 38,000#'s of Ballast Enough?

[chpthril]

The wake surfing is very cool. But the drinking by the driver is not cool, legal or smart. I wouldn't be on a boat, much less behind it or in the water with the driver drinking. And there is absolutely anything that can be said to make it ok.

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now.

I under stand your concerns, and appreciate your comments, but, if you are going to make such a statement, you should at least have an open mind about any responses.

I could easily say "dont assume he is drinking cause the pic shows him pouring an adult beverage" but I wont cause, yes, we all had a couple of frosty cold ones, but dont assume that everyone that drinks is an alcoholic and is drunk behind the wheel. It's not fair to those of us that do it responsibly. For your info, in NC and SC, it is not against the law for a vessel operator to have an open container while behind the wheel, but, like every state, it is against the law to drive while intoxicated, .08 BAL.

I've never once been told I was cool while having a glass of wine with dinner, that "cool, I'm drinking" ship sailed with my teens.

I do respect the views of guests on my boat, and when I'm a guest on other's boats. I do ride with people who do not drink.

I agree, since 1/3rd of boating accidents are by persons who are BUI. I have been the victim of a DUI driver and have a friend who was jogging and nearly killed (his girlfriend was killed). Few subjects stir up as strong of emotions as this one, but I might as well post my opinion too. It is always frightening to me that boating and beer are synonymous to most people.

So, 2/3rds of the accidents where caused by sober drivers? The odds show you are more likely to be hit by a non drinking idiot that shouldn't be driving a boat.

Never thought Id catch heat from THAT pic.

[da.bell]

Never thought Id catch heat from THAT pic.

That is what you get when you "ASSUME"!!!!

[Timmy!]

So, 2/3rds of the accidents where caused by sober drivers? The odds show you are more likely to be hit by a non drinking idiot that shouldn't be driving a boat.

[CP3]

CHP that is SOOO NOT FAIR

[CP3]

hey can we set that up for like the weekend before the reunion? I want to try that out...

[jwanck11]

That looks so freaking fun!!

[mtnsmith]

The wake surfing is very cool. But the drinking by the driver is not cool, legal or smart. I wouldn't be on a boat, much less behind it or in the water with the driver drinking. And there is absolutely anything that can be said to make it ok.

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Legal to drink and boat here as well. You just have to be under the legal limit-.08. It is .05 in some states.

I'd love to surf behind a big cruiser or sportfish. The guy that owns the local boardshop has a 36' sportfish that they regularly surf doubles behind, it looks like a lot of fun.

[talltigeguy]

So, 2/3rds of the accidents where caused by sober drivers? The odds show you are more likely to be hit by a non drinking idiot that shouldn't be driving a boat.

Never thought Id catch heat from THAT pic.

So are 1/3 of all boaters legally drunk? I highly doubt it. Suppose that 1/6 of all boaters are legally drunk. That would mean that a drunk boater is twice as likely to hit you than a sober boater. If 1/12 of all boaters are drunk, then a drunk guy is 4 times more likely to hit someone. A drunk driver is far more likely to get in an accident than a sober one. Do the math.

Many guys argue that at .08 they are not impaired in any way. They don't feel like it, but you put people through multiple tests of judgement, speed and reflexes and they are ALWAYS slower at .08 than without that much alcohol. Hence, the law has chosen .08 in most states.

BTW, a 150 pound man can reach .08 by drinking 2-3 beers. It really is not very much.

[dtown]

So are 1/3 of all boaters legally drunk? I highly doubt it. Suppose that 1/6 of all boaters are legally drunk. That would mean that a drunk boater is twice as likely to hit you than a sober boater. If 1/12 of all boaters are drunk, then a drunk guy is 4 times more likely to hit someone. A drunk driver is far more likely to get in an accident than a sober one. Do the math.

Many guys argue that at .08 they are not impaired in any way. They don't feel like it, but you put people through multiple tests of judgement, speed and reflexes and they are ALWAYS slower at .08 than without that much alcohol. Hence, the law has chosen .08 in most states.

BTW, a 150 pound man can reach .08 by drinking 2-3 beers. It really is not very much.

I'm gona play devil's advocate on the math.
The statistic says 1/3 of boating accidents involve alcohol. That stat. lumps the legally drunk and the boaters who are not drunk but have any trace of alcohol in their system together... I would guess that more than 1/2 of all boaters on a given weekend have at least some alcohol in them. So, maybe statistically it doesn't come down to alcohol playing a role, but just boating morons.

I guess I'm just fired up this political season... I think we all need to scrutinize what the media, gov't, and statistics tell us.

[talltigeguy]

I'm gona play devil's advocate on the math.
The statistic says 1/3 of boating accidents involve alcohol. That stat. lumps the legally drunk and the boaters who are not drunk but have any trace of alcohol in their system together... I would guess that more than 1/2 of all boaters on a given weekend have at least some alcohol in them. So, maybe statistically it doesn't come down to alcohol playing a role, but just boating morons.

I guess I'm just fired up this political season... I think we all need to scrutinize what the media, gov't, and statistics tell us.

You are exactly right. Suppose 2/3 of all boaters are legally drunk, then you are 50% LESS likely to get in an accident if you drink. The stat likely includes just the legally drunk, as that I am not sure how you keep stats for people who did not get cited for being legally over the limit.

It is hard to know what percentage of boaters drink. For some people, beer and boating are like peanut butter and jam, they have to be together. But other people are very cautious with their drinking and boating, and only drink if they are going to not be driving.

[Tanner]

Man how's this topic keep coming up? I'll leave my views off here because I blatantly threw them out there on wakeworld yesterday.

And they're not exactly Very P.C.

[chpthril]

So are 1/3 of all boaters legally drunk? I highly doubt it. Suppose that 1/6 of all boaters are legally drunk. That would mean that a drunk boater is twice as likely to hit you than a sober boater. If 1/12 of all boaters are drunk, then a drunk guy is 4 times more likely to hit someone. A drunk driver is far more likely to get in an accident than a sober one. Do the math.

Many guys argue that at .08 they are not impaired in any way. They don't feel like it, but you put people through multiple tests of judgement, speed and reflexes and they are ALWAYS slower at .08 than without that much alcohol. Hence, the law has chosen .08 in most states.

BTW, a 150 pound man can reach .08 by drinking 2-3 beers. It really is not very much.

Talltigeguy, I was just trying to bring some humor back to a topic that was supposed to be about fun, and in now way disagreeing with the stats. In no way am I advocating driving while intoxicated, but I cant get on the side of zero tolerance either People should be responsible for their own actions, and be held accountable when not.

I think .08 is a good BAC, but would not be opposed to a tighter number. I would be opposed to a zero BAC level for boaters and drivers.

Man how's this topic keep coming up? I'll leave my views off here because I blatantly threw them out there on wakeworld yesterday.

And they're not exactly Very P.C.

I'm kinda sorry I posted that pic of an adult beverage being poured, it's taken away from the topic bigtime

[talltigeguy]

Sorry about the hijack....Pablo started it!

How many gallons of diesel does that bad boy burn?

Does it really weigh 38K? How do you tow it to the lake?

[chpthril]

Sorry about the hijack....Pablo started it!

How many gallons of diesel does that bad boy burn?

Does it really weigh 38K? How do you tow it to the lake?

The diesel 520 has a dry weight of 42k and we think it has (2) 250 gal tanks.

No big deal on a minor , it's certainly a worthy topic to comment on. Boating should be both fun and safe.

[Timmy!]

A semi truck obviously pulls that to the lake?