Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Lambert
Jeff, I think operating a boat on a busy lake is far more dangerous than driving on the road. Stuff comes at you from 360 degrees and there is a huge speed potential difference between, say a ski boat or a 200hp jet ski and a kayak, paddle board, or rowing scull. And you know people, they're stupid...on both sides of the speed equation. As often as not, it's the paddle boards and kayaks in the middle of the lake that get stopped and I imagine the conversation goes something like this, "Get out of the middle the lake you dumb$%*#, don't you see the 20 surf and wakeboard boats out here trying not to kill you?"
When we sit on the deck on busy weekends and watch the police or sheriff boats roam around, we can pretty much tell who's in for a "fear of God check" and I have no problem with that. I've lived on the lake for 9 years and have never been stopped. I also never drink and boat.
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That makes sense when you explain it like that. On the road, at least we are all traveling in marked lanes in the same direction, and every direction from which another vehicle might appear is pretty darn obvious. Plus, everyone is going at more or less the same speed, by legal requirement. I had not considered the randomness and sheer variety of speed and direction of approaching and departing traffic on a busy lake.