Close encounter with 40' powerboat

[Eleanna]

I have never seen my wife loose it and break down in tears and violant shakings like sunday night after a close encounter with a speeding powerboat.
My fuel pump gave up in the ICW south of lehman causeway miami, 11:30 pm
I had my running light and anchor light is on and offcoarse sitting duck without an working engine and this 40 foot speed boat comes full speed outside of the waterway heading straight for us, I'm down below trying to fix the engine when my wife screams this boat gonna run us over, know also we had all three kids sleeping in the aft cabin, I'm jumping up on deck waiwing to get this guys attention and in the last fraction on a second he sees us and awoids plowing right over us. The Wave runner that we where pulling slams into the boat causing some damage and this f....ng a..h... doesn't even look over his shoulder to se wheater we are ok or not.
I'm 100% sure if this boat had ran us over we would all be dead today.
What really pisses me off with these speedboat owners they don't give a sh-t. You drive in the middle of the day or night and these boats comes flying passed you, the wake from them almost throws you off the boat sometimes. What is it gonna take to get them to realize what danger is involved in those speeds for other boaters and then to top it off not even stop to make sure everybody is ok?

E.
New fuel pump $49.95
Tow to home dock $410.00
Get a hold of the boat owner and beat the living daylight out of him PRICELESS
For everything else there is mastercard.

[cardiacpaul]

I wish there was more as a community we could do to prevent what happened to you from occuring on a regular basis...
I have one of those "flamethrower" hand held spotlights. I have no trouble lighting it up in the general direction of the people coming toward me. It does seem to help.

[NickL]

I am glad you and your family where not hurt. My idea of what was going on that speed boat would be a bad seen out of miami vice. small arms fire works wounders. its too bad you didnt get his fl #s. Since he had a jet ski on the back you know he was an *******, I hope it sank the ski.

[hellosailor]

The good news is, your wife was keeping a proper watch.

A shame you couldn't get his numbers or a good boat description, the USCG or MDPD probably would go after him--they get too many runover cases as it is.

[capterry]

Guess NickL did not read the story very close, the jet ski was behind the sailboat! Having a jet ski should not make one a A-- H----. It all depends on how one operates them. Most are operated by folks that do not know any of the rules of the road, as seems most power boats don't. We need manditory boat training for all boat operators both power and sail. be safe, Capt. Terry Smitherman ,1969 Irwin 31 Classic in Texas

[sailortjk1]

I realise this guy was a big jerk and it was a very scary situation, but what can we learn from it?

Your wife was on watch, would not a hand held spot light gotten his attention and made you more visable.

I always carry one and I'm sure you could have used one that night.
A quick hit of the spot light and I'm sure you would have gotten him to back off. Or maybe you would have blinded him and he would have ran right into you, I suppose that could have happened as well.

Glad to hear you and your family are o.k. Probably needed a change of clothes after that.

[Eleanna]

Spotlight are onboard BUT as you know with engine problem Guess where I left the spot light as i was running up on deck.
As far as the Jet ski goes , well my wife loves that thing. Personally I couldn't care less if I ever saw one again.
If I loved speed, sailboat wouldn't been my choice of boat.
Didn't have to change clothes, only had time to get pissed off. But the if's and but's kept me awake for a few nights

E.

[Grimm]

The important thing is to stay calm,sounds like you did that all right.Was loading fuel onto the boat Saturday (14th) on the Elizabeth river here in VA when a big (about 36ft) Sea Ray goes pst Northbound at about 14 kts-in the NO-WAKE Zone.I am on the dock trying not to lose the nozzle and can hear people calling this guy on VHF-He's on the bridge passing out canned beverages to his buddy's ,throwing about a 3-4 foot wake...Oblivious to everything.FDH,huh?

Can't reach bino's,too busy.

[Mick Young]

The crew and I were enjoying Sydney Harbour over the new years break and I found that it seemed to be the more money, the bigger boat, the less sense! We were near swamped by a guy in a 40+ foot cruiser whilst travelling under the harbour bridge. He just flew past us in our 21' trailer sailer and had us tossed all over the show with a bulk ship beside us. I yelled out "Thank you!" and he just looked back as if to ask what was the problem.
I dont understand the power boat mentality, maybe thats why I'd rather sail.

Keep it black side down

Mick

[hellosailor]

Grimm, you will find that in most of the US if you call out on the VHF (16) either the USCG or the local constables will respond immediately (if they can) to a reported reckless boater, and they'll enjoy giving them a thorough boarding inspection along with a summons for the improper operation. And if they find open beer, they may get a BWI test or citation that really ruins their day.

They do take it seriously, but if no one reports it--they don't know.