Guitar Gear Forum

Here’s what happened.

I was fishing in my kayak close to the docks at Diamond Head Point in New Smyrna. My bait got caught on the edge of the dock and I got close, never touching the dock, and retrieved my bait. I had seen a pontoon boat approaching when they were about 40 yards away and headed in my direction. I saw that they saw me so was not worried and continued to do what I was doing.

When I got my bait loose and started adjusting to get back out into open water i turned my head and the pontoon was literally just 10-15 away and steadily approaching directly at me. He never slowed until he got to his parking spot and as I was hurrying to get out of the way I says man you need to give me some warning. His reply, “you saw me coming and that’s all the warning you get”.

Straight up. That’s what he said. I told him that smaller vessels have the right of way and he replied “little fish need to get out of the big fish’s way”. Total and utter wrong move. I was barely able to grab my paddle and back out of his way with only a few short feet between us.... as in less than 5.

I did get his boat registration number and got some video of him and his wife packing up to get off the boat and go back into their condo so he can be ID'ed.

A few minutes later I called the police, met the officer at the kayak launch and told him what happened and showed him what they looked like from the video. The officer went over to the condo building to see if he could talk to the guy but don't know if he made contact. Tomorrow I'm turning all this in to the Coast Guard which has a station about a mile away.

Also a local fishing Captain told me that FWC has jurisdiction over this type of thing as well and I happen to have a customer who's brother works for FWC so I'm reaching out in that direction too.

This mother fucker needs some serious education on right of way. Any vessel under power must yield to any vessel not under power. It's really that simple. And broadly, any larger vessel must yield to smaller vessels with some exceptions like large ships that can't stop on a dime etc.

Anyway, this old fucker isn't done with me

In the photo the red box is the guy's parking spot, the blue one is me, and the orange is his position and course.

His correct action would have been to slow/stop or go around, which he had plenty of room to do.

I hope you get some satisfaction, but I’d guess it won’t get anywhere.

Should have shot the fucker for threatening your life.

All I really want is for him to be visited by a authority(s) in uniform and be given a talk about boater safety and right of way... in front of his wife.... and as many other people as possible.

What significance does your line 'never touching the dock' have?

I also can't believe this will ever go anywhere - not saying you weren't 100% in the right, but it's really just your word against his, isn't it??

Good luck.

clipless bumper wrote:What significance does your line 'never touching the dock' have?

I also can't believe this will ever go anywhere - not saying you weren't 100% in the right, but it's really just your word against his, isn't it??

Good luck.

A line can touch the dock no problem. A hand touching the dock can possibly edge on trespassing.

And it's only my word against his if he denies it. And even if he denies it, being visited by authorities will be memorable and possibly embarrassing. That's what matters.

I'd bet that was very stressful man. The guy is 100% in the wrong. By all means file all possible reports. Even if nothing happens this time it's good for them to have a recorded complaint with his boat registration number because he will do it again, guaranteed Fuck this guy what an asshole.

Little fish fucking clearly saw big fish coming and little fish had all the warning he needed while getting tied up in big fishes slip

I'm old but still, have a lot of respect for other humans. This guy is a mental midget

FWC and the Coast Guard will be paying him visits today

The Coast Guard guy sounded particularly interested n talking to him

Good. I used to kayak with my dad years ago. Dealing with powered boats acting like idiots and not paying attention is very stressful because you're the definition of a sitting duck in that scenario.
I think you need to be in the situation to understand how truly powerless you are against an incoming powered boat. This shit is no joke.

FWC officer called me just a few minutes ago to get the story. I emailed him the photo and a video I took of the guy and his wife packing up to get off the boat.

Here’s the video... it also has me yelling at him

https://youtu.be/EjU5sP1nkxg

Your lucky he didn’t woop dat ass

The guy is a total asshole. When the authorities show up, he's going to blame the whole thing on you.
I'd sink his boat.

I hope that’s his mom.

The story intensifies my bias against pontoon boats. I always thought simply owning a pontoon boat proofs already a lack of nautic skills, not even looking at the lack of taste ...

Hope you'll get satisfaction and the guy learns a lesson. If you want to get in a better mood, spend some time on the Miami Boat Ramps channel on Youtube and enjoy watching pontoon captains crashing into the dock or even sinking their vessels

2tallmusic wrote:The story intensifies my bias against pontoon boats. I always thought simply owning a pontoon boat proofs already a lack of nautic skills, not even looking at the lack of taste ...

Hope you'll get satisfaction and the guy learns a lesson. If you want to get in a better mood, spend some time on the Miami Boat Ramps channel on Youtube and enjoy watching pontoon captains crashing into the dock or even sinking their vessels

There’s a wicked inlet down there... forget the name but there are videos of boats going in and out of this crazy turbulent inlet. Amazing how some of those boats don’t just flip right over!

Edit: Haulover Inlet. Check it out

mortatone wrote: There’s a wicked inlet down there... forget the name but there are videos of boats going in and out of this crazy turbulent inlet. Amazing how some of those boats don’t just flip right over!

Edit: Haulover Inlet. Check it out

yeah - these Haulover videos are great, not sure by when I discovered them, but since I have a plastered arm I am watching them currently on a daily basis pretty entertaining and it reminds me that travelling the ICW is still on my bucket list

clipless bumper wrote:What significance does your line 'never touching the dock' have?

I also can't believe this will ever go anywhere - not saying you weren't 100% in the right, but it's really just your word against his, isn't it??

Good luck.

This x100. Futile effort. But if he’s got the free time then I guess go for it.

ajaxlepinski wrote:The guy is a total asshole. When the authorities show up, he's going to blame the whole thing on you.
I'd sink his boat.

No doubt.

It was a few phone calls and now the guy gets to be bothered by the authorities. Good enough for me

mortatone wrote:It was a few phone calls and now the guy gets to be bothered by the authorities. Good enough for me

Well then you win.

Ostinato Rubato wrote:

Devin wrote:

Man just post like a normal bro and stop adhering to the trollerskating stuff. It's like you're stuck or something

eso es racista