Okay...I think I figured something out.

[skiprincess]

Went out to ride today. Great day. Tons of cruisers. Unfortunately, lots of couch riders too. Now I have never really gotten into the whole "I hate couch riders" thing but DANG!! It seems here lately that they are becoming more of an actual danger than just a pesky annoyance. I am always VERY aware of where they are and try hard to steer clear, but it is almost like they are trying to kill me!!

Here is what I noticed today. Once they pass you or you are out of their direct line of vision...you no longer exist. For instance, there was a girl on a couch out there today. Everytime we would see a cruiser and start to head that way, she and the guy she was with would come flying out of freakin' nowhere! She would get a few feet past me the turn right in front of me!!! Like once I was out of her line of vision, she wouldn't even turn her head to look back to see where I might be. This happened enough times today to really chap my hide!

I really do not have anything against couches, but why is it lots of people who ride them have zero respect for others out there and no sense of how dangerous they are to themselves and others!!!

I just want to ride without a two ton couch landing on me!

Okay...rant over...whew!

 

[michael950]

Lack of education (Boaters Education) and parental supervision.

 

[DAG]

wish there were more cruisers around me.. but i dont have that problem on lake norman... the couchers seem to know what they are doing.. well on my side of the lake... i'v herd some preatty bad stories... wanna trade riding spots?..

 

[skiprincess]

Lack of education (Boaters Education) and parental supervision.

You're right. I get so cofused by the general lack of common sense though. I'm sure these people were taught to look both way before crossing the street. How is a busy chanel full of boats any different??? No pretty yellow lines and shiney traffic lights?? :scratchchin:

 

[Robert]

Boater education may help some people, but I'm beginning to think waiting at the dock and punching them in the mouth is the way to go. :buttkick:
Boat, couch, standup... It doesn't matter what their on. If they are going to be inconsiderate and act stupid they are going to get a bloody lip.

 

[eschberg]

You're right. I get so cofused by the general lack of common sense though. I'm sure these people were taught to look both way before crossing the street. How is a busy chanel full of boats any different??? No pretty yellow lines and shiney traffic lights?? :scratchchin:

<rant>
Assuming these ppl can drive worth a poop on the road... I swear, no one in this country can drive cars worth a damn either. Everyone putting on make-up, reading newspapers, talking on the cell...
</rant>

 

[thrllskr]

I think its definitely a boating education issue. Even though I took a safety course, my knowledge really came from growing up on the water and always being in boats. You learn to respect the rules of the water and other watercraft. Today, people want toys and just go buy a PWC, drop it in the water in go. No respect for the rules of the water or anything.

I find my local lake is a nightmare for the few really hot weeks in July and early August. After that, the number of PWCs drops pretty well and its safe again. During that time, I usually try to hit the water by 10 or 11 and leave by 2, just as its hitting the dangerous peak.

 

[hangtime]

Boating education might help but a smack in the face seems like the better idea most of the time :biggthumpup:

 

[wayne]

i had the same thing happen yesterday. a wake board boat came out of the no wake zone after picking up a couple people. there was three stand ups. the people on the wake boat waved the stand upu over to to jump the wake. out of now where comes this idiot on an older seadoo doing exactly what ski princess said. the guy that was riding with me had to yell at the guy. then was my turn. at this point there was two seadoo's. i pullled up beside the guy on the older seadoo and yell that if he got close to me or any one else i was going to follow him to the boat ramp and kick his ass. the other kid on the new seadoo heard this and left. this guy kind of stayed away, as the boat was not going under the bridge. we took a newbie out for his first standup ride and was going to check on him when i saw this same guy on the older seadoo jumping a wake behind a boat pulling a tube. when i saw him barely miss the tube i started to ride straight for him. he saw me and turned and went in to the now wake zone. i went and check on the newbie and told him i was heading to the ramp to get in the punk's grill. we have a long no wake zone, when he saw me coming they got the ski's on the trailer in record time. didn't time them down till they where out of the parking lot so i could not confront them. but at least they got off the water.

 

[sflsurfrider]

so, now coucher bashing is acceptable, right?

 

[JAKESPEED]

Bloody lips get the point across real quick

 

[skiprincess]

so, now coucher bashing is acceptable, right?

I do not want to be a couch basher. I say, "to each his own". There are lots of people who ride them that know how to be respectful and follow the rules of safety and common sense. I guess they get the brunt of my frustration because of the sheer number of them. They are very popular and there are a lot of them out there. So, even if only half of the couch riders are dangerous drivers...it seems like A LOT just because of the large number in general. Did that make sense??? I don't know, I have just had one too many bad near misses lately.

OPEN NOTE TO ALL SIT DOWN RIDERS:
I will try hard not to offend you or bash you for couch riding if you will try hard not to run over me or land on me. Thanks.

 

[sflsurfrider]

no no no, its okay.... couch riders, in general, suck the dog's ass. no need to backtrack your words.

people generally buy couches because, as mentioned before, its just another toy to them.

"education? what do you mean? the dealer already educated me as to how to start the damn thing. the rest is easy."

 

[hangtime]

It's OK to drop names Charlie :biggthumpup:

 

[meatball]

same things happened to me numerous times. Theres one guy with an RXT who likes to take his 4 year old son out. I was boating in a very narrow channel marked by green, red markers, and there is a 90 degreee turn in front of me, with a boat on the left in the opposite lane. So he passes me while Im at cruising speed, then gets right in front of me, and stops, he stops completely, so I have to immediately pull the throttle back. I wish the horn was working on my boat because I would blast the **** outta him.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

It's OK to drop names Charlie :biggthumpup:

he cant do that, then there would be stand up bashing too!

:biggrin:

I agree with someone that posted earlier.

Stand up, sitdown, boat, car, plane, train, or donkey...

if your a gawdam idot, and ride stupid, it shows.

 

[Dirtybird]

I ride a couch..............getting a stand up this week though. My brother has a stand up and we know where each other and everyone else on the water is at all times. Constantly watching. I hate that people just ride and dont care. I would rather be known as a stand up rider since I HATE people usually :haha: My brother and I started jumping this wake the other day and all of a sudden about 5 couches came out of nowhere and were jumping in every direction. So we went the other way and went in flat water. People think they are bumper cars I think