Thanks for the info, yeah I probably should
I followed along with the online Canadian boating course when my GF did it too. There was even more stuff on there (universal things) that I didn’t know.
We also found out that in Canada it’s illegal for anyone under 18 to ride a PWC… and my GF’s friends let their younger kids whip around all day, lol.
Buffalo Police, Erie Sheriff, Coast Guard, and Border Patrol boats all out last night sniffing around Canalside and the breakwalls. Can we go back to the 60’s when it was fine to fuck around without Big Brother?
Nothing like post 9/11 when every policy agency had a dump truck of money dropped on them and they all bought boats. They still have the boats but the money for fuel has dried up so most of them sit tied to the dock or on trailers now. It was terrible when you couldn’t cruise 100’ down the east river without seeing State Police, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Erie Sheriff, Town and City of Tonawanda Police, Conservation, Buffalo Police and for some fucking reason Hamburg Police would sometimes cruise the river. Then you’d go to the West River and have OPP and Canadian Customs thrown into the mix. In one day I got pulled over for equipment checks by 3 different agencies. By the 3rd one I was lucky I didn’t get arrested because I was pretty belligerent.
See, I go down to the waterfront, and think how cool it would be to have a boat there, since there’s a lot more to do and see. Then I hear about all of the BS. I was out dozens of times last year on Ontario, and never had an official boat pull within 2-300 yards of me.
On another note, heading to check out a boat on Erie Tuesday evening. We have any connections here who can do a NAMS or SAMS survey with sea trial?
Knock on wood, I haven’t been stopped in at least 3 years cruising the upper and occasionally Buffalo harbor. Like I said, once all the gas money ran out in their budgets most of these agencies stopped going out. On the river you really only see Coast Guard and CBP now, and CBP has never given me more than a smile and wave. The Coast Guard even seems to have cut WAY back on the random safety checks. Mostly I just see them cruising now.
EDIT: Pretty sure we were close to getting pulled over Wednesday night. We were tubing and the sun was setting. Coasties cruised by then stopped about a 1/4 mile up river from us. I’m guessing that they were watching to see if we quit before the sun went down, which we did. While I was letting the air out of the tube they continued on their way. I’m totally fine with that kind of enforcement and happy to see them out there.
Almost got sideswiped by this jackhole coming off the Niagara Street ramp onto the 190S. Some snobby douchebag in a Range Rover who blew all his cash on the ride and didn’t have any left for a real jet ski cover. A fucking moving blanket?!! Come on, seriously?
^ LOL. Wanna-be-baller right there! 
Haha @1QIKZ did you see the two idiots at a FULL STOP at the end of the ramp? It was either I slam on the brakes and come to a complete stop behind them or I merge into traffic like they were supposed to. Thanks for not crashing into me 
I was on my way to ride the huge waves yesterday.
Speaking of, another #kayaksruineverything :
After a fruitless night, searchers began looking again Wednesday morning for a missing kayaker amid 4 to 6 foot waves on Lake Erie off Sunset Bay
At one point, all of the kayaks overturned and the four were dumped in the lake. The missing kayaker was the only one not wearing a life jacket according to searchers.
Seriously.
Yep, with 24-26mph winds on a KAYAK at NIGHT without a life jacket. Crazy. I hope he doesn’t wash up at my house…
We’re going out again tonight, hopefully I’m not on the news later explaining how I found the body.
My place is right there on there lake. I’m really hoping to not find a body this weekend.
Yeah, I saw those idiots there and was waiting for one of you to make the move. You had plenty of time to jump in. I saw the ski, then the Rover and figured how many chances could there be it’s not you. I tried to get next to you but you were going “the waves are going to disappear in 5 more minutes” speed and I couldn’t lane drift on you before you got off the skyway. Must’ve been some crazy shit out there last night to ride. What’s with the moving blanket / custom cover?
Some of the waves were 10’ easy, especially closer to when the storm passed.
It’s just a quick way to cover and strap down the ski so I can get to the lake.
I have some nice GoPro shots I’ll post up when I’m through them :tup:
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I can’t imagine thinking that was OK. Like I said, there were some huge waves out there last night.
I’m sure some NY government nanny will push for making life jackets mandatory now, even in cases where people are strong swimmers kayaking on flat water of a canal. “If it saves just one life!”
They are mandatory I thought? Unless the boat is over a certain size?
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It’s only for set months right now:
Wear Requirements for Personal Flotation Devices
The following persons must wear a Type I, II, III or V PFD of proper size and serviceable condition:
Anyone riding in a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks, between November first and May first.
It probably should be all year round though.
For someone who likes to bring up taking the safety course when people have navigation questions you don’t know a lot about the laws of boating in NY. Were you asleep on life jacket day?
Every pleasure vessel operated upon the waters of New York must carry at least one USCG approved Type I,II or III Personal Flotation Device (PFD), or fife jacket as they are more commonly known, for each person on board. All life jackets on your vessel must be:
- Serviceable - free of rot, tears, punctures, waterlogging and all straps functional;
- Readily accessible - quickly reachable in an emergency situation, never kept in plastic bags or under lock and key;
- Appropriate size for the intended wearer - check the USCG approval label for information on the intended user for a particular PFD.
Wear Requirements for Personal Flotation Devices
The following persons must wear a Type I, II, III or V PFD of proper size and serviceable condition:
- Children under the age of twelve unless they are in a fully enclosed cabin. The PFD must be the appropriate size for the child.
- Anyone operating or riding on a personal watercraft (Jet Ski, Wave Runner, or similar craft)
- Anyone being towed behind another vessel such as waterskiers, tubers, para-sailing, etc. You are exempt if you are on a disabled vessel and being towed.
- Anyone riding in a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks, between November first and May first.
I love the typo on their site that says, “(PFD), or fife jacket as they are more commonly known”
Oh plz. They don’t teach you the exceptions to the rules in the class. The take-away is always wear a PFD when you’re on the water, regardless.
Besides I was only half wrong
Man, I’ve never seen Josh hate something so much. Ease up homie! I’m sure boaters think the same about you; crummy jet skiers!
No, it shouldn’t. It should be up to the boater to decided if wearing one is warranted. One size all nanny state rules aren’t needed. If some moron wants to go kayak in the small craft advisory 15’ waves on Lake Erie that’s his choice. Don’t blanket mandate we all have to wear a life jacket so next time I’m on a 4’ deep small pond in a kayak not wearing a life jacket a conservation officer can pop out of the woods and give me a ticket.
Just like this stupid new law they passed that mandates anyone in a boat under 21 feet wear a life jacked from November to May. I’m no less likely to fall out of my new 21’ bowrider than I was to fall out of my old 18’ bowrider, but in the 18 I’m mandated to wear a life jacket? Fuck you NY.