Children on the Bow

You could flip this scenario on the original poster:

Imagine you're the captain being described in Post #1: You're following Florida state law with regards to bow riding and your youngest (6 years old for this scenario) is not required to wear a PFD. You get flagged down by a random passerby that 1.) was not educated on the local laws, 2.) incorrectly estimated the youngest childs age and 3.) is not a public safety officer. How would you feel if you were that captain, were well informed of the laws and operating 100% legally? I'm not sure how friendly he'd be to the guy flagging him down with bad intel on boating laws. He made his choice with regards to his kids safety that day...and is legal.
 
Perfectly legal here in Georgia... I see it every weekend and right in front of the DNR or Sherriff. As long as the kids have a life jacket on they aren't breaking a rule here. I wouldn't advise them to do it.
 
Not saying anything is wrong with what you did, just not something I would. I see this all the time, I just always hope nothing happens. The few times I have offered friendly, unsolicited advice, I have been able to tell it was not really wanted, so I generally mind my own business. If conversation comes up I take the "how I did it" approach, not the "how to do it".

As far as helping another boater, will always do that - the occasional tow, battery jump whatever.
 
I think you did the right thing. Most people don’t have the balls to do what you did. Ignorance is hard to ignore especially the cost of a young life. I feel 90% out there don’t know the boating laws. I feel you did a good thing and they listened or not you will sleep easy tonight
 
Stee6043 said:
Since July, 2016 the bow riding the OP describes is not illegal in Florida. Google will return Florida Hose Bill 703 addressing this. They removed bow riding as something that was previously considered "careless operation" or something to that affect.

https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sect...ocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0703&Session=2016

https://www.flkeysnews.com/latest-news/article87781432.html

It's hard to ballpark 5 years old vs 6 on a moving boat so yeah...that's how they'll get ya. But if the youngest was 6 or more years old this captain was doing nothing illegal on this fine day.

https://www.boat-ed.com/florida/studyGuide/Specific-PFD-Requirements/10101002_30231/
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I was only commenting on the legality of under 6 without life jackets. Young kids hanging off the bow of a moving boat is just stupid, but if they are under 6 and have no jackets its illegal as well as stupid.
 
Here in Illinois they passed a law where whenever there is a skier or tuber you must display a bright Orange flag from the time they leave the boat until they return.
This is the opposite of what the law was… you would raise the flag to notify other boats Sorbonne was in the water when someone fell off the tube or skies but not while moving.
This is a direct result of someone towing their son on a tube non-stop through channels and lakes and entered a lake that is basically a long narrow through lake at full throttle to pass through. It was a rental boat outing and the father was very inexperienced. It gets very choppy on that Lake.
The kid fell off and another boat had the pedal to the metal and ran him over and killed him.
Not absolving the guy that hit the kid but this group of lakes has a number of good areas for tubing and skiing. If only someone with experience has stopped him, told him off the danger of pulling a tube through crowded channels and directed him to the good areas, his son would still have been alive.
 
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Steve S said:
Here in Illinois they passed a law where whenever there is a skier or tuber you must display a bright Orange flag from the time they leave the boat until they return.
This is a direct result of someone towing their son on a tube non-stop through channels and lakes and entered a lake that is basically a long narrow through lake at full throttle to pass through. It was a rental boat outing and the father was very inexperienced. It gets very choppy on that Lake.
The kid fell off and another boat had the pedal to the metal and ran him over and killed him.
Not absolving the guy that hit the kid but this group of lakes has a number of good areas for tubing and skiing. If only someone with experience has stopped him, told him off the danger of pulling a tube through crowded channels and directed him to the good areas, his son would still have been alive.
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I have pulled tubes many many times…. it’s beyond obvious when conditions and traffic is even remotely unsafe…. Putting the responsibility on the stranger driving by to say something is a bit of a stretch.
 
Steve S said:
Here in Illinois they passed a law where whenever there is a skier or tuber you must display a bright Orange flag from the time they leave the boat until they return.
This is a direct result of someone towing their son on a tube non-stop through channels and lakes and entered a lake that is basically a long narrow through lake at full throttle to pass through. It was a rental boat outing and the father was very inexperienced. It gets very choppy on that Lake.
The kid fell off and another boat had the pedal to the metal and ran him over and killed him.
Not absolving the guy that hit the kid but this group of lakes has a number of good areas for tubing and skiing. If only someone with experience has stopped him, told him off the danger of pulling a tube through crowded channels and directed him to the good areas, his son would still have been alive.
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That's horribly sad on all counts.

My harbor has a long Federal channel down the middle. The harbor entrance (and the channel) is narrow and busy with a large car ferry that comes in and out. It's not too uncommon to see a boater towing a tube with a rider in the channel to get in or out of the harbor. Luckily we generally have a harbormaster on patrol during weekend that will stop them to educate that it's a bad idea.
 
I have no problem with what the OP did. Depending on circumstances I likely wouldn't have said anything but if I happened to be close enough I probably would have said something but definitely not in a confrontational manner, more of a friendly advice manner. There are so many new boaters out there that I think nowadays its just a matter of not knowing and not thinking of the consequences. I know I have done things in the past that at the time I thought were perfectly safe but looking back I'm just glad nobody got hurt
 
I think you guys are confusing new boaters with common sense…. A new boater should have common sense…. Fall off the front come out the back isn’t rocket science
 
Blueone said:
I have pulled tubes many many times…. it’s beyond obvious when conditions and traffic is even remotely unsafe…. Putting the responsibility on the stranger driving by to say something is a bit of a stretch.
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One of the first things the father said was “why didn’t someone tell me it was unsafe”? They also sued the rental place for lack of training.
As listed above.., lack of common sense.
And the law was pushed through because he was related to a state senator.

And as I discussed many times about skydiving accidents… it isn’t one thing that caused the accident, it is a chain of events and if the chain is broken in any one link, the result is completely different.
If he asked where to go. If the rental place offered instructions and boating tips. If someone said something. Maybe some other options… the result changes. That’s my point. I’m not saying it was anyone else’s responsibility. Simply break the chain of events.
 
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Steve S said:
One of the first things the father said was “why didn’t someone tell me it was unsafe”? They also sued the rental place for lack of training.
As listed below… lack of common sense.
And the law was pushed through because he was related to a state senator.
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My favorite
3AA83C9B-1D68-452A-953A-01CE62467864.png
 
Steve S said:
Here in Illinois they passed a law where whenever there is a skier or tuber you must display a bright Orange flag from the time they leave the boat until they return.
This is the opposite of what the law was… you would raise the flag to notify other boats Sorbonne was in the water when someone fell off the tube or skies but not while moving.
This is a direct result of someone towing their son on a tube non-stop through channels and lakes and entered a lake that is basically a long narrow through lake at full throttle to pass through. It was a rental boat outing and the father was very inexperienced. It gets very choppy on that Lake.
The kid fell off and another boat had the pedal to the metal and ran him over and killed him.
Not absolving the guy that hit the kid but this group of lakes has a number of good areas for tubing and skiing. If only someone with experience has stopped him, told him off the danger of pulling a tube through crowded channels and directed him to the good areas, his son would still have been alive.
Click to expand...
So here is the thing about the body of water Steve is speaking about. It's like boating on the interstate. Shallow water, narrow channels, and every Tom, Dick and Harry in a speedo and gold chain showing off. Throw in a few beverages and you have a pending disaster. Years ago when I got my first boat I called my insurance guy for insurance (he was also a boater). He asked where I was going to boat and I said "The Chain." His exact words -- "oh no, you're going to die." Did it for a couple of seasons and wife eventually said "no more." Now, instead of going 5 min from my house, I drive an hour plus to the big lake.
 
Quint4 said:
Saw this ad the other day....oh boy.

View attachment 112905
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My stomach clenched when seeing this.

2 years ago I was running around in my RIB with my son. He was fully in the RIB kneeing in the bow, but leaning over the front in a Titanic "king of the world" pose. The local marine police drove by on the shoreline and called me over. They chastised me for letting him do that, saying that if he fell over the bow there's no way to stop before a prop strike. I think they were being a little over zealous (no one else out on a late fall day) but the point is valid when perched on a bow and under the rail.

Edit: And no PFD's for anyone in the pic. Maybe that's why it seemed to "off" to me. I get it that the rules are different in some places and it may not be "required", but it just makes sense to wear one.
 
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