Ranting!!!

[zooker]

the story:
early saturday morning i was running up the lake with both lights on.when a person in a jon boat with NO lights came cutting out of the mid lake launch. i was already to duck and dive -not the first time it has happened in this area- i chopped power and yanked it hard left..i missed this guy's out board by INCHES.. he unknowingly kept right on a running up lake..

now the rant!:
i don't care what boat you drive if it has an out board moter it needs to have both front and back lights that work..running in the pitch dark up a lake is risky/insane enough. let alone having to dodge ingorant morons who are too lazy to use the lights..

i know a lot of the younger guys do not have the money to buy . much more than an old beat up jon boat with an old outboard on it.. but in a recent bait monkey spree i noticed that the stern light -thats the white one- and the bow light -red/green-were advailable for under $10 each. so really there is no excuse not to have them equiped..


i know that every state rules are differant..but in NC you must have an "readily advailable" white light in any boat under 16 foot. i belive as a person who fishes alot in the dark hours of night this is NOT ENOUGH..

i don't really care if you have a 10 foot jon boat with a 2 horse moter on it. or a 20 foot glass boat with a 250 horse moter on it.. if you use the boat in the dark hours of night or in heavy fog you need to burn the lights. not only for others safty but for your own safty..



on a side note the person who was mentioned in the story above was some one i knew. i spoke with his father via cell phone moments after the afore mentioned incedent took place.. i know that boat is equiped with running lights. the son was in too big a hurry to put them in place and turn them on..his impatiance nearly cost him his life..


zooker