[zthomas]

**Not trying to imply the vessel was at fault here.** Looks like good old-fashioned poor judgment. Two guys on an oversized paddleboard in that breeze? Props to the tow boat guy, though, for getting down there and fishing them out in a deep vee. Tough anytime, but even more so with muddy water and a stiff wind.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2544620545751888&type=3

 

[Backcountry 16]

That's why people drown all the time major stupidity there.

 

[Lagoonnewb]

Considering it was blowing about 23mph yesterday they were asking for trouble, there’s no point in being on the lagoon with that kind of wind in that sort or water craft

 

[Dillusion]

ML can get dicey. People underestimate it all the time.

I've seen capsized gheenoes out there a few times.

These new 'one man skiff' fake-boat things with no freeboard are just asking for trouble as theyre only capable of fairweather fishing.

 

[LowHydrogen]

For sale: 2018 Bote Rover, low hours, always garage kept, kept me bone dry even while capsized. Serious offers only.

Glad they're ok.

 

[Guest]

I think they are cool little fishing platforms/ transportation that do have a good intended use! This was operator error and/or just poor judgement imho!

 

[crboggs]

Two people on a Bote Rover? Good grief...

 

[SomaliPirate]

Man, I'm not even sure I would have taken my pathy out in that mess.

 

[flyclimber]

No thanks, Bote rover + outboard + fuel+ two guys on top. I don't ever go out in 20+ MPH winds. That sounds miserable. Plus if you found one of those floating blobs outs there on that thing you may actually go air-borne.

 

[el9surf]

Glad they are ok. That could have ended in a worst case scenario. I was surprised to see Bote advertising with two adults on board in their literature.

 

[crboggs]

I was surprised to see Bote advertising with two adults on board in their literature.

They're trying to tempt paddlers who don't want the full commitment of a real boat...

 

[ZaneD]

They're trying to tempt paddlers who don't want the full commitment of a real boat...

I chalk it up to BOTE's great advertising, only way I can think of they convince people to buy the Rover for $3500 instead of a skiff or Gheenoe. Great job by all involved in the rescue, should be a good learning experience for the kids rescued.

 

[EdK13]

 

[EdK13]

 

[Boneheaded]

You got to be a fool to buy one of those kook scooters in the first place. stupid is as stupid does.

 

[el9surf]

The younger generations are not only dumber, their taste in music is f****** awful.

 

[Net 30]

Darwin Award candidates for sure.

 

[el9surf]

Natural selection at its finest.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

There’s a place down here called San Luis Pass and people die there about once a month in everything from kayaks to bay boats. People are ignorant. This is why there should be a course you must take, pass a test and pay an annual fee to run a boat. These days people have more money than sense and think that they can do anything they see on YouTube with no previous experience.

 

[bryson]

This is why I get agitated with hype-marketing and overestimation of wave size. Some people just don't know better, and unfortunately they can get hurt or killed.

I'm not that old, but I'm old enough to feel that the internet is a tremendous contributor to this type of behavior. It's so common for people to thump their chest and lie about doing irresponsible things to make themselves feel tough, and those that are trying to learn get their "information" from these fools, since that information is so readily available.

So, they see the ad with 2 people on basically a surfboard, and they see the forecast of 1-2 ft, and remember that everyone on the internet can run through measly 2-3 footers at 40mph without a drop of spray (so 1-2 must be basically glass, right?), and they go and get themselves in a bad situation.

Off the soapbox now. It's so easy to blame the guys out there for their stupid mistake (and no doubt it was a stupid mistake), but I know I sure did some dumb, risky stuff without the internet tough guys telling me how easy it was going to be. I shudder to imagine if I had tried to learn the ropes with the invincibility of a teenager plus a wildly skewed sense of confidence based on internet talk.