Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Ok, here is the deal. My wife had a cousin come to visit this weekend and wanted to go out on the lake. I have the pontoon, her brother has the "go fast". Her mom and dad wanted to go out and can only get on my pontoon from a dock and, once on the lake, they are stuck on the boat. They are not physically able to swim, climb on and off the boats and such. We also have two jet skis and the hee-haw gang wanted to take them out as well. Anyways, we get them all out there and raft up in a cove where there are about 30 boats. This is a cove that her brother hangs out in with his "go fast". It a nice cove to swim in with some nice bluffs. I don't really mind rafting up but would rather not. We only have three boats in our raft and it takes a while to get a good set on the anchors because it is pretty much a flat solid rock bottom but we finally get it set after some moving around. We set there most of the afternoon and swim, riding jet skis and trying to enjoy the company of her cousin. I would say, out of 30ish boats, a good 15-20 of them had hi power stereos BLASTING all day and, of course, everyone of them were playing a different song and different genre of music. Now, I have been a musician for 30 years and played almost every genre know to man so I DO love music but this is ANNOYING AS HELL!! My stress level was through the roof and the only part of the day that I enjoyed was leaving. So for all you douche bags with these extremely loud stereos, please be considerate and keep in mind that not everyone likes to hear the crap that you think is cool. I have never owned a boat with a stereo and never will. I actually removed the stereo from my pontoon. I like to use my time on the lake to relax and enjoy some piece and quiet. Had it not been for the "family outing" I would have not ever went to that are of the cove. Ok, I am done.

I agree. I own a lot of music of all types and audio is my other big hobby, but I enjoy it in the privacy of my own home! On the pontoon I rarely turn it on.

We're on a small ski lake surrounded by nice lakefront homes on narrow lots. It's generally fairly calm, so when the wakeboard boats with a full rack of tower speakers start blasting rap crap for all to hear I get pretty tired of it too. Sitting on our screened porch having a family dinner the other night, my grandkids got to listen to the latest profane trash emanating full tilt from one of them. Strange thing is these kids in daddy's $100k+ ski boat have parents nearby who apparently think this is ok. Go figure.

Agreed! Its like stereo contest, isn't it! I know exactly what you mean, if they were playing the same stations it would be a bit better... If you are alone, in a cove and want to crank it up, go ahead. But when you are with others.... Respect your neighbors. What half of them don't realize is that their stereos may sound good inside the boats, but hearing it from outside, they sound like crap! I just chuckle as I grab my invisible M-4 with an invisable EoTech from the ski locker!
Not a rant Darin, good point!

It bothers me as well when 5 different boats are playing 5 different songs and they're all trying to out-do one another. My solution to that is i don't anchor or raft up with them. My idea of being at the lake is being away from everyone. I like to be with a few select friends/family taking it easy and everyone agreeing on what kind of music will be played(and even then it's not super loud). My radio is nothing special, but i will play it while cruising around and while anchored out, but it will never be so loud that it bothers others. Usually, if it's loud to the point where i can't have a conversation on the boat, i turn it down.

This is the one thing I HATE the most when we go to the lake. There are not many real coves on the lake we boat at. Really just one named "Party Cove." I was there one Saturday with my family (I have 11 and 5 yr old daughters and 9 and 7 year old boys) and a wake boat came in and anchored about 25 yards away from me. I usually get is far back and away from everybody as possible so we can swim and mind our own business. Once anchored, this boat starting BLASTING the most graphic and crude rap music I've ever heard! Talking about giving blow jobs and other lovely crap that my kids DID NOT need to hear!!! Some people are so self centered, they don't even THINK about who's around them!!!

I hear ya. I like all types of music also. It is music I like to hear, not everyone. so I keep it down to a low talkable level. Talkable on the boat not 100 yards from my boat. In our area of the water, if the music is too loud and or profound we just call the MD DNR police. They usually show up rather quickly and usually take care of the situtation at hand. Most folks know that and do not want that type of heat as they are usually under the influence anyhow. The only time you hear it is at the begining of the season when the new folks show up. Once the DNR pays a visit word gets around quickly. You hate to be like that, but these people do not understand "no" other than when it comes from a uniform with a ticket. I am there to enjoy the water like they are.

I feel the same way! Now keep in mind that I just recently upgraded my stereo & speakers which sounds a 100x better that the factory and we love to listen to music on the boat.... but, being considerate of the boaters around you is just plain common sense and good manners. Something a lot of people are forgetting nowadays. The other problem is these young kids in these expensive ski boats that mommy & daddy bought them...WTF...they have no consideration for music or wakes and mommy & daddy love it because they're re-living there childhood through there children...

I'm sorry, but unless you own the lake, you really can't make the rules. While I don't care for some of the loud rap crap that a lot of "go fast" boats like to play, I respect their rights. If I don't like what they are playing, I can go elsewhere on the lake. Just like if I don't like something on TV -- I don't call up the station and tell them to put something else on -- I just change the channel.

If you pull in to a "Party Cove" -- you really should expect this -- it's going to happen. If you don't like it, don't go there.

OK Toon wrote:I'm sorry, but unless you own the lake, you really can't make the rules. While I don't care for some of the loud rap crap that a lot of "go fast" boats like to play, I respect their rights. If I don't like what they are playing, I can go elsewhere on the lake. Just like if I don't like something on TV -- I don't call up the station and tell them to put something else on -- I just change the channel.

If you pull in to a "Party Cove" -- you really should expect this -- it's going to happen. If you don't like it, don't go there.

WRONG, did you ever notice on water you can hear someone talking a mile away, so you might think your not bothering anyone, but your WRONG

Thank goodness we are on a lake that is bigger than a mile long. If I don't like what someone is playing or saying, I go elsewhere on the lake. That's my choice just as it's their choice to play what they want.

Come on people, lighten up. Everyone just wants to have a good time on the water. If you want to set the rules, buy the lake.

OK Toon wrote:Thank goodness we are on a lake that is bigger than a mile long. If I don't like what someone is playing or saying, I go elsewhere on the lake. That's my choice just as it's their choice to play what they want.

Come on people, lighten up. Everyone just wants to have a good time on the water. If you want to set the rules, buy the lake.

You are missing the point, if you can hear someone talk a mile away, you can hear that radio that you think is OK for ten miles

I understand the point just fine -- sound carries across water. Got it.

OK Toon wrote:I understand the point just fine -- sound carries across water. Got it.

OK we got it too, this is you and this is us

You can't cruse through a town, windows down, with explicit music cranked and not expect a ticket if the popo hears you so why should it be allowed on lakes? Hey, I've got a LOT of nice stereo equipment but I don't go around annoying others in public areas with it. Nothing I hate more than sitting in a back bay, all nice a quiet, and have a Wake boat / Party toon come ripping through with nasty music playing then have to try and answer my 6yo daughters questions about "What does ----- mean?" At least I usually have a fair warning there coming since I can hear them from over a mile away and try to keep my daughter busy so she doesn't hear that crap.

OK Toon wrote:If you pull in to a "Party Cove" -- you really should expect this -- it's going to happen. If you don't like it, don't go there.

I agree with that somewhat...If I pull up to an area that "is partying" fine I can leave....BUT....when I'm anchored in an area by myself or among other anchored boats all enjoying ourselves at respectful levels and a someone, young or old, comes in no regard to music level I'm allowed to get pissed... They don't own the lake either.