Turtles: We must project a good-guy image or loose

[JIM MARCUM]

Picture removed.......................post updated:

I hit a turtle that got stuck on the rudder..........threw him back in, end of story................

Thanks Carl. The hyper environmentalists would use a picture (we all know which one) as a poster child to make us look like heartless killers of innocent baby turtles, birds, etc. We won't gain any friends with just regular nature loving folks if they have an image like that burned into their mind. Think about the reaction to those pictures of Alaskans beating baby white seals to death with clubs.

To keep our sport alive, we FE boaters need to project a Good Guy image, friends of nature folks. We must be seen as those nice RC boating guys who respect both people & nature. Jerks who like to buzz shore fishermen, and chase coots, duck & other water fowl mess it up for all of us. Give those radical environmentalists a poster child showing the "heartless" death of a small innocent animal & they will have a heart wrenching weapon to use against us to shut us down. DON'T pick a fight with these self serving, bleeding heart radicals - WE will lose that fight. Parks & Recreation managers are politicians who be forced to take action against FE boaters if they get enough complaints from fishermen, duck feeders, and excessively green tree-huggers - who are grievously violated at the sounds & sight of anything man made cluttering their view of nature. Believe me, it's happened here.

Here in Southern CA, most of our lakes are already closed to FE boats. Some demand staying under the lakes 5 MPH speed limit, other lake Park & Rec people will close off a lake to FE if they get complaints about you buzzing a fisherman on shore or scare away water fowl. I've been tossed out of two lakes here in San Diego for causing ducks & coots to fly. Only two freshwater lakes here still allow FE boats.

Don't think the anti-FE boat types won't jump on a chance to close off lakes in your part of the country. Radicals groups like the Nature Conservancy are already moving East, after getting 2/3rds of the Glamis, Imperial Sand Dunes closed off to protect a weed (Pierson's Milk Vetch).

I race in LA & have nothing against turtles. I'm not a turtle hugger, but I would prefer that the Parks & Recreation folks capture & move them to a nearby non-FE boating lake. I had my brand new Miss GEICO split apart from top to bottom & almost sank by a big turtle last year. Turtle wins, I lose. Each year several world class FE race boats are damaged or sank by turtle hits. 20 pound turtles are impossible to see or avoid. However, if we can't get the turtles relocated, maybe we should just buy environmental hazard insurance for our $1000-$5000+ FE boats.

In closing, we all must be good ambassadors for our sport to survive. Nice guys win over jerks.
JIM

[srislash]

Thanks Jim,I am real careful at the lake I run at as to not P anyone off as the next spot will be an hours drive for me.I also have a few spots reasonably close but can't use them for let's say,fishery or enviromental reasons.Worst is there is quite a few of us local here in this same boat and it would seem some just don't believe we should enjoy ourselves.Anyway,just wanted to voice myself and thanks again.

Shawn

[Diegoboy]

It seems that a lot of tree hugging moms neglected to teach their children to...

"Mind your own business"

[srislash]

Around here I get a kick out of "you are disturbing the nature" when I am in an old gravel pit!

[Gary]

I solved many of my problems and now have ZERO issues. I thought long and hard on how I could do what I want and not listen to anyone complaining. First i applied for written permission.Very important! Then, instead of boating just on the weekend when the posibility of human encounters where good, I realized that geting up early before work proved to be perfect. Everyone has to work, no one is up that early and I am seen by no one. The water is always dead calm with not even a duck around. Perfect.!! I rarely see anyone when boating. Just the way I like it!

[ozzie-crawl]

Its not always our fault turtles die

[Alexgar]

I try to have respect for the fishing people (politically correct) and basiclly follow the same rules as sports or fishing if they are ther first i wait if im there first you wait if you choose to fish or allow me to boat while your enjoying your time well thats great and thats what its all about relaxation as far as damaging wildlife , i fish i hunt i jetski but for the sake of avoiding an argument i never do so intentionally, im an animal lover but also a animal consumer so i just try to resecpt other in general, great topic btw

[rcboatmanwithkids2880]

Hi Guy's ,

I am sure most guys that run F/E Boats do have an interest in environmental conservation , in the U.S as with Austrralia . Though i believe half of those that claim to be Environmentalist , use it as a badge of honor for their own intellectual persona . Which has nothing to do with saving the environment !!


Brad
Oz

[Alexgar]

that seems like an awfully sny comment for a couple of guys trying to save the life of fe boating by trying to be a little sensative to the feeling of people that dont completely understand or appreciate what we do i think the whole point was to say we do care whate we do whether we do or not im a carpenter so im not a tree hugger but im just saying

[dana]

I was running at a public beach today. It's not open for the season Yet, and nobody is swimming here in ma yet. Too cold still.
After my runs, a local resident came to tell me I can't run because I'm disturbing the finely tuned ecosystem of a public beach? Gimme a break.
In the end, I told her to shove it, and call the cops if I'm doing something wrong. Too bad she doesn't know the Framingham police watch me when I run them sometimes.

[ozzie-crawl]

This whole discussion came from 1 photo. A photo that was of a complete accident. I am sure the person did not think "hell i hope i kill a turtle with my rudder today"
I do not know what the wildlife is like in other parts of the world,but were i live (and have lived) it can be a regular occurrence hitting a animal or reptile. more chance of killing some thing driving to the pond than killing some thing there.

[jamespl]

I have a great pond right by my house but can't use it because they have migrating birds from all over the world go there and I might scare them off! Well that's what the ranger said anyway but how can u argue with that.

[dana]

Wildlife and myself never have any problems. It's people I have problems with. Egotistical, self important,self riteous bull*!***!***!***!**.

[runzwithsizorz]

I have seen many a video of r/c boats where the water fowl didn't even take flight. Even if they did, there gonna do that anyway, several times a day, weather you're there or not.
I have also heard the line, "this is a nature preserve". OH REALLY? well that explains why you terra formed 200 acres, back filled wet lands, built a golf course, a huge parking lot, a restaurant,
and 2000 vacation condos. It is a known fact, that the best stewards, and conservators of nature are licensed hunters, fishermen, and NRA members.
They might also be, Republican.

[dana]

Seriously. Environmentalists are so full of *!***!***!***!** I can smell it. Unless you've built you own house in the woods without disturbing any animals, don't use electricity or cars, you're guilty as anyone as disturbing the environment. Even veagans kill plants to eat. These people are only concerned about their own personal habitat. They're afraid that they might be personally inconvenienced ...and I'm the wrong guy to preach to, as that woman found out.