18 bouys gone

[pkenney]

Someone took 18 buoys; 4 sets of boat guides, 4 turns, 1 set gate, 1 gate,and 1 pregate. This is the second time someone messed with our club's course. We put it all back, and we are running out of bouys. It is bad enough with all the rain down time, and no skiing. How would I set up cameras to catch them? I think that some of the home owners might let set up cameras at their homes.They are right in front of the course.

[Deke]

Someone took 18 buoys; 4 sets of boat guides, 4 turns, 1 set gate, 1 gate,and 1 pregate. This is the second time someone messed with our club's course. We put it all back, and we are running out of bouys. It is bad enough with all the rain down time, and no skiing. How would I set up cameras to catch them? I think that some of the home owners might let set up cameras at their homes.They are right in front of the course.

Maybe one of the homeowners is the one who did it!

[Jimmy Buffett]

I've got one of these on my front porch.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BB-HCM371A...k/dp/B0009PD0ZI

Easy to install. Just need wireless network and power. You get a personal website where you can view, pan, tilt and screen capture. The cam has a mic so you can listen in. Comes with software to record too.

[pkenney]

Someone took 18 buoys; 4 sets of boat guides, 4 turns, 1 set gate, 1 gate,and 1 pregate. This is the second time someone messed with our club's course. We put it all back, and we are running out of bouys. It is bad enough with all the rain down time, and no skiing. How would I set up cameras to catch them? I think that some of the home owners might let set up cameras at their homes.They are right in front of the course.

Maybe one of the homeowners is the one who did it!

That is what I think,some does not want us skinng therre.

[Bill_AirJunky]

Any reason why your not using a sinkable or portable course? Might solve the problem with that someone.

[zad0030]

Watch peoples trash and garages and see who is hiding a stockpile of bouys.

[pkenney]

Any reason why your not using a sinkable or portable course? Might solve the problem with that someone.

The lake is not deep enough for a sinkable cource. I am thinking of web cams.

[jgouveia3]

or dobermans...

[JohnDoe]

Be glad they didn't cut your mainline and disassemble the structure like somebody did to us!

[Steve16r]

costco has a dvr system that can hook up to the internet, has night vision and motion detection. i have it in my house and its been working for about three years now.

[pkenney]

or dobermans...

Maybe a shootgun, or a holesaw for there hull.

[wakeup]

Any reason why your not using a sinkable or portable course? Might solve the problem with that someone.

The lake is not deep enough for a sinkable cource. I am thinking of web cams.

I think this was mentioned before on another thread, but another option if you can post it close enough is to use one of those outdoor motion sensing cameras used for scouting deer and such, especially if you can borrow one. It would work pretty well on a post at the end of a dock or something if the course is not that far away. Some are designed to work even in the dark.

Just a thought. And usually it's someone you probably know or have talked with who is doing it, so be careful who you ask to help you with catching the person(s).

gl

[tvano]

keep an eye on your local craigs list to see if they crop up there.

shy of the trash bin what else are they going to do w them?

[pkenney]

Any reason why your not using a sinkable or portable course? Might solve the problem with that someone.

The lake is not deep enough for a sinkable cource. I am thinking of web cams.

I think this was mentioned before on another thread, but another option if you can post it close enough is to use one of those outdoor motion sensing cameras used for scouting deer and such, especially if you can borrow one. It would work pretty well on a post at the end of a dock or something if the course is not that far away. Some are designed to work even in the dark.

Just a thought. And usually it's someone you probably know or have talked with who is doing it, so be careful who you ask to help you with catching the person(s).

gl

It was posted before; they came back and hit us again. It realy stinks june rained 24 days.We get some good weather,we end up puttinng the course back in. not skiing.

[68Slalom]

Any reason why your not using a sinkable or portable course? Might solve the problem with that someone.

The lake is not deep enough for a sinkable cource. I am thinking of web cams.

I think this was mentioned before on another thread, but another option if you can post it close enough is to use one of those outdoor motion sensing cameras used for scouting deer and such, especially if you can borrow one. It would work pretty well on a post at the end of a dock or something if the course is not that far away. Some are designed to work even in the dark.

Just a thought. And usually it's someone you probably know or have talked with who is doing it, so be careful who you ask to help you with catching the person(s).

gl

It was posted before; they came back and hit us again. It realy stinks june rained 24 days.We get some good weather,we end up puttinng the course back in. not skiing.

So you guys don't know anyone on the shoreline that can keep an eye on it?

Wouldn't it be better to move it to another location?

Edited July 16, 2009 by 68Slalom

[pkenney]

Any reason why your not using a sinkable or portable course? Might solve the problem with that someone.

The lake is not deep enough for a sinkable cource. I am thinking of web cams.

I think this was mentioned before on another thread, but another option if you can post it close enough is to use one of those outdoor motion sensing cameras used for scouting deer and such, especially if you can borrow one. It would work pretty well on a post at the end of a dock or something if the course is not that far away. Some are designed to work even in the dark.

Just a thought. And usually it's someone you probably know or have talked with who is doing it, so be careful who you ask to help you with catching the person(s).

gl

It was posted before; they came back and hit us again. It really stinks June rained 24 days.We get some good weather,we end up putting the course back in. not skiing.

So you guys don't know anyone on the shoreline that can keep an eye on it?

Wouldn't it be better to move it to another location?

It is not a portable course each buoy has its own cement block.

[Bill_AirJunky]

So how deep is the water there? The skiers here have a sinkable course that one side of it is in like 4' or 5' of water. The middle might be 7' or 8' tops. They have an air line that runs to the shore on one guy's property. The only time anyone messes with it is when they leave it on the surface.

Even a portable course would be more secure.

[pkenney]

So how deep is the water there? The skiers here have a sinkable course that one side of it is in like 4' or 5' of water. The middle might be 7' or 8' tops. They have an air line that runs to the shore on one guy's property. The only time anyone messes with it is when they leave it on the surface.

Even a portable course would be more secure.

The lake is between 8 and 10 feet I did not think that was enough water to have a sinkable course.

[Killer]

So how deep is the water there? The skiers here have a sinkable course that one side of it is in like 4' or 5' of water. The middle might be 7' or 8' tops. They have an air line that runs to the shore on one guy's property. The only time anyone messes with it is when they leave it on the surface.

Even a portable course would be more secure.

The lake is between 8 and 10 feet I did not think that was enough water to have a sinkable course.

definitley possible in that depth.

the other option is to just pull all the buoys off, but it takes a lot of time to put them back on... lots of people up north just pull the bouys in the fall and let the course sit on the bottom for the winter.

[Catfish]

Check to see what the laws are. In FL, ours is permitted. We had issues with a homeowner who was complaining and would get liquored up and drive his pontoon through the course to knock bouys off. The cops told him that it was a designated ski area and the bouys were private property. They also told him that he was breaking the law and would be arrested for property destruction. Problem solved.

[Bill_AirJunky]

Definitely check your state & local laws. Here in WA anything on the public lake is public property. If someone wants to move, destroy or do anything with a bouy or course, then they are allowed. Another reason to look into a sinkable course.

This weekend we found out we now have 2 courses on our lake. Both are sinkers. Occasionally one or the other gets left on the surface & some yahoo will hit a bouy or veer away from it at the last second causing a problem. Just gotta remember that there are other people on the lake. If you or your buddies are not out skiing, and the course is out of sight, it's out of mind & safe for the next time you want to use it.

[Pistol Pete]

Bill,

how do you feel about foil'n when you know there's sunk ski courses somewhere in the lake?

I'd be very leary. 4' underwater doesn't sound that deep. What if I'm just "pencil" diving off my boat?

[Bill_AirJunky]

Bill,

how do you feel about foil'n when you know there's sunk ski courses somewhere in the lake?

I'd be very leary. 4' underwater doesn't sound that deep. What if I'm just "pencil" diving off my boat?

Yea, I tend to stay away from them for that reason. They typically sink to the bottom. If the bottom is only 4' down, then I don't ride there anyway. But if the other end/side of the course is 10' down, there is a chance I'll go over it. While I can tell the driver where to go, I don't really have much control once we're under way.

The other course is in about 20' of water. They are typically really good about sinking it when they leave. Last fall someone only sank it only about a foot deep. I rode over the top of it, hooked it, and it dropped me like a rock. When I came back up there was broken PVC all around, plus the buoys floating up. Later that day an I/O took care of a few of the buoys. I haven't seen that course till yesterday morning when a couple of guys were using it. Once we saw it, we went to the other side of the lake. This morning that course wasn't on the surface. I flew high & right of it till I was pretty sure we were past it, then kept doing my thing.

Our lake is about 700 acres, and 27' deep at it's deepest, probably averages about 15' - 20' deep. Two courses is a lot for a lake that small IMO, especially if the skiers aren't diligent about getting it out of everyone's way on a busy weekend when their not using it.

We also have a competitive jetskier who likes to put a course out in the middle of the lake too. I've told him before that wasn't legal & called the sheriff on him about it when people on the lake have had issues with them. Their rude & don't live by the 100' rule at all. Last night he showed up at my boat ramp asking if he could use it. I laughed.... fat chance buddy. And if you put those unlicensed race jetskis on the lake again I'll call the sheriff again.

[Baddog]

How does a sinkable course get sunk and then raised?

[Bill_AirJunky]

How does a sinkable course get sunk and then raised?

I haven't looked at one up close, or been involved in their placement or maintenance or whatever. But I get the impression that they have sections built of PVC tubing that are filled or drained with air. The PVC has the buoys attached 5' or 6' above, and must be anchored or weighted somehow. They put an air line on a buoy someplace, or even on the shore. Then just use a small air compressor to inflate / deflate it to make it go up or down.