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Let me offer a short narrative:

I’m out on Lake Pend Orielle fishing in a 14-foot aluminum boat. I’m in the middle of nowhere, far from busy areas, with miles of lake on either side, enjoying peace and quiet. In the distance, I see the white V of a boat hull motoring in my general direction.

It gets closer, the hull bigger. I start eyeballing my outboard and maybe pump the bulb in the fuel line. I start wondering if the boat has seen me yet.

A little bald head pokes out from the top of the boat. OK, good, he sees me. Surely he’s gonna turn now. Surely he’s gonna give me some room. There’s like three miles of lake on either side of me. No, he’s gonna buzz me. I can’t believe its happening again. Here he comes. Here comes, Captain Idiot.

Seen aboard large fiberglass boats, with inboard motor(s) roaring, “Captain Idiot” fails to exercise common courtesy on the water. Quite commonly, and for no apparent reason, this type of wild boater will “buzz” other boats, meaning he’ll come by other boats way too close (often less than 80-100 feet) and too fast. He offers a rubber neck, a blank stare, and a large wake. Despite miles of open lake, with plenty of room to give other vessels, Captain Idiot feels its necessary to operate his boat with reckless disregard for others on the water.

I’ve run across Captain Idiot several times this summer. Most boaters here are courteous, but not Captain Idiot.

Please exercise courtesy, Captain Idiot. Especially if you’re in a big power boat.

BOBBY JENKINS

Sandpoint