Since my retirement and on cold days like today (it is snowing) I have been watching boats crossing the Haulover Bar in Miami.
I scratch my head in amazement wondering what the he!!!.

[video:]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKVCiXpfNsE[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R4TMcyCnU4[/video]

I feel the same way. I've watched a lot of those Haulover videos over the years. Did you see the boat in the first video that flipped a lady over the side while they were under power then a guy from that boat jumped off the swim platform to save her, after they had continued ahead at least 100 yards?

I've learned a lot about boat design from watching those boats go over the waves. That reaffirms my belief that the boat designs with bows that are "proud", i.e., where the bow points up rather than down are better, also the hull designs that incorporate a lot of flare are better.

Those Haulover videos are a great way to waste time on a winter day. Or a summer day.

Those are nuts I wonder how they can do that

Those are certainly entertaining. Speaking of videos and boat handling. GFC, just in case you decide to change course and get back in little bigger, check this one out.

https://tinyurl.com/7tkl2knu

Its the Neptunus 650 Express on Boattest.com...start watching at about the 10:30 mark.

Handles just like Beachcomber did I'm sure! Actually, as amazing as it is, it's a little sad too. Helmsmanship skills will be lost along the way, but like autonomous cars, I'm sure there is no stopping the trend. Probably will be beneficial overall and save some property damage and lives, but certainly takes something away from the experience.

I rrreeeeeaaaaallllyy like that boat. Well designed, good construction, lots of little touches to make cruising more relaxing.

I'm not sure I agree with the comment about helmsmanship skills. I've often heard comments about bow thrusters, but I think having the thruster opens up new possibilities that make handling easier but you still have to be smarter than the equipment you're trying to operate. An example--A couple of years ago I figured out a way to use tiny bursts on the thruster help me bring the boat up to the wall of a lock without having to rely solely on the shifters. All I used the shifters for was to stop forward progress and swing the stern up against the wall. Having the thruster to assist makes the handling a bit more complicated because you have one more gadget to think about and use, but having it makes the approach to the wall simpler.

Oh, I definitely think bow thrusters are a great idea, I was referring to maneuvering and docking solely via the little wireless remote control in his hand. Its a great innovation too, no doubt safer for everyone, just not the same experience as operating shifters and multiple controls.

We watch those videos all the time with our marina friends, great entertainment.

Having owned both styles, I agree with you on the up-sloping bow and lots of flare. You gotta work pretty hard to stuff a boat with a salty bow; we've buried the anchor on our Tollycraft but have yet to take water over the bow. Used to stuff the down-sloping bow on my Regal all the time; made me glad it was a cuddy and not the bow rider version of the same boat. That said, my favorite boat of all time, the FPB78, is a wave-piercing design and if I could afford one, I am certain I could live with the water coming over the bow while I crossed oceans in comfort.

The videos going through the bar waters sure showed how stupid some people are. Boats overloaded and no live preservers on anybody.
Just plain STUPID. What did Forest Gump say about STUPID?

"Stupid is as stupid does"

Haulover watching is a favorite way to pass the time . . . The value of the boats that pass through there on a daily basis must be nuts. . . . in addition to some of the skippers.