(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules 4-18, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
There is no law requiring you to stay in a marked channel. It is marked to give assistance in finding safe passage into an area of reduced depth. If you know the area and the tidal changes no one will hassle you for going out there. That doesn't mean that you might not get hailed on the radios with all manner of "doom and gloom" warnings. In my harbor, there is a group of rocks that are a mile off shore that are just awash at -1’ tide. The first channel marker just beyond. Other than those rocks, nothing exposes at -2' tide. I routinely sail out there at higher tides +7' to +12' knowing that I have at least 5 feet of water over the rocks. Every time I go out there someone will tell me that "I am in danger"
You hit on one of my least favorite bumper stickers with that one.
This rule seems to be the most slaughtered of them all. If the vessel has a mechanical problem that leaves it inoperable, that is an exceptional circumstance. If the captain has a heart attack and no one else can operate the vessel, that is an exceptional circumstance. If some one goes down below to relieve themselves that is just an idiot who turned a nice day on the water into a possible problem.
There was an item in one of the sailing rags years ago about a Coast Guard citation issued to a boat skipper alleging no lookout, collision involved. Skipper had two people who testified they were on watch, and thus the citation not legal. Coasties said, okay. Then they issued another citation for "failure to post proper/sufficient lookout" I believe the Coasties knew the boat had caused the collision, so ANY lookout should have seen it coming.
Saw these at a boat show a few years back. REALLY wanted to get one! Guy said it would shoot a golf ball thru a telephone pole. Seemed adequate for holing a powerboat at the waterline. It was about 32” long.
If you miss the phone pole, do you get a Mulligan?
I read more about this in some other venue recently. The operator was in a wheel chair, and unable to see over the bow. He is being sued by the fishermen, and he is arguing that he shouldn’t owe them damages because none of them were injured. His son-in-law, onboard at the time of the incident, apparently is opposing his defense, saying that he had warned the driver, and that he was also using his cell phone. This is greatly simplified, but my biggest issue is how can a boater justify driving along at high speed without even being able to see where he is going?!
Yes but did he pronounce it Rahjay?He replied.... "Roger... pass to port". How did he know my name was Roger?
Let’s look at the ramifications for both of you assuming you and the fisherman are both right. You stood to lose very little if nothing. Let’s say you broached, rolled and then sank. Being a sailboater you obviously were in full control of the situation. Your crew were either wearing PFDs or knew where theirs was, your sails were perfectly trimmed, you had a plan for any situation that might present itself and, most-importantly, your insurance was all paid up. Everyone would have been safe. On the other hand, the fisherman probably lost a fish.
Did anyone else notice the watermelon was at perfect eating ripeness? Such a waste.
The fisherman might also have reached to wave his hat in anger and had it blow out of his hand. Do you understand how important a fisherman's hat is?
Are you saying that all dirbs are made of felt? I know for a fact this is not true............
Oh no! Now we’re dealing with dirbal profiling!!!!Are you saying that all dirbs are made of felt? I know for a fact this is not true............
