Be Careful Out There.....

Anonymous 121765 · Feb 4, 2014

TJ,

Let me tell ya man................they NEVER look to see what their wake does,
or how it effects others.

You have no idea how many Heineken glass bottles I've thrown at these A-holes . I just don't get the complete disregard for what they reap. And, be abreast that if you have the boat name and/or numbers, call it in immediately as by law in a channel, they are liable for ANY DAMAGE inflicted upon you, your boat, and/or your passengers.

You're right, they never turn a head. Why, sociopaths & narcissistS personalities never go that deep in compassion. Do they care or give a damn?

I KNOW NOT!

You've brought up a very important point in THESE interactions.

We have a lot of tight channels here on Florida's left coast. Often, I'm less that twenty feet off as they WREAK 4 to 5 foot wakes. And, MANY TIMES, I have no water or sea room to avoid their stupidity. Hence, I have to yell, "HOLD ON" to my guests & THEN WAIT FOR THE HARD ROLL.

Great point to bring up pal.........

CR

jimmcgee · Feb 4, 2014

This comes up on various sailing forums every so often.

I'm on the same page as Captain Ron. Keep clear of big ships and barges and give them plenty of room. Keep clear of shipping channels. If you have to cross, make sure the way is clear and transit quickly. If a ship is coming let them pass before crossing. I see this as common sense.

I'd add one thing to Brian's point about monitoring channel 16. Most radios have a scan feature that will allow you to monitor 16, 9 and 13. 13 will let you hear what the big boys are saying and allow you to hail them directly.

I'm out sailing for enjoyment. There is NO justification for putting my passengers or my vessel intentionally in harms way.

Just my two cents...

Anonymous 121765 · Feb 4, 2014

Jim,
Another voice of wisdom, why you may ask, cause he's been there & done that.
This thread has gone beyond my expectations. I am hearing from fellow boaters that found themselves in the mix. This thread SHOULD be helpful to all sailors just starting out.

For new sailors, I would recommend sailing lessons, followed by a USCG recognized boating course. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER....INHALE IT'S FULLNESS.

If it's your boat, licensed or not, you are the captain. Being the captain, YOU are RESPONSIBLE FULLY for all onboard. Safety starts with YOU, and YOU only.

In your sails, you can run into anything. How will you respond? Know the options!

JIMMCGEE, good lesson in point man.....

CR

Tom J · Feb 4, 2014

I also set the scan on my radio for 9, 13, and 16 along with Wx (those weather alerts make me jump every time). When you call and explain your intentions to the commercial skippers, they really appreciate it.
I think, though, a lots of folks are just afraid to use the radio. I once sailed past a sailboat anchored in an active ship channel. I yelled over to him to call the ship that was backing out of a slip not far away and let him know he was disabled (his engine had quit). I suggested channel 13, and 16 if that didn't work. I reversed course and came close by again, and asked what the ship said. The skipper explained he hadn't tried to call the ship. At the last second, I was able to pull him out of the path of the ship, as the ship's captain blew 5 blasts on his incredibly loud horn. Lots of issues here; why didn't he sail 150' to a safe anchorage? what did he think the ship was going to do? why didn't he use the RADIO? We'll never know.

topcat0399 · Feb 4, 2014

Seems like a lot of the stories in this thread have something to do with reduced times of reduced visibility (dark).

In my military days I learned a very important lesson - after dark in a tactical situation (to me that's what sailing at night is) it is extremely beneficial to avoid white light at all times. Troopers would always be tripping and falling and running into things constantly because they insist on using artificial light after dark. Not to mention making oneself and possibly others a big obvious target!

What I learned is that you can have AMAZING vision after dark if you avoid artificial light. Its a skill that can be learned and takes practice but it is extremely effective. Even on a moonless night (or in the forest for that matter) it is incredible what you can see in "total" dark" and even on an unlit shore line if you let your eyes and ears acclimatize.

Just like on my former Army Tank where my crew was banned from using artificial light after dark unless absolutely necessary - I have the same ban on the boat while underway and navigating in the dark. To me its part of keeping a proper and prudent look out - eyes and ears. The only light allowed on deck are the nav lights and a big spot light handy for emergency.

I'm not so concerned with the other guy seeing me first - I want to see them first and I almost always do.

Am I the only one that uses this technique?

Anonymous 121765 · Feb 4, 2014

TOPCAT,

Your are correct and, the added effects are indifference, stupidity, lack of local waters' knowledge or, he's an idiot and shouldn't have a boat in the first place.

Have you noticed that many of the posts in this thread were of firsthand knowledge/complaints from the observers' point of view?

Not all boaters are created equal man..........

To further prove this, I can add that I found two half frozen NEOPHYTE divers 25 miles offshore in January three years ago on January 1st. They were beginning divers living in Orlando. They trailered their boat 100 miles & launched off Clearwater. Spanish, they spoke very little English. Their buddies (having never been on a boat offshore) had drifted 2-3 miles downstream from their initial position & were totally unaware there was a problem.

A thin anchor rode had chaffed thru. It was 4:30 PM & the sun was setting; they were almost frozen. We located them & put pulled them on to the swim platform. From there, we brought them into a cockpit corner to warm them up.

We did warm them up with blankets & brandy (I found out hence to never give alcohol to a person in hypothermia, however, this time it worked, thank-god). We took them back to their errant boat. How would this have turned out if I didn't hear a faint cry for help in late afternoon on a buddy's boat? Thankfully, this didn't make the 11:00 news.

I gave the skipper my phone number to let me know he made it back safely to Orlando.
He never called, I never knew. I thought that was a poor show.

It not only happens in channels guys, it happens in any water,,,,,,,,,,PERIOD

CR

THECUSCUS · Feb 4, 2014

Topcat, so you don't have a TIS on your Mac? Haha. When I want to be seen at night, I shine my spotlight at my main sail.

topcat0399 · Feb 4, 2014

THECUSCUS said:
Topcat, so you don't have a TIS on your Mac? Haha. When I want to be seen at night, I shine my spotlight at my main sail.

dude, I have an iron depth finder and a wet finger for wind...waddaya think

Anonymous 121765 · Feb 5, 2014

Speaking of lights at nite, I use my steaming & deck light.
They are both halogen. Located @ the spreaders when on does not interfere with my night vision at all. The mast blocks any glare when in the cockpit.

I should add the deck light lights up my whole foredeck so other boats can see me.

CR

Anonymous 121765 · Feb 5, 2014

Main,

I forgot to mention I always motor at nite. Even with sails up. You never know when you may have to make an emergency change of course. So my steaming light is proper.

If at anchor, only my masthead light & sometimes my deck light is on.

**************
Addendum to my earlier post:

I do like how this thread has taken off. The problems shared by us are all too common.

Here's a thought. sailing in channels by day. Bravado in my learning years were made up of downwind sailing in channels. I remember when I thought it Kool to wing-n-wing it in trafficked channels. A few wakes later, I gave this practice up. I do see other boats doing this, and just watch as they pitch & roll with sails collapsing then popping. Popping is the worst sound a sail can make. I've blown out panels & stitching doing this, so I'm over it now. I do however enjoy winging it in open water though.

In channels at nite (some narrow), I normally don't use my headsail if the channel has traffic 24/7. It's good practice to shorten sails at night anyway, so if I use the headsail, it's furled 50% or more. With steaming & deck lights on, it also lights up my sail to be seen by other boats.

CR

Chris Patterson · Feb 5, 2014

Shoot, I'll flash my spreader lights if I am unsure of another's course, (if he's coming at me). They light up the entire deck, sail area, whatever. And the light is pointing straight down, so I squinch my eyes shut, flash 'em once, that should do it. It should, it is incredibly well lit, without putting the light on the other boat.

IF, however, the clown is still proceeding towards me, with little intention of altering course, out comes the spotlight. 500 million candlepower that will light a jib sail on fire from fifty feet. Straight on the helm. Yes it blinds the other boat. Guess which way he will NOT proceed from there? I do not care one iota. I will pay tickets all day long for this, and half the night before I let some moron plow me down. And no, I'm not talking about ships, tugs, work boats, etc, you get the idea. The compensation boat. The guy that can say proudly at the bar, "I've got a thousand and fifty horsepower on the stern, but what I REALLY would like to have is...)

Anonymous 121765 · Feb 5, 2014

Main,

I know I'm deviating somewhat, but let me ask you this? party boats, lit-up yachts, cruise ships etc. have all kinds of lights on in addition to running lights that may not show the type vessel they are. Aside of fishing & towing, what do the COLREGS say about these other boats/ships?

I use my method, as my port & stbd lights are older candescent bulbs that aren't that bright over distance. I also believe a sailboat's nite lights are not that easily discernible at distance.

I do feel the first duty of a prudent navigator is to first be seen by all at a greater distance. Does it really matter if I am a push or tow or sailboat at first sight? The important thing to me is to be seen early at a safe distance & not until you're up-close & personal.

Hell, the other captain seeing me may be tempted to hail me. If not, I hail him to let him know my intentions. To me, that's the safe way to go.

CR

IH82BL8 · Feb 7, 2014

The Chesapeake Bay has a couple of hundred miles of well marked shipping channels and miles of water on each side with more than 10 feet and less than 25 feet of water. The smart boaters stay out of the channel except to cross it at right angles.

Also worth noting, when crossing the shipping channel, the commercial vessel that appears to be making very slow headway will be where you are sooner than you expect.

jimmcgee · Feb 7, 2014

IH82BL8 said:
Also worth noting, when crossing the shipping channel, the commercial vessel that appears to be making very slow headway will be where you are sooner than you expect.

My God is that true.

I started sailing on the Delaware River in a Catalina 22. We'd be sailing and see a tug pushing a barge in the distance. Looked like they were going really slow, but they were on top of you in no time. Being outside the channel I was more concerned about their wake, but it gave me a HEALTHY respect for just how fast they could be on top of you.

Merlin Clark · Feb 7, 2014

"constant bearing, decreasing range" means you're on a collision course.
this is where a hand bearing compass or bino with compass are handy.

topcat0399 · Feb 7, 2014

merlinuxo said:
"constant bearing, decreasing range" means you're on a collision course.
this is where a hand bearing compass or bino with compass are handy.

I'm pretty sure mechanical compass's were voted off boats in another thread already.

:naughty:

It's getting so soldiers don't even know how to use them anymore

:lame:

Brian D · Feb 7, 2014

One doesn't need a compass to see if the bearing is changing. If it even looks like the same bearing then you need to head up a bit so as to pass behind the oncoming vessel.

Merlin Clark · Feb 7, 2014

After 3 decades of figuring out where I am with a compass I'll do it my way rather than guessing. I was taught by the Navy, not an internet forum.