Close calls with motor boats

[Louis Holub]

education is the answer...

Alcohol, Rude Folks, and even Drugs can endanger a great week end on the WATER. Penalties for endangerment of FOLKs should be enforced. Most folks I sail along with are AWESOMELY COURTEOUS...and are on the WATER for the ENJOYMENT also...Happy Sailing !!!!Sure gets crowded out there some times...but continues to be GREAT FUN.

 

[Bob]

Try an 18 pounder on deck!

No place on the planet is a better example of crowded conditions and lack of courtesy on the water then Lake Lanier, Georgia. This is where the "stink-potters" versus the "ragfolks" in the war of space and the bottom line is the "biggest rules"!!!!!!! An 18-pounder on the deck with a bunch of swabs aremd with grappling hooks is about the only answer.I think the greatest adventure next to climbing Mount Everest is to cross Lake Lanier on a saturday during the summer in a day-sailor!!I'm with ya.Bob

 

[Keith and Sandi Davis]

Thank you one and all

Thanks for all of your input. David W and Don to clarify in both instances we were "buzzed". We had tried to move out of the way well in advance of a problem, but they just kept coming. We hate it when they wave,too. Don't salute due to the kids. We are not new to sailing, but we are new to the Chesapeake as we only have a couple of years under our belt. We were interested in options short of two fully loaded cannons off port and starboard. We also find it terribly rude to do the "alongside" thing. We looked up phone numbers to report major abuses, bought an additional air horn and have decided to park on major holidays. This is definitely a topic that could be further explored. Thanks again for all your suggestions and thoughts.

 

[Big Windy]

Weekdays

Like several other posters...I sail on weekdays only. Much quieter and less traffic.

 

[David W]

Apologies that my post came across as judgemental

I did not intend it as such. It is true that I have not experienced such behavior on the water (and hope I never do) but I have experienced the vehicle equivalant and unfortunatly don't have any other suggestions.It has been suggested to report them to the authorities, unfortunatly that may or may not fall on deaf ears.We are obviously treading ever so close to the licensing discussion...

 

[RichH]

PAN-PAN PAN-PAN PAN-PAN Hello All Stations .....

..... near the mouth of the Middle River ( +LAT/LON if able), heading east is a large white Powerboat with the name "(your choice)" and port name of "(your choice)' operating in a wholly unsafe manner, coming extremely close aboard at high speed and throwing a huge dangerous wake to close aboard vessels. All vessels in the vicinity should exercise extreme caution in the vicinity of this recklessly operated boat. etc." Then REPEAT the whole message. If you see no one clearly at the helm, so advise the CG, etc. I believe that the CG 'records' (1 hour endless tape, etc.) all traffic on ch16, so you just 'recorded' an unsafe boating incident. Pan Pans probably also go into the station logboook. BTW Middle River MD about 5 years ago was the site of where a large powerboat cut a sailboat in half.  ;o)

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Rich, now THAT'S a GOOD IDEA!

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

One thing I will add .....and a positive one.

traveling the ICW north and south during the annual migrations, it is a real pleasure to encounter the professional captains and other powerboats who call ahead to give us slow boaters (sail, trawler, etc.) an "easy pass". Those of you who travel these routes will know what I mean. It's a communal thing, if you slow down they will too and pass without a wake. Then everyone speeds back up. Otherwise, the slow boats would wind up somewhere ashore in the narrow ICW from the wake. And, it's costing the power guys money to slow down and then get their boats on plane again. So, professionalism and courtesy do exist on the waters. If any of you guys are reading this, Thanks.

 

[RichH]

This rankles my libertarian nature ........

.... but, damn, I certainly see the NEED for all boats over 30ft. or over 75hp to be operated by someone with a ****CG LICENSE******.There I said it, and Im glad i did. I see these idiots show up just about every Sunday evening at my marina, nearly out of fuel, completely lost .... following an ExxonMobil Road Map, crashing into the dock so they can stop, some half stoned or drunk ... all in the name of 'fun'. And just for 'my' fun I tell them what they're looking for is "oh, thats way over on the Chesapeake Bay" ..... and they have NO idea that they're ON the Chesapeake bay !!!!!!! ... then I simply walk away. The 'pros' dont act this way, maybe enforced education or licensing is what it will take to 'calm things down'.

 

[s sauer]

Middle River

We had a beautiful light air motor sail last Sunday across the bay and into Middle River. Then as we got closer to the day marks near Bowley Bar, all the power boaters seemed to converge on us. I remarked to my wife, now I remember why we don't come to Middle River anymore, but we kept on and motored in to Frog Mortar Creek to anchor for awhile and have lunch.I could relay the usual story about how many small cruisers cut across our anchor line to anchor closer to shore, but that's typical.Then we motor sailed out to Boleys point and past the day marker to set the big Genoa and sail home. There were a lot of the same 'close calls' described in this thread, but we bear off or head up and give 'em room, take their wakes and sail on. If we're going to scream and get upset and give 'em the salute we just ruin our day, because franlky, they DON'T GET IT AND THEY NEVER WILL!Non carborundum illigitimae! (Don't let the Bastardards wear you down)

 

[Tsehum Pete]

Check About Time's New Rearranged Bow

Her bow looks slightly bent. Why I do not powerboat.

 

[Herb Parsons]

Licensing???

David W said "We are obviously treading ever so close to the licensing discussion... "Now there's an idea!! Let's require licenses, so we'll get considerate, knowledgable, safe boat captains, the same way licensing has given us considerate, knowledgable, safe drivers.Oh, wait...

 

[dwayne13628]

Licensing???

...ya, I too wish it were true.

 

[David W]

I never said licenses were the answer

nm

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

aghhh.....those Canadians....

let's give David a break on this one, I've already beaten him up.....

 

[Stu Jackson]

Do a forum archive thread on

licenses.Just ain't worth goin' that discussion again.I agree with Herb.Stu

 

[Henry Flack]

Several weeks ago

We were in the channel making our approach to the harbor entrance. The well marked channel is only about 300 to 400 feet wide at its widest. It is bounded by a large seawall to the north and VERY shallow water to the south. There were four of us on our Glander 33. As all know, a sailboat under power rarely goes over 5-6 knots. So, there we were. We saw approaching to our stern three very large cabin cruisers at full bore. We saw right away that they were intent on beating us into the harbor entrance. All three of them passed between us and the seawall at full speed. The resulting double wake off the three boats really knocked us around. We had our hands quite full trying to keep out of the shallows. Our harbor entrance makes a dogleg to port with minimal visability. As we rounded the bend into the marina, there was one of those @*^&*!! cruisers sideways in the channel. Behind us was another cruiser closing fast. I slammed into reverse and gave full power. The boater in front of us panicked and basically stopped. The boat behind us went into hard reverse and luckily stopped. The front boat drifted back enough for us to clear in front of him and into our slip we went. Just another day in paradise!

 

[gary]

close calls

I carry a 25' 3/8" line attached to a small float. If I see a power boat coming full tilt in my direction I toss this line out to the side. Twice I have fouled props of powerboaters. Makes me smile when that happens.

 

[RichH]

Huh?

Gary - I hope you have a good lawyer and lots of indemnity insurance. You're gonna need them. The situation you describe is intentional. However If you used strong fishing line with a humongous braided wire leader; now that would be entirely different and the actions may be deemed to be 'normal'.

 

[ted22530]

This is chance to tell my powerboat story.

We anchored in our favorite little cove one Saturday night. There was about twenty sailboats there. I was awaken about 1AM to the sound of a big V8 power boat coming into our cove. This "gang" was drunk and they were weaving in and out of all the anchored boats. They were screaming at the top of their lungs: WAKE UP!! WAKE UP YOU M&$#*R F*^%ERS. WAKE UP A^% HOLES.Then they sped off. About 3 AM I was awaken again to the sound of the V8 powerboat coming back. I also heard the sound from my neighbors boat of a 12 gauge shotgun being pumped once. Here the power boaters come again. The next sound was the 12 gauge being fired into the air and the power boat hauling ass out of there. Didn't hear another thing the rest of the night!Ted