ok was out all day yesterday lil wind but question is , how close do most of you let a 40ft motorboat traveling about 25mph get to you before you fire a warning flare across his bow just to let the idiot know he's way to close to you? I must have had 7-8 vessels plow by my wife and I throwing out a wake that was broadside to myself all morning long , these boat came within 60ft as they passed knowing full well they had the ENTIRE area around ourselves to keep a safe distance , we finally gave up and dropped the sails and set anchor in a quite bay on one of the islands untill dusk and then just used the engine to slowly make our way back to port as by then all the "stink boats" were long gone. ps will be purchasing a flare pistol today sooo how close before they get the warning shot ?
safe distance
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Don't use a flare pistol
Those are for EMERGENCIES (aka life threatening or risk of losing the vessel.) A wake does not typically qualify as an emergency.
As for how close do we LET them get, I've never been able to control them so if you have a means to do that I'm sure we would all be interested in hearing about it.
Hailing on VHF does not work either as they either don't have it on or don't care and ignore your hail.
On a counter note, if you try approching a powerboat at anchor they will tell you, in no uncertian terms, that you are too close....... They get pretty hot about it too.
Those are for EMERGENCIES (aka life threatening or risk of losing the vessel.) A wake does not typically qualify as an emergency.
As for how close do we LET them get, I've never been able to control them so if you have a means to do that I'm sure we would all be interested in hearing about it.
Hailing on VHF does not work either as they either don't have it on or don't care and ignore your hail.
On a counter note, if you try approching a powerboat at anchor they will tell you, in no uncertian terms, that you are too close....... They get pretty hot about it too.
Re: Don't use a flare pistol
If you're in open waters use the airhorn and give them 5 blasts. If your in a narrow channel you just have to expect to be rocked.. man the tiller. Truth is many power boaters don't know that a boat under sail has the right of way. I had a genius in a bass boat come at me from 3/4 mile away on a fixed heading. He was doing 50-60 mph and crossed my bow from left to right at about 50 feet. I can imagine him congratulating himself on his superior helmsmanship. What an idiot!!
If you're in open waters use the airhorn and give them 5 blasts. If your in a narrow channel you just have to expect to be rocked.. man the tiller. Truth is many power boaters don't know that a boat under sail has the right of way. I had a genius in a bass boat come at me from 3/4 mile away on a fixed heading. He was doing 50-60 mph and crossed my bow from left to right at about 50 feet. I can imagine him congratulating himself on his superior helmsmanship. What an idiot!!
Dear bad, whatever you do keep that flare gun stowed. Using it will only get YOU in hot water not the idiot on the stink pot. Five fast blasts from your air horn can be heard by all and is a universal signal for imminent danger. If that fails to force a course change by a your advisary remember you need to head into the wake he creates to minimize its impact on your vessel. Take notice of the vessel name and/or numbers and give the CG or harbor master a call on the VHF. Our local bay constable is very quick to react to incidents like this.
5 blasts is "danger" indicating you are unclear about another boat's course and intentions and fear a collision. All boats who hear this signal are suppose to reduce speed and attempt to determine why the signal was sounded. This includes you as the signaler.
I would not use that just to avoid another boat's wake.
Unfortunately you are sailing in public waters. I don't find 60' excessively close. That gives me plenty of time to turn my bow into the wake enough to reduce the motion.
We've all been in weather conditions where the boat motion exceeds anything a power boat wake can induce. Just consider each wake as a mini squall.
Dennis Kitchen - Sailboats having the right of way is old school. If you saw a boat on a collision course 3/4 of a mile away and took no action to avoid the collision, then you are also at fault because you had the opportunity to prevent the collision.
I'm in a slow boat enjoying the day. I have no problem tacking away and coming back on course later. I don't expect power boat operators to know or care about my rights.
I would not use that just to avoid another boat's wake.
Unfortunately you are sailing in public waters. I don't find 60' excessively close. That gives me plenty of time to turn my bow into the wake enough to reduce the motion.
We've all been in weather conditions where the boat motion exceeds anything a power boat wake can induce. Just consider each wake as a mini squall.
Dennis Kitchen - Sailboats having the right of way is old school. If you saw a boat on a collision course 3/4 of a mile away and took no action to avoid the collision, then you are also at fault because you had the opportunity to prevent the collision.
I'm in a slow boat enjoying the day. I have no problem tacking away and coming back on course later. I don't expect power boat operators to know or care about my rights.
As all the above good information said " Do not use your flair gun" I read this article yesterday and did not post then. Yesterday evening I asked a Dallas police officer that man one of our rescue/ patrol boats about the legalities of the flare gun. He told me it would be considered an "Assault with a deadly weapon" Like everyone said above, 5 blasts with your airhorn and be prepared to avoid a collision yourself. Note the boats name and numbers for the authorities. We have mostly good, responsible, knowledgable powerboaters here but we also have the occasional irresponsible, newbie or drunks running around the lake. As far as the "60' " goes, thats your call. I'm comfortable with less, but I am prepared to avoid a collision with a powerboat rather than "stand on course" like we do when meeting another sailboat if we have right of way. Even then I have my airhorn close by. It might be a newbie sailer. Turn into the wake as advised above if it bothers you. I like the ride myself but thats just me.
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You do not fire a flare for the purpose of showing someone you're pissed off. A flare is a specific signal which you are not to abuse. You could hurt someone with one.
IMO, everyone seems to let things get too close before giving the right of way. I've had other 30 ft sailboats get closer than that before giving me the right of way.
Dinks are everywhere and you're going to have to learn to put up with a number of them if you're on public waters. Don't let them ruin your fun and don't let them crash your boat.
If you must, write a message on a dry erase board for them to read as they come by. But no flare guns.
IMO, everyone seems to let things get too close before giving the right of way. I've had other 30 ft sailboats get closer than that before giving me the right of way.
Dinks are everywhere and you're going to have to learn to put up with a number of them if you're on public waters. Don't let them ruin your fun and don't let them crash your boat.
If you must, write a message on a dry erase board for them to read as they come by. But no flare guns.
cephius,
you are correct that any operator must take appropriate action to avoid a collision; however, I disagree that any part of the colregs is old school. When you are the "stand on" boat you are expected to do just that. If I constantly change course trying to figure the other guy out... he wont know how to avoid me. This is why an overtaking vessel is to "pass well clear". In my case I fell off to a parallel course and let the main out just to give a little more buffer. I had the right of way wether or not I was under sail or power. Beam on at 50-60mph I couldn't have done any thing to keep him from hitting me had he altered course toward me. This is why he shouldn't have done what he did.
This only proves your other point to be correct: never assume the other guy will do what he is supposed to.
you are correct that any operator must take appropriate action to avoid a collision; however, I disagree that any part of the colregs is old school. When you are the "stand on" boat you are expected to do just that. If I constantly change course trying to figure the other guy out... he wont know how to avoid me. This is why an overtaking vessel is to "pass well clear". In my case I fell off to a parallel course and let the main out just to give a little more buffer. I had the right of way wether or not I was under sail or power. Beam on at 50-60mph I couldn't have done any thing to keep him from hitting me had he altered course toward me. This is why he shouldn't have done what he did.
This only proves your other point to be correct: never assume the other guy will do what he is supposed to.
I suggest you get used to the idea that not everyone is familiar with the rules of the road. Take of your boat and crew and don't allow anger to change an unpleasant situation into a disaster. KEEP COOL! NO FLARE GUNS! (except for real emergencies)
Bill Jones
s/v Wind Dancer
Bill Jones
s/v Wind Dancer
Ok I might have been overzealous when I mentioned the flare gun. That day sucked as it seemed evry idiot with a boat was on the water and dive bombing the only sailboat in sight "MINE" you would just think that if someone that owned a powerboat the size of the ones I came across would have just one shred of common sense "my mistake" to avoid casting a wall of water onto a much smaller vessel. I did steer into the wake every single time but by the time we rode over one boats wake his buddy was right behind e'm gettiing us ready to surf another one. prolly wouldnt have bothered me so much but as each one passed the captain just starred over at us like we were interupting his day , so from now on I'l llearn to smile as they go by because they really dont know any better and as they pass I will just give them the your no. one in my book wave " middle finger " safer then a flare pistol by far
Had one of those days on a wide part of the ICW. Dropped my drawers and mooned him. If he was offended, he was too close.
I live in Palm Harbor Florida. Used to be in Duendin Marine until march of 2010. Main reason I left was I almost always went north through the Dunedin Causeway bridge. A very narrow channel to say the least on the approach. I have never seen so many incompetent power boaters in my life. I too have a serious flare gun that I would never use as a defense, but do also have a marine grade 12 gauge shotgun with some nasty buck shot and some cool rifled slugs loaded alternately that will sink a boat very quickly.
lmao , yeah I know that feeling there alot of stupid people in our river system my problem "now I'm not racially profiling here" but all were canadian boats that nearly swamped me , and I did get the flare gun I wont entertain the idea of one more powerboat driving by myself putting my crew at risk to merely keep the peace. next moron that targets me will get a warning shot across the bow as I cant be certain the idiot that closing on my position can see me.this is in my book an EMERGENCY and will act in accordance .arrrrrgggghhh
Just get one of these:
http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/32-1819.htm
Keep it handy -- it sounds like you'll be using it a lot!
http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/32-1819.htm
Keep it handy -- it sounds like you'll be using it a lot!
Or you can get one of these!
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...q=Mossberg+500+Mariner&hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...q=Mossberg+500+Mariner&hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1
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