...I don't think I'm being paranoid or over-reacting, but what happened to courtesy on the water? On our 2-day jaunt htis past weekend around Narragansett Bay we were nearly swamped about 4 times, one in high winds and very heavy seas, by huge power boats that came too close at too high a speed. After the fourth incident, I grabbed the microphone on CH 16 and made an "all vessels" call to warn about the other boat's questionable boat-handling. he was immediately hailed to another freq by a friend, who said he thought he just heard the Coast Guard put out a warning about his "dangerous driving" on the water. I know that all the big power boaters are meanwhile fuming about the F%$(#@ slow sailboats in their way, but really, isn't there some sort of etiquette about this? And what is the proper response?
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david noble
Manatee killers
George: Keep your cool! I think we all deal with these people one time or anouther. I deal with them by keeping my distance from them if possible and knowing that we are much better boaters than they will ever be. Sooner or later they will get theirs. Manatee killers is what I called them in Fla. as I was coming up. That was in response to what they called us. Bottom line don't let it get to you theres always one or more in every crowd. Sail the boat!
George: Keep your cool! I think we all deal with these people one time or anouther. I deal with them by keeping my distance from them if possible and knowing that we are much better boaters than they will ever be. Sooner or later they will get theirs. Manatee killers is what I called them in Fla. as I was coming up. That was in response to what they called us. Bottom line don't let it get to you theres always one or more in every crowd. Sail the boat!
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Rick D
Educate them
I to sail in narragansette bay, and this weekend I was out by Prudence Island an a huge power boat was bearring down on me. I kind of signal him to pass behind me, when he did I gave him a smile and a big wave. May be now he'll realise that passing behind a sailboat is better than cutting in front of them
I to sail in narragansette bay, and this weekend I was out by Prudence Island an a huge power boat was bearring down on me. I kind of signal him to pass behind me, when he did I gave him a smile and a big wave. May be now he'll realise that passing behind a sailboat is better than cutting in front of them
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Bob Todd
Oooh! Powerboater bashing! Can I play too?
I, too, sail in NB and have found the power boating community there to be the least educated of anywhere I have sailed. They navigate buoy to buoy to buoy in a straight line no matter what is in their way. Sailing in NB proves that any idiot can turn a key and drive a powerboat, but it takes knowledge and skill to sail. Cheers, Bob
I, too, sail in NB and have found the power boating community there to be the least educated of anywhere I have sailed. They navigate buoy to buoy to buoy in a straight line no matter what is in their way. Sailing in NB proves that any idiot can turn a key and drive a powerboat, but it takes knowledge and skill to sail. Cheers, Bob
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RREgge
Heard Your Call George
We were also on the bay Sunday and heard your call (we also folowed the conversation to the other channel, seems like his freind was telling him to slow down) We sail mainly on the west channel and have found most power boaters to be decent, however there is one boat we wish we had paintball guns for, just to get even (only kidding) The waves on Sunday we really difficult, not height, but frequency, felt it that night. Good Luck Russell S/V Allie Kat
We were also on the bay Sunday and heard your call (we also folowed the conversation to the other channel, seems like his freind was telling him to slow down) We sail mainly on the west channel and have found most power boaters to be decent, however there is one boat we wish we had paintball guns for, just to get even (only kidding) The waves on Sunday we really difficult, not height, but frequency, felt it that night. Good Luck Russell S/V Allie Kat
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William Burgess
We just smile and wave.
I've heard pointing a video camera at them gives them something to think about.
I've heard pointing a video camera at them gives them something to think about.
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Paul
sailboaters do stupid stuff, too
I've had just as many too-close passes with sailboats as I have with powerboats. It's just that they happen more slowly. The autopilot is a wonderful thing. Somebody still has to pilot the boat, however. Take a long look around before heading for the head, or going down for a cold one. Especially this weekend! Be safe, everyone. Wear PFDs.
I've had just as many too-close passes with sailboats as I have with powerboats. It's just that they happen more slowly. The autopilot is a wonderful thing. Somebody still has to pilot the boat, however. Take a long look around before heading for the head, or going down for a cold one. Especially this weekend! Be safe, everyone. Wear PFDs.
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Steven
you're responsible for own wake and damage ca
i have a pretty narrow channel to get out into good boating water, it takes me about 45 minutes under power. i have noticed that the oldert the motor boater, the more likely he is to slow down as he is passing me, the younger cowboys sem not to care. i know that the law says boaters are responsible for there own wake and any damage caused by their wake. i would recommend writing down the boat names of boats driving too dangerously and reporting them.
i have a pretty narrow channel to get out into good boating water, it takes me about 45 minutes under power. i have noticed that the oldert the motor boater, the more likely he is to slow down as he is passing me, the younger cowboys sem not to care. i know that the law says boaters are responsible for there own wake and any damage caused by their wake. i would recommend writing down the boat names of boats driving too dangerously and reporting them.
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Doug
80/20
It all comes down to the worldly 80/20 rule. 80% of ALL boaters show common sense - it is the other 20% that cause the problems.
It all comes down to the worldly 80/20 rule. 80% of ALL boaters show common sense - it is the other 20% that cause the problems.
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Roy Mosteller
The Problem Is Not Restricted To Sailboats
I was recently on my boat and heard a ship sound a warning signal. I was monitoring Ch-16 and within a minute a very agitated male voice was calling the Coast Guard. He identified himself as CO of a Navy warship entering SD Bay and reported a powerboat had cut so close in front of his bow that he could not see it from the bridge and had ordered all engines full astern. He reported the boat name and CF numbers to the Coast Guard who was patroling nearby. Their last report was that they were in pursuit. Hope they caught them.
I was recently on my boat and heard a ship sound a warning signal. I was monitoring Ch-16 and within a minute a very agitated male voice was calling the Coast Guard. He identified himself as CO of a Navy warship entering SD Bay and reported a powerboat had cut so close in front of his bow that he could not see it from the bridge and had ordered all engines full astern. He reported the boat name and CF numbers to the Coast Guard who was patroling nearby. Their last report was that they were in pursuit. Hope they caught them.
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Ed Napoleon
Close Encounters of the Power Boat Kind
We have had some of the same thing on the ICW...If we don't get a response , of the appologetic kind on the radio (and occationally we do), we put out a Security call on 16 with vessel name, discription, and the information that they are operating in a hazardous and apparently drunken manner...Usually they will have every water cop in the world looking for them after that...Have passed one at a bridge, while the blue light was alongside...**S** But in their defense, most of them are very curteous, calling first and asking which side, etc...
We have had some of the same thing on the ICW...If we don't get a response , of the appologetic kind on the radio (and occationally we do), we put out a Security call on 16 with vessel name, discription, and the information that they are operating in a hazardous and apparently drunken manner...Usually they will have every water cop in the world looking for them after that...Have passed one at a bridge, while the blue light was alongside...**S** But in their defense, most of them are very curteous, calling first and asking which side, etc...
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Jeff Wingo
Then there are the Parasail boats...
On the Currituck sound the other week, a Parasail boat pulling someone cut in front of me. As I was heading right toward the guy's cable, I was pulling at all the geometry I could muster to determine if the 25 foot mast would snag it. Instead, I quickly turned and allowed the cable to clear, saying "Hello!" to the parasailer as he passed directly overhead. He got a great view of my boat from above, I guess. In that case, does the Parasail puller, or a ski boat, have right-of-way over a sail boat?
On the Currituck sound the other week, a Parasail boat pulling someone cut in front of me. As I was heading right toward the guy's cable, I was pulling at all the geometry I could muster to determine if the 25 foot mast would snag it. Instead, I quickly turned and allowed the cable to clear, saying "Hello!" to the parasailer as he passed directly overhead. He got a great view of my boat from above, I guess. In that case, does the Parasail puller, or a ski boat, have right-of-way over a sail boat?
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George Chamberlain
Yes, that too...
I actually encountered a guy on Narragansett Bay on Saturday with a parasail on some kind of wake board. He had a large inflatible RHIB in attendance, but was untethered, ie, just boarding/ sailing wherever the parasail went. He spent probably 90% of his time in the ater, wasn't able to stay upright for long, and he had the good sense to stay down as we went by, but that's a good question - rules of the road don't address slalom-ski parasailers, I don't think...
I actually encountered a guy on Narragansett Bay on Saturday with a parasail on some kind of wake board. He had a large inflatible RHIB in attendance, but was untethered, ie, just boarding/ sailing wherever the parasail went. He spent probably 90% of his time in the ater, wasn't able to stay upright for long, and he had the good sense to stay down as we went by, but that's a good question - rules of the road don't address slalom-ski parasailers, I don't think...
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Johnnie Poole
Same Problem, Different Flavor of Water
We have the same problem inland. We have a 250-member sailing club with boats up to 35-feet locked up on the same lake with every beer-swilling bass-boater and jetski yahoo in Georgia. Had the pleasure of meeting the "Savannah Lakes Power Squadron" of Lake Thurmond this weekend at a fireworks show. Bunch of discourteous old slobs in pontoon boats chattering away on Channel 16. We actually had pontoon boats pulling tubers (juvenile boat slobs) in the same cove with 6 anchored 30+ foot sailboats! I'd love to have the Coast Guard visit this lake for a week or two. As an aside, I predicted to my friends that when the fireworks was over and the clot of pontoons (probably over 200 boats) started heading to the nearest ramp, that we would see at least one with reversed navigational lights. Sho' Nuff saw three of them! "Red, Right, Retarded!"
We have the same problem inland. We have a 250-member sailing club with boats up to 35-feet locked up on the same lake with every beer-swilling bass-boater and jetski yahoo in Georgia. Had the pleasure of meeting the "Savannah Lakes Power Squadron" of Lake Thurmond this weekend at a fireworks show. Bunch of discourteous old slobs in pontoon boats chattering away on Channel 16. We actually had pontoon boats pulling tubers (juvenile boat slobs) in the same cove with 6 anchored 30+ foot sailboats! I'd love to have the Coast Guard visit this lake for a week or two. As an aside, I predicted to my friends that when the fireworks was over and the clot of pontoons (probably over 200 boats) started heading to the nearest ramp, that we would see at least one with reversed navigational lights. Sho' Nuff saw three of them! "Red, Right, Retarded!"
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Dennis Thomas
Apology to Johnnie
I have to apologize for all members of the United States Sail and Power Squadrons for your bad experience over the holiday weekend. The Squadron and the CG auxiliary are two fine organizations dedicated to curing the problem that this posting addresses. As a twenty-year member and instructor for the Dallas Sail and Power Squadron, I am very disappointed to hear of such behavior by anyone associated with my organization. The squadrons are generally a little more relaxed about uniforms and “protocols” than the CG auxiliary, but we share the objective of safe boating through education. Both have vessel safety-inspection programs and provide public education classes as well as advanced education for our members. Here in Texas, as well as other states, our public boating class can be used to fulfill the requirements for licensing that are currently being phased in. Now, as for the solution to our problems, I believe that in waters where boaters are more accustomed to nautical protocols, the security call on VHF-16 can be an effective tool as pointed out by Ed. On inland lakes, there may be a sheriff’s patrol and here the game wardens of Texas Parks and Wildlife and Oklahoma Lake Patrol enforce boating safety regulations. Become familiar with the situation on your lake. If no one is taking responsibility, contact the local government and ask for a patrol, at least on major holidays. The boat pulling a Parasail could be considered restricted in its ability to maneuver. If so, then it should be given the right-of-way. She has to maintain a minimum speed for given wind conditions to keep the Parasail aloft. Wind could shift threatening to drop the “skier” into an unsafe area. However, I have seen these boats being operated in an unsafe manor, ignoring the danger to both the “skier” and other boats. If this is a commercial operation selling rides on the parasail, they should be reported to whatever authority governs their licensing on the lake. (Corp of Engineers?) Otherwise, they should be treated as any other unsafe boat operator. Ya’ll have a good time out there on the water!
I have to apologize for all members of the United States Sail and Power Squadrons for your bad experience over the holiday weekend. The Squadron and the CG auxiliary are two fine organizations dedicated to curing the problem that this posting addresses. As a twenty-year member and instructor for the Dallas Sail and Power Squadron, I am very disappointed to hear of such behavior by anyone associated with my organization. The squadrons are generally a little more relaxed about uniforms and “protocols” than the CG auxiliary, but we share the objective of safe boating through education. Both have vessel safety-inspection programs and provide public education classes as well as advanced education for our members. Here in Texas, as well as other states, our public boating class can be used to fulfill the requirements for licensing that are currently being phased in. Now, as for the solution to our problems, I believe that in waters where boaters are more accustomed to nautical protocols, the security call on VHF-16 can be an effective tool as pointed out by Ed. On inland lakes, there may be a sheriff’s patrol and here the game wardens of Texas Parks and Wildlife and Oklahoma Lake Patrol enforce boating safety regulations. Become familiar with the situation on your lake. If no one is taking responsibility, contact the local government and ask for a patrol, at least on major holidays. The boat pulling a Parasail could be considered restricted in its ability to maneuver. If so, then it should be given the right-of-way. She has to maintain a minimum speed for given wind conditions to keep the Parasail aloft. Wind could shift threatening to drop the “skier” into an unsafe area. However, I have seen these boats being operated in an unsafe manor, ignoring the danger to both the “skier” and other boats. If this is a commercial operation selling rides on the parasail, they should be reported to whatever authority governs their licensing on the lake. (Corp of Engineers?) Otherwise, they should be treated as any other unsafe boat operator. Ya’ll have a good time out there on the water!
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fletchdoggie
tsunami tommy
My worst experience sailing involved a 36ft Bertram and my 23 Hunter. the wake almost capsized me and he did not bother to slow down. I steer far and clear from powerboaters.
My worst experience sailing involved a 36ft Bertram and my 23 Hunter. the wake almost capsized me and he did not bother to slow down. I steer far and clear from powerboaters.
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