angry or my fault?

[cordell]

Yesterday the family and I were on the Delta here in California. For those who don't know the Delta is a miles and miles of water ways, one can and will get lost without a map. So after pulling the towable around we decided to beach the boat (1990 bayliner capri, 85 hp force) for a bit and have a swim. I did what I always do, get some momentum, raise the motor, aim for the beach! Once I strike land I throw the anchor on land keeping the bow pointed towards land. Here is where the anger comes, the beach I was on is sort of around a corner if you will, and it can not be seen until you are almost right on it. Well we all heard what sounded like a airplane coming, when rounding the corner I realized this was no airplane but a MONSTER size double storied boat! The wake this thing was putting of was 3 foot swells at least if not more. I ran to my boat to keep it from being pushed onto my anchor! Water crashed over the stern soaking my whole boat and even getting me wet at the bow, 18 feet away! Everything was soaked. No attempt was made by this boat to slow down and even if he would have it would have been to late. Happy I sustained no hull damage I heard another airplane I mean MONSTER boat coming right behind the first one. I was already standing at my dingy in comparison to these boats and attempted to swing the bow to face the new 3 foot wake. I was unsuccessful in doing this and suffered even more water in my rig! I was yelling and flipping the finger at the second boat as he waved at me as if I was trying to wave at him. My point or rant is that first boat could have radioed his buddy to alert him on me on the beach getting beat up by his wake, instead I was given a double dose of punishment. My boat did not get damaged during this, thank god. But I did drain about 3 gallons of water from the bilge. This is a lot of water considering a daily outing nets me about a cup of water, mainly from swimming, no leaks in hull. Anyway how do I avoid this, turn the bow to the water and lose the swim platform? Or should I have gotten some consideration from the first boat alerting the second? Just a rant about my day on the water, all was great besides that. Thanks for listening.


cordell

 

[CATransplant]

Re: angry or my fault?

Too bad that happened. Are there speed restrictions in the area where you were beached? How far from the shore where you were beached were the boats? How fast were the boats going? Large boats make big wakes, even at slow speeds. How wide is the waterway where you were beached?

If no speed restrictions, then the boaters whose wakes gave you trouble are probably not at fault. Since they could not see your boat until they were almost upon it, they couldn't know that a boat was beached.

It's entirely possible that the two boats were not in communication with each other, so there may well have been no way for the first to notify the second of your presence.

It's unfortunate that you shipped a couple of gallons of water, but not disastrous. Regardless of who was wrong, you might want to consider beaching at a place where other boats can see you in advance. Coming around a bend in a waterway, there isn't much time to reduce wake if there's someone beached just around the corner.

As for how to beach, you might want to consider anchoring just off the beach, bow out. Your boat will ride over the wakes, rather than taking them over the stern. If the waterway is heavily travelled, that may be your only choice.

 

[haskindm]

Re: angry or my fault?

I agree with all of the above. However, boaters need to remember that they are responsible for any damge done by their wake, whether or not the area has a posted speed limit. If damage had been done to your boat, they would have been liable. Something for all of us to keep in mind when running at high speeds close to shore.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: angry or my fault?

We just had a few posts the past couple of days about the proper way to beach a boat. It was interesting to see all the configurations and the reasons why.
Your post is just another reason why I use a double anchor system, always beaching stern to the beach and bow facing out.
Although that would not have prevented a big bow wave to come over your boat, it would have made for a less stressful situation.
What a shame for your situation, but I agree with CAT, if there was no idle speed zone, you were at the mercy of whatever monstrous boat could come through there.
Hope it didn't really ruin your day. I always get a lot of sanity from my days on the water and try not to let those things get me down.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: angry or my fault?

I agree with all of the above. However, boaters need to remember that they are responsible for any damge done by their wake, whether or not the area has a posted speed limit. If damage had been done to your boat, they would have been liable. Something for all of us to keep in mind when running at high speeds close to shore.

A lot of boaters, however, either don't know what they're doing or simply ignore the rules. We've all seen it. Big cruisers make big wakes at almost any speed above an idle. Many cruiser owners haven't a clue about their responsibility for their wakes.

That's not good, but it's a reality. When boating with a small boat in areas where people cruise in large boats, we just have to take precautions. It's all fine to say the cruisers are in the wrong, as they are. But it's the same as crossing the street when the Walk signal is green. It's a good idea to take a good look to make sure you're not going to get hit by someone not giving you the right of way as they should.

Adapting to the situation as it is is better than ignoring the situation and getting angry later.

 

[salty87]

Re: angry or my fault?

...Here is where the anger comes, the beach I was on is sort of around a corner if you will, and it can not be seen until you are almost right on it. Well we all heard what sounded like... cordell

i think this was your biggest problem, they couldn't see you in time to reduce their wakes. sounds like if they had seen you and chopped throttles, they'd have kicked up a bigger wake possibly. pics would be helpful.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: angry or my fault?

Just to think, it would take much more then 3 gallons to sink a boat. What I can't stand is when you get these guys on jetskis swamping boats, or other boats passing to close and going to fast past a boat that is fishing. I've been swamped a couple of times. No it isn't a nice fealing but what can you do? I bit the bullet and went on with my fishing, even though one guy passed right over our fishing lines and cut them one time.

 

[oops!]

Re: angry or my fault?

how far were the vessels off shore?

 

[Hoss 350]

Re: angry or my fault?

No one's fault, just an unfortunate, but luckily harmless, event. Stuff happens. I usually try to beach in protected areas, or in areas that I can see if a biggun is coming, just for this reason, but sometimes don't. I'll tell you, when those big barges come a rippin up the Snake River haulin grain, they'll like to drown your boat if it isn't facing the waves, so i watch out for them.

If leaving it beached overnight, I'll typically either find a protected cove, or anchor it with the bow facing out.

 

[5150abf]

Re: angry or my fault?

I know my boat makes a much worse wake when going slow than when on plane and I would imagine this would be aplified in a really large boat so if he had slowed down you may have had to get 10 gallons out of the boat.

I river fish and never slow down when passing a conoe for that reason, my wake on plane is 3''-4'' and going slow it more like 2', but they get mad alot of time when I don't slow down and make huge waves for them.

As far as this situation it is kind of mute, if you were around a bend what he didn't do doesn't matter cause he didn't see you, would have been much more dangerous for him to suddenly cut throttle and irt would hav emade a much worse wake.

 

[cordell]

Re: angry or my fault?

I tell you what I will be beaching my boat in the other direction from here on out! My anger has passed sort of, its like even if these guys are responsible for the wake they make. With a hole in my boat how could I chase one down to try and collect my damages? I hate to judge books by the cover and am doing so in this situation but I believe that most know their responsibilities and choose to ignore them. There could be many reasons for this, money, drinking, lack of respect. I also see the punk kids who take out daddy's boat and swamp people while showing off to friends and such, I fell victim to that on July 4th. I do agree with everyone that to slow down at my sight would have created more wake and glad they didn't. Though boat number one was riding in the middle of the water way and the second boat was quite a bit closer to shore, yeah the waving guy, grrrrrr! I feel he should've, could've, or maybe even did have a heads up I was located there and thought it was funny to see me getting rocked around by my boat and 3 foot wake. My kids 7 and 5 were lucky enough to get to shore before the commotion, thank god. I took a lot of information away from this, both from the experience and from everyones response, thank you. I guess I need to invest in a second anchor to keep my boat facing the open water.

Thanks again
cordell

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: angry or my fault?

I tell you what I will be beaching my boat in the other direction from here on out! My anger has passed sort of, its like even if these guys are responsible for the wake they make. With a hole in my boat how could I chase one down to try and collect my damages? I hate to judge books by the cover and am doing so in this situation but I believe that most know their responsibilities and choose to ignore them. There could be many reasons for this, money, drinking, lack of respect. I also see the punk kids who take out daddy's boat and swamp people while showing off to friends and such, I fell victim to that on July 4th. I do agree with everyone that to slow down at my sight would have created more wake and glad they didn't. Though boat number one was riding in the middle of the water way and the second boat was quite a bit closer to shore, yeah the waving guy, grrrrrr! I feel he should've, could've, or maybe even did have a heads up I was located there and thought it was funny to see me getting rocked around by my boat and 3 foot wake. My kids 7 and 5 were lucky enough to get to shore before the commotion, thank god. I took a lot of information away from this, both from the experience and from everyones response, thank you. I guess I need to invest in a second anchor to keep my boat facing the open water.

Thanks again
cordell

But not find another place to beach, right?