Another Dumb Boater

[kyle f]

I boat on Norris Lake here in East TN. We have had a major drought here this summer and the lake is probably down 30ft or more that it should be. Possibly even as much as 50ft. So, the lake is kind of tight in some places, but if you know where you are going, and know the lay of the shore you can get around just fine. Luckily our lake has very little "stuff" under the water that likes to eat boats... but some places it has it.

Since the water has gone a bit chilly, but the weather is still warm, we decided today to take a pretty long trip to check out some portions of the lake we haven't been to and mark some spots on the map where we see land and other things sticking up in the water that could possibly cause problems.

Coming back from our trip, we are passing Startdust Marina, that due to the low water, has a very slim channel in front of its no wake buoy line and the shore line. Its late in the even, sun is going down, so I have on my nav lights and my anchor light. Lake is pretty empty so I am traveling about 25mph, enjoying the sites as I come up on the little channel, but I also know there is plenty of depth there.

As I am coming through here, I see a boat idling out to the buoy line...figuring he sees me and he has time to stop and wait about 5 sec so I can pass before he pulls out to get on plane, I don't slow down... heck I am not even going that fast really. Nope, I was wrong... to the astonishment of everyone in my boat... he pull out anyway leaving me no where to go. Just not enough room to avoid him to the shore side and turning toward the buoy line is probably going to make the crash worse I have to quickly pull up on the throttle... and I am still not slowing fast enough and try to engage reverse, but grab it to quickly and kill the motor.

Everyone is sitting there a little shell shocked about 8 feet form this other boat. I turn, and apologize to those in my boat thinking that since I am just getting back into boating after many years of being out of it and actually owning my own boat for the first time, I figure I should have done something else that would have made this situation better. Nobody thought so, and couldn't figure out what the idiot in front of me, with his family on-board, was thinking and all just happy I was able to stop because if I didn't we were going to have a collision.

I mean, I don't get it. This is the same crap I deal with on the road. Except here, if that happens we are sinking and hopefully able to swim. Plus, to beat it all, the driver of the other boat is looking at us like we got in his way.

 

[JB]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Defensive boating is the same as defensive driving.

Always expect the other guy to do the stupidest, most dangerous thing possible.

 

[rndn]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Yeah good point. Never think the other operator knows what he/she is doing.

 

[RCNO]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

I boat on Norris Lake here in East TN. We have had a major drought here this summer and the lake is probably down 30ft or more that it should be. Possibly even as much as 50ft. So, the lake is kind of tight in some places, but if you know where you are going, and know the lay of the shore you can get around just fine. Luckily our lake has very little "stuff" under the water that likes to eat boats... but some places it has it.

Since the water has gone a bit chilly, but the weather is still warm, we decided today to take a pretty long trip to check out some portions of the lake we haven't been to and mark some spots on the map where we see land and other things sticking up in the water that could possibly cause problems.

Coming back from our trip, we are passing Startdust Marina, that due to the low water, has a very slim channel in front of its no wake buoy line and the shore line. Its late in the even, sun is going down, so I have on my nav lights and my anchor light. Lake is pretty empty so I am traveling about 25mph, enjoying the sites as I come up on the little channel, but I also know there is plenty of depth there.

As I am coming through here, I see a boat idling out to the buoy line...figuring he sees me and he has time to stop and wait about 5 sec so I can pass before he pulls out to get on plane, I don't slow down... heck I am not even going that fast really. Nope, I was wrong... to the astonishment of everyone in my boat... he pull out anyway leaving me no where to go. Just not enough room to avoid him to the shore side and turning toward the buoy line is probably going to make the crash worse I have to quickly pull up on the throttle... and I am still not slowing fast enough and try to engage reverse, but grab it to quickly and kill the motor.

Everyone is sitting there a little shell shocked about 8 feet form this other boat. I turn, and apologize to those in my boat thinking that since I am just getting back into boating after many years of being out of it and actually owning my own boat for the first time, I figure I should have done something else that would have made this situation better. Nobody thought so, and couldn't figure out what the idiot in front of me, with his family on-board, was thinking and all just happy I was able to stop because if I didn't we were going to have a collision.

I mean, I don't get it. This is the same crap I deal with on the road. Except here, if that happens we are sinking and hopefully able to swim. Plus, to beat it all, the driver of the other boat is looking at us like we got in his way.

So let me see if I understand this correctly. YOU were going to pass across the bow of an IDLINg boat full of people ,without even having the courtesy of backing down off the throttle ?
I would have given you more than just a dirty look! What ever happened to common courtesy? What would you have thought if you had swamped his boat, that had his family on board? Maybe he did it on pourpose to get you to back off the throttle? Maybe things are different where you are but here we ALWAYS back down to no wake when passing a boat that is idling or at anchor....Dave

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

I always figure the guy is going to pull out in front of me. As long as I am aways from the no wake and a lot of lake to go to if he does I won't slow down either, but as you said not much lake to work with and you were close to him. Bad move especially at dusk.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Defensive boating can be extremely frustrating but also a lifesaver. Better to back off and remain intact.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

So let me see if I understand this correctly. YOU were going to pass across the bow of an IDLINg boat full of people ,without even having the courtesy of backing down off the throttle ?
I would have given you more than just a dirty look! What ever happened to common courtesy? What would you have thought if you had swamped his boat, that had his family on board? Maybe he did it on pourpose to get you to back off the throttle? Maybe things are different where you are but here we ALWAYS back down to no wake when passing a boat that is idling or at anchor....Dave

Are you kidding me?

1. With my nav lights on, and the evening sun just below the tree line on this particular location he should have ben able to see me coming for about 1/4 of a mile or about there. He should have been able to see me from about the time he left his slip.

2. I was in the main waterway, he was in a marina

3. I wasn't at full throttle, probably around 1/2 with trim up, on plane. With my boat, this makes less wake that could "swamp" a boat that if I come down and start plowing. Not to mention I have a Sea Ray 195, I don;t think I toss out enough wake at any speed to swamp a Jon Boat, let alone what appeared to be an 18-21 Bow Rider

4. Maybe you aren't seeing the picture clear. Picture a large Parking lot... say like a Wal Mart or something bording an almost straight piece of road that is aroun a 1/4 mile long with long stretched corners on each end. Probably about 3 lanes wide. Except, rather than a parking lot that has 2 or 3 roads in and out... this one has the ability to enter the road anywhere.

Now, maybe I am wrong here, so please someone tell me where my reasoning is wrong here. Why, if I am on plane and traveling a sane speed would he have had the right away?

Had he been out in the water anywhere else, I would have done my best to stay well clear of him, or if he was able to enter to waterway SAFELY before I reached there and acceleratd to speed, I would have been more than happy to slow down a bit and follow him out to more open water and pass or split ways then. This situation here, given my speed and his and the angles traveling he stood the chance to maybe, just maybe be able to get out in front of me just in time to open the throttle on his boat before I plowed right over the back of him and killed many people involved I am sure.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

you need to always figure he will pull out and adjust accordingly. Per your post there is a not much room in the channel so it is always a good idea to watch out. I am not defending what he did, but you always need to watch out.

 

[_brad_]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Yeah, we have all seen our fair share of morons on the lake...

Then, we see them being morons again at the ramp!

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

I think I saw a post in SHT about a maniac going full throttle in a small waterway that just about ran this guy over

 

[kyle f]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

That is just it, I had my eye on him the whole time. That is why I was able to stop. I can't figure why he didn't see me and just wait. If he would have pulled off throttle for 30 seconds, I would have had time to pass without incident.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

That is just it, I had my eye on him the whole time. That is why I was able to stop. I can't figure why he didn't see me and just wait. If he would have pulled off throttle for 30 seconds, I would have had time to pass without incident.

Wait--I thought he was idling. He was under power? Was he to your port, or your starboard? If he was to your port, it sounds like you were in error regardless of whether you were on plane or not.

Also, you mention that your boat doesn't make much wake at 25, but how is he supposed to know that? All he sees is a nav light and an anchor light coming at him at 25mph. Seems to me that each of you had some fault in this.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

He was at idle speed coming toward the edge of the marina.

If he though I was a bigger, less manuverable, harder to stop boat... even more reason to not pull out in front of me. Even at that, I could Identify his boat in relative size and type... even without his nav lights on. I am sure he could see what kind of boat mine was in size and shape.

Still, someone tell me. How was I wrong?

Are you suposed to always give way to anything coming out of a marina? I have studied many boaters refrence guides, laws, rules, and ettiquets and I have never seen this one.

There is two options here. Either he stops idling out and waits for me to pass or I come off plane, stop and allow him to come out, and then open up throttle before I proceed.

Which one is it?

 

[just plain ole Bill]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Kyle - I've read some of your previous posts. I understand you to be a reasonably intelligent feller. Go back and look at the responses in a different light. 7 posts have stated you might have reacted differently without saying you were strictly in the wrong.

Would you have gone to the funerals if only one child would have survived on the smaller craft? What would you have said to that one surviving child?

Ever hear that old expression "Don't throw the baby out with the dirty water." Although the one at the helm might be daffy as a loon the passengers are usually innocent. I would agree; Yield to the innocents then you might seek out a later opportunity to 'educate' the baffoon.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Boats were relatively the same size... at least close enough to be in the same class.

To me, I reacted properly. I was alert enough to be able to stop my boat well shy of colliding with out him having to do anything as if he never saw me once I saw he had no intentions of stopping. On the other hand, he acted as if the water was all his. Possibly he was drunk and had no perception of what was going on.

I wasn't traveling empty either. Had my wife, a friend, and his son. I was at least concerned enough for the safety of my passengers to be looking out for other boats.

Oh well.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Was he pulling out on your right (starboard) side? If so he has the right of way, you are the give way boat, but you coming along at speed, with him idling out of a marina, common sense says you have the right of way. Personally him pulling out in front of you was a hair brained idea, even if he assumed he had the right of way, he was almost dead right! You have to use common sense once in awhile! apparently he didn't, but you did. Again he might have been driving under the infuence. IMO kyle, You did the Right Thing!
and I'm glad nobody got hurt.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Marina was to my left (port) by the direction I was traveling.

I am a Mechanical Engineer, I graduated and have worked with a lot of intelegent people that have no common sense what so ever. I am kind of use to it at this point

 

[MikDee]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

You are the stand on boat then! he is the give way boat! The only way I remember this is, like being in a car coming to an intersection with a stop sign all around, the person on your right has the right of way, same as in boating. Thats also why, you have his green light (starboard) facing you, and he has a red light facing him, your (port) light. Meaning, he stops, and you go.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Which is the stand vessel and which is the giveaway vessel dont matter much when the boats are sinking and there are injured people or worst in the water. Those rules are only good when everyone follows them, which as you see, not everyone does.
Im glad you all are ok and that you had a quick reaction which save the day. In my case, I would not be going that fast in a narrow channel or in a section of the lake that for whatever reason I cannot manuver freely. But that is just me.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Another Dumb Boater

Well, you could see along this waterway for plenty of distance to pull off throttle if something was coming or was in the waterway.

25mph isn't that fast IMO. Yea, I couldn't Manuever completely freely, but again is was late afternoon, after the season, hardly anyone left on the water, hadn't seen another boat (before this guy) in about 30 minutes, smooth water... etc etc etc. Obviously, it was not unsafe speed as I had time to react to about the worst situation that could come up, two boats full of people colliding.