Boat Handleing when over taking

[Link2052]

My question is , When overtaking a larger boat or one of same size , I know the rules but how do you power over there wake ,meaning not getting caught up inbetween there wake where your boat kind of looses it's<br /> foward motion and just sits there on top of the wave.<br /> Or should i just chill and follow the boat in front of me into port.<br /> I hope this is the correct forum for my question you guys and gals must know what I mean<br /> LINK 2052

 

[QC]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

You need to either turn harder across the wake or apply more power. This takes some practice too, because you can get some pretty tricky handling down the backside. I actually practice this a lot if I can find a big wake. I am careful not to freak the other guy out, but it is worth spending some time on it as it can help with learning about handling conditions that may exist in open water too.<br /><br />The answer to your second question is a compromise between safety and time. If you are gonna save 30 seconds getting around the other boat then don't. If you'll save more than 5 minutes, I would cross and go around . . . My .02

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Like QC says, more angle. As close to 90* as possible, but watch your speed. Too much and you'll bury the bow and get soaked. Too little and you'll get stuck on the crest and be in danger of yawing and possible swamping if the wake is big enough and you're small enough. Practice makes perfect.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

A quick note of caution though. If you are in danger of poking the bow into a second wake or wave, then the best approach is 45*. DR is correct, but again when you are worried about "stuffin' it" 45* is the only sure bet; not shallow enough to yaw, not perpindicular enough to get a violent crashing down of the bow after you clear the first crest . . .

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

You're right QC. It really depends on the size of your boat. A really small boat in big wakes can be scarry. Sometimes I "Stuff it" on purpose just to wake everybody up.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

I stuffed one this year entering Lake Mead Marina. 23 foot boat, not big for Mead, but still reasonable size. I was coming off plane as I crested a wave. The bow came down twice as hard (slowing + the wave) and it poked right into the next one. Cost me $300 for the destroyed digital camera . . .

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

<br /><br />Did it wake everybody up?

 

[QC]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br /> <br /><br />Did it wake everybody up?

My yelling "get everything off of the floor" did. They thought we were going down and I was just trying to save a couple of towells . . .

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Be very cautous when "stuffing the bow" or broaching, as the more technical term, as this can result in a very violent change in direction that can throw someone out of the boat or even overturn it. I've done this just once and although both my passenger and I managed to stay in the boat, I did end up with whiplash for about 2 weeks. I've since learned that deep vee bows like mine are the most likely to experience this problem and to trim the motor up to lift the boat's bow when crossing the following wave. This minimizes the chance or the effects of stuffing the bow. Crossing as nearly perpendicular to the wave as possible also limits the possibility and effects. After having gained some experience with my boat, I've learned how to actually "surf" my boat on the down side of a following wave. Once my passengers get over their surprise at me doing this, they really enjoy it.<br /><br />So, bow up to prevent broaching and enough speed to maintain forward motion and prevent swamping.

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

If you have the room, drop back, cross the wake where it is not so large, get outside the V of the wake, & pass quickly. Give the correct horn signal that you are about to pass & on which side, & remember the boat being overtaken is the stand-on vessel. Joe

 

[Link2052]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

thank you for all the info , I plan on going out tomorrow now that the tropical storm passed off to the east of Cape Cod,Ma. the Striped bass have begun there migration back south and go right through my area also black sea bass are plentiful very tasty table fare.<br />Link

 

[rwidman]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Originally posted by Perfidiajoe:<br /> If you have the room, drop back, cross the wake where it is not so large, get outside the V of the wake, & pass quickly. Give the correct horn signal that you are about to pass & on which side, & remember the boat being overtaken is the stand-on vessel. Joe

Correct. <br /><br />But, most recreational boat horns aren't loud enough to be heard by the other operator (unless he is in a sailboat). Many boat operators don't know what the horn signals mean and will either respond with a puzzled look or a hand signal using only one finger!

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Does that mean don't give signal? Give it anyway, if the other boat hears & understands all the better, if he don't, he is still the stand on vessel, pass as safely as possible! IMHO, Joe

 

[Triton II]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

So Joe do you have to blow the horn when overtaking in the USA? Here in Australia we use the international system below, but we are allowed to overtake on either side without any use of the horn and the system was never intended to be used all the time when overtaking, just to signal other craft your intentions if things get confused out there.<br /><br /> Special sound signals exist for vessels to indicate their manoeuvring intentions when they are in sight of one another.<br />1 short blast ... I am altering course to starboard (the right).<br />2 short blasts ... I am altering course to port (the left).<br />3 short blasts ... I am operating engines astern (stopping/slowing).<br />5 (or more) short blasts ... I am unsure of your intentions and I doubt whether you are taking sufficient action to avoid collision.<br /><br />Power vessels must give way to:<br />• any vessel being overtaken.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Staying behind if you are both headed to the same place is never a bad idea if there is only a short way to gvertaking another boat just to get into a marina first can upset the other captain and usually does.Charlie

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Triton, Here in the U.S. we follow International rules out side the demarcation line, & yes you must sound the horn, that's why they are called rules. Is it done? Most of the time by pleasure boaters no, I would say not, should it be done, you answer that. On inland waters, the signals are of your intentions, not the action you are going to take, & by the rules you must wait for a reply. One short blast announces you intend to pass on your port side, the vessel you intend to pass responds w/ one short blast if this is acceptable, you then may pass on your port side. If you intend to pass on starboard same rule applies only with two short blasts. The vessel you intend to pass can reject your intentions by giving the danger signal 5 short rapid blasts.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Wow, if we did that here in Australia we'd all be deaf! Guess we interpret the rule for sound signalling differently and only use the horn if there's confusion. If anyone gave me five short blasts I'd slam my boat into reverse and stop immediately - we'd never use that sound signal to tell another boat not to overtake because as we interpret that rule it means "I am unsure of your intentions and do not believe you are doing enough to avoid a collision." Basically, over here you overtake on whichever side you like - as long as you to the minimum stand off distances remembering as overtaking vessel it's your responsibility to avoid collisions. <br />Having said all that, we have absolute losers speeding along in their 40ft+ gin palaces who overtake in no wake zones (we call them no wash zones) when there's no room and anchored tinnies fishing. They must think it's funny to swamp the small fry!

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Triton Are they responsible for there wake? If so get the numbers off the hulls & report them. The 5 blasts is inland rules letting the intended overtaking boat know there is some danger in his intention to pass. Horn signals are for passing reasonably close, as in a channel or fairway. Sometimes I believe I forgot to turn off my moron magnet, because people have a whole ocean to pass you, but they just have to come right up to you! Have fun, be safe, Joe

 

[Triton II]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Hi Joe,<br /><br />Yep, they're responsible. A few months ago I was cruising downstream from my local ramp about 10 nms upriver from Botany Bay. The river is big enough to have a few boats in the one channel at the one time, but never gets much wider than 300 yards. About 5 nms of the total distance is No Wake and some of the No Wake is 8 kts limited. I was in a narrow stretch No Wake zone doing about 4 kts when a 48ft Riviera came past doing about 15 kts. His wake was about 5ft high. My 16ft cuddy has a freeboard of about 3ft. I turned away from his wake and did a 360 to go behind him. The whole thing was seen by a guy from Maritime (our coastguard) and the Riviera captain wound up with a $250 fine and a first warning on his licence. I went past the Riviera a couple of minutes later after the Maritime RIB had stopped him and just had to chuckle to myself. It was a great lesson to my boys and I hope the gin palace driver learnt something that day other than that boating is expensive!<br /><br />Mark.

 

[11craigt]

Re: Boat Handleing when over taking

Thats a great story Triton II. You know, I had a break down a couple of weeks ago and had to flag another boater coming in off the bay to pull me away from a Huge HUGE Tanker...my wife was really flipping out, because 5 minutes ago while I was trying to get it running she was taking pictures of the tanker...I was thinking to myself - "Honey, don't bother using zoom, because we'll be right on top of that thing real quick." <br /><br />Anyway, on the way back in I could not imagine the amount of traffic that completely dismissed our boat being pulled back to the docks 4 miles away. Plenty of room...100 yards. But, no stupid F*%&#^%@ As&ho8=#les ride 15 yards off your side at about 30mph!!! Both directions. Amazing lack of respect. Blew my mind. The guy towing me was even waving oncoming boats down because of the wakes. They didn't care. mostly pleasure boaters. Hope they sink.