Ike-110722
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2007
- Messages
- 408
Re: Boat right of ways
Interesting discussion. Back in 1976 when I was a green ensign right out of Officer Candidate School, working in Boating Safety, I was assigned to write an article for a Public Service Announcement (PSA) concerning just this subject. Out on Long Island there was a channel that was a favorite fishing area and at the upper end of the channel was an oil terminal. (I imaging it still is) Obviously the Oil tankers were constantly coming and going. Fishermen were annoyed that they had to stay out of the way of the tankers. Too bad. I called the article David and Goliath.
Ned is closest, and yes, everyone should take a boating safety course. But Home Cooking has a good point too, but here's my two cents worth. Back before COLREGS there was a rule called the General Prudential Rule. It is still in the COlREGS but not called that anymore. Essentially what it says is; if all else fails take whatever action is necessary to avoid a collision.
I look at it also from the point of view of maneuverability. If you are in a small boat, say 20 feet or less, you are a lot more maneuverable than a tanker who can only travel in the channel. And as pointed out if you have lines out and are trolling, that does not qualify you as a vessel restricted in it's ability to maneuver. If you are fishing and anchored in the channel, then you have no right to be there anyway because you are obstructing the channel.
But as was said if you are fishing underway and approached by another boat, who is the burdened vessel is dependent on who is passing who from what direction or, is it a crossing situation? It is courtesy for large vessels (your example a 50 footer) to slow down and not capsize you, but they have no legal obligation to do so, unless they are throwing a wake that will cause an accident or damage. Unfortunately theses days you don't see a lot of courtesy on the water.
There is no right of weight, but there is common sense, and if I am out in my 12 foot rowboat and approached rapidly by a large power boat (which happens frequently on American Lake) I am going to try to put as much distance between me and him as I can. If that means pulling up my fishing lines so be it. It's better than ending up in 40 degree water.
So you need to read the rules, determine what the situation is, and that will tell you who has the obligation to alter course or maintain course and speed. But always keep it in mind that the other fellow may not have a clue so it is best to take whatever action is necessary, as EARLY AS POSSIBLE, to avoid a collision. And never insist ("damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead") on the right of way. There is an old ditty that goes
'He was right, dead right as he sailed along, but he's just as dead as if he were wrong."
Interesting discussion. Back in 1976 when I was a green ensign right out of Officer Candidate School, working in Boating Safety, I was assigned to write an article for a Public Service Announcement (PSA) concerning just this subject. Out on Long Island there was a channel that was a favorite fishing area and at the upper end of the channel was an oil terminal. (I imaging it still is) Obviously the Oil tankers were constantly coming and going. Fishermen were annoyed that they had to stay out of the way of the tankers. Too bad. I called the article David and Goliath.
Ned is closest, and yes, everyone should take a boating safety course. But Home Cooking has a good point too, but here's my two cents worth. Back before COLREGS there was a rule called the General Prudential Rule. It is still in the COlREGS but not called that anymore. Essentially what it says is; if all else fails take whatever action is necessary to avoid a collision.
I look at it also from the point of view of maneuverability. If you are in a small boat, say 20 feet or less, you are a lot more maneuverable than a tanker who can only travel in the channel. And as pointed out if you have lines out and are trolling, that does not qualify you as a vessel restricted in it's ability to maneuver. If you are fishing and anchored in the channel, then you have no right to be there anyway because you are obstructing the channel.
But as was said if you are fishing underway and approached by another boat, who is the burdened vessel is dependent on who is passing who from what direction or, is it a crossing situation? It is courtesy for large vessels (your example a 50 footer) to slow down and not capsize you, but they have no legal obligation to do so, unless they are throwing a wake that will cause an accident or damage. Unfortunately theses days you don't see a lot of courtesy on the water.
There is no right of weight, but there is common sense, and if I am out in my 12 foot rowboat and approached rapidly by a large power boat (which happens frequently on American Lake) I am going to try to put as much distance between me and him as I can. If that means pulling up my fishing lines so be it. It's better than ending up in 40 degree water.
So you need to read the rules, determine what the situation is, and that will tell you who has the obligation to alter course or maintain course and speed. But always keep it in mind that the other fellow may not have a clue so it is best to take whatever action is necessary, as EARLY AS POSSIBLE, to avoid a collision. And never insist ("damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead") on the right of way. There is an old ditty that goes
'He was right, dead right as he sailed along, but he's just as dead as if he were wrong."
