Why don't most boats have mirrors?

[Myrtonos]

I am wondering why most watercraft don't have side or rearview mirrors, as these might be useful in certain situations, they may be helpful in checking for vessels behind you.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Ski boats do.
I don't see a need for it otherwise. There is normally not anybody that close, unlike when in a car.

 

[QC]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

One reason is that the "rules of the road" are that you are responsible for the area in front and to starboard. So in effect you are not really supposed to be watching aft . . . you're supposed to be watching forward. Any vessel overtaking you is responsible to avoid you.

 

[cribber]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

One reason the "rules of the road" are that you are responsible for the area in front and to starboard. So in effect you are not really supposed to be watching aft . . . you're supposed to be watching forward. Any vessel overtaking you is responsible to avoid you.

Nicely stated!!! We're responsible for what it's in our peripheral view and we don't have eyes in the back of our head.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

I am wondering why most watercraft don't have side or rearview mirrors, as these might be useful in certain situations, they may be helpful in checking for vessels behind you.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Because a Supreme Power gave ya a neck between yer head, 'n yer shoulders.....

Lookin' in a mirror in a boat is like tryin' to glass a bird from a rockin' boat a mile away, with 20X binoc's...
ya won't see a thing....

Unless whatever's behind you, is On Top of ya, you'd never see it with a glance in a mirror....

I've got a mirror on my windshield,... It's Ok for lookin' at passengers, 'n little else...

 

[Myrtonos]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

So boaters are only responsible for the area in front and no behind, even though a motorist may be responsible for what's behind them.

Ski boats do.
I don't see a need for it otherwise. There is normally not anybody that close, unlike when in a car.

But surely if that's possible, and likely on inland waterways, they might be of help.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Mirrors? MIRRORS??? We don't need no stinking MIRRORS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjGXn249Fc0

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Mirrors??? There's not to many lane changes in boating.

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Any boat used to tow a tube/skier/wakeboarder is required by many states to have a dedicated spotter (passenger facing backward) or a mirror. Often the mirror must be of a minimum size. I use one anytime I have someone in tow spotter or no.

Although the primary use of the mirror is to see if the skier is down, I frequent some very busy lakes and find I usually keep track of any other boats behind me, especially if they are following me (in which case I am probably cussing them as well if I have a skier on). My mirror is quite large and convex, so I get a large field of view.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Mirrors? MIRRORS??? We don't need no stinking MIRRORS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjGXn249Fc0

thx Jig!
only ski boats have mirrors. But if you think you should have them by all means get some.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

One reason is that the "rules of the road" are that you are responsible for the area in front and to starboard. So in effect you are not really supposed to be watching aft . . . you're supposed to be watching forward. Any vessel overtaking you is responsible to avoid you.

While this is mostly true, if a boat is overtaking you, you are responsible for standing on your course. If you want to make a turn, you are responsible to know what's coming up behind you. As they say, there is rarely only one person a fault in a boat collision.

BTW, bond-o, you hit my first reaction to the original post spot on. When cruising on the ocean, boats will suddenly appear and you wander why you didn't see it before now. Can't imagine scanning the water looking in a mirror.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Mirrors??? There's not to many lane changes in boating.

Here is an ugly mental picture.

Picture everyone on the freeway blowing their horn once or twice for every car they were about to pass.
And everyone else responding with a horn reply.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Here is an ugly mental picture.

Picture everyone on the freeway blowing their horn once or twice for every car they were about to pass.
And everyone else responding with a horn reply.

In that case I would have to drive a Road Runner. Beepbeep

Op, boats pitch, cars don't really. If you install a mirror in a boat, it is only useful if it is centered or near the center of windsheild.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Here is an ugly mental picture.

Picture everyone on the freeway blowing their horn once or twice for every car they were about to pass.
And everyone else responding with a horn reply.

This is true! The boater overtaking another boat is supposed signal with a blast of the horn and the boat being overtaken signals back. I'm sure a lot of pleasure boaters don't know this and the rule isn't used much on inland lakes, but in shipping lanes and intercoastal waterways it is.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

I put a 2" round mirror from the autoparts store on my windshield, so I can see large shapes and blue lights approaching. that's all I need

 

[Myrtonos]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

This is true! The boater overtaking another boat is supposed signal with a blast of the horn and the boat being overtaken signals back. I'm sure a lot of pleasure boaters don't know this and the rule isn't used much on inland lakes, but in shipping lanes and intercoastal waterways it is.

It is indeed an ugly mental picture, and it would make sense for "pleasure" boats to all be fitted with mirrors, and for the rules to be changed so that they only need to use horn signals when overtaking larger vessels.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

I don't really have to worry about being overtaken .

In all seriousness, you have to use common sense and don't get complacent. Before you alter course you should first check behind you to make sure you won't be causing a problem for someone else.

 

[Myrtonos]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Mirrors make it easier to check behind you.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Mirrors are of little use on a rolling, pitching boat. If you want to be and stay safe, your head had BETTER be on a swivel, and you'd better be constantly looking around you.

My .02

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Why don't most boats have mirrors?

Jet-skier? That's the only ones I can think of that would want mirrors on all boats.
Jumping waves behind someone and having them suddenly change coarse and not know your there is not the fault of the boater, it's all on the Jet-skier.

Mirrors won't help, dumb moves are and always will be dumb moves, regardless who makes them.

huts