I hate that guy

Returning after a couple-hour cruise exercising the JD, was in the extreme right side of the Mare Island Channel. Heading directly toward me was a 45-to-50-foot, three-story cruiser. Gave a short blast. No response. No responding sound or change in course. Had to take a right turn toward shore to avoid a collision. That boat should have been closer to its side of the channel, let alone respond to my signal.

Next time, next time ... I'll turn around and identify the boat by name and announce over the VHF that the boat is a hazard to navigation.

markpierce said:

Returning after a couple-hour cruise exercising the JD, was in the extreme right side of the Mare Island Channel. Heading directly toward me was a 45-to-50-foot, three-story cruiser. Gave a short blast. No response. No responding sound or change in course. Had to take a right turn toward shore to avoid a collision. That boat should have been closer to its side of the channel, let alone respond to my signal.

Next time, next time ... I'll turn around and identify the boat by name and announce over the VHF that the boat is a hazard to navigation.

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And you'll find a dingy covering the name.

I run into people like that on just about every extended trip. Usually they are throwing a big wake as well. Calling him out on the VHF will do nothing constructive and if he's too dense to move out of the center of the channel, he's not going to be bothered by you trying to embarass him.

I've considered a paintball gun but I don't know their range.

BTW: Not that he would have understood it, but the danger signal is five short blasts.

markpierce said:

Returning after a couple-hour cruise exercising the JD, was in the extreme right side of the Mare Island Channel. Heading directly toward me was a 45-to-50-foot, three-story cruiser. Gave a short blast. No response. No responding sound or change in course. Had to take a right turn toward shore to avoid a collision. That boat should have been closer to its side of the channel, let alone respond to my signal.

Next time, next time ... I'll turn around and identify the boat by name and announce over the VHF that the boat is a hazard to navigation.

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Would 5 short blasts have been more appropriate? Not that it would have mattered to him.

Rule 34
Maneuvering and Warning Signals
(d) When vessels in sight of one another are approaching each other and from any cause one fails to understand the intentions or actions of another, or is in doubt whether sufficient action is being taken by the other to avoid collision, the vessel in doubt shall immediately indicate such doubt by giving at least 5 short and rapid blasts of the ships whistle.

Coming out of the Burlington Canal into Lake Ontario with a Canadian warship on my tail. Once through the canal he accelerates past me and crosses my port bow dragging a huge wake. There was no need for him to do this as he was heading south and could have just turned that way after leaving the canal.

My response ......

Securite, securite, securite. All mariners in the vicinity of the Burlington Canal take heed. I have just been seriously waked by HMCS Toronto who irossed my port bow and is proceeding in a dangerous manner.


The resulting radio conversation between CCG and HMCS Toronto was quite interesting.

boatpoker said:

Coming out of the Burlington Canal into Lake Ontario with a Canadian warship on my tail. Once through the canal he accelerates past me and crosses my port bow dragging a huge wake. There was no need for him to do this as he was heading south and could have just turned that way after leaving the canal.

My response ......

Securite, securite, securite. All mariners in the vicinity of the Burlington Canal take heed. I have just been seriously waked by HMCS Toronto who irossed my port bow and is proceeding in a dangerous manner.


The resulting radio conversation between CCG and HMCS Toronto was quite interesting.

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Well, why don't you tell us about it?

dhmeissner said:

Would 5 short blasts have been more appropriate? Not that it would have mattered to him.

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That would require someone actually be standing watch with the ability to maneuver the vessel.

Dave

rwidman said:

Well, why don't you tell us about it?

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I agree with Ron, tell us more.........

On the Columbia River I see this a lot. Last summer there was a 60' cruiser that came into St. Helens, blew past the "no Wake" zone to get to the fuel dock. His wake broke my buddies swim platform. He happens to be a sheriff too. That conversation ended in the cruiser getting a ticket and a claim on his insurance for a swim platform....

We also have big ships coming up and down the river and during fishing season you can hear them blast their horns 5 times for the idiots that insist on anchoring in the channel. There is a place just below Kalama where the ships have to make a tight 90 degree to STBD turn. On this occasion this idiot with an aluminum fishing boat would not move out of the channel and the ship hit him, folding the 20' boat like a piece of tin foil and sending it to the bottom of the river. USCG had to come rescue him. After that the USCG started to issues tickets to the idiots that insisted to anchor in the channels.

magicbus said:

That would require someone actually be standing watch with the ability to maneuver the vessel.

Dave

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Very true.

Alaskan Sea-Duction said:

We also have big ships coming up and down the river and during fishing season you can hear them blast their horns 5 times for the idiots that insist on anchoring in the channel. There is a place just below Kalama where the ships have to make a tight 90 degree to STBD turn. On this occasion this idiot with an aluminum fishing boat would not move out of the channel and the ship hit him, folding the 20' boat like a piece of tin foil and sending it to the bottom of the river. USCG had to come rescue him.

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Think that's called natural selection; cleaning up the gene pool.

Ted

The flip side of that is something I've seen in two areas of the Columbia. The first is when upstream of Bonneville Dam. Fishermen anchor in the channel and get seriously pi$$e when you pass close by them.

The second is near Hood River when you try to make it up or down river and have to avoid the wind surfers. They just don't seem to realize that a boat can't maneuver or stop as quickly as they can. Their game of Chicken could become deadly for them.

Maybe your horn wasn't loud enough :lol:

theran5317 said:

Maybe your horn wasn't loud enough :lol:

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Hah, hah, hah. The Coot's horns echo off the hills. People expect to see a ship but it's only the Coot. My passengers request/demand I not blow the horns unless they're inside the boat.

I've seen that picture of you polishing those beauties before. I think they are awesome. Just couldn't resist the comment.

Thought you might need another reason to post a great pic.

theran5317 said:

I've seen that picture of you polishing those beauties before. I think they are awesome. Just couldn't resist the comment.

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I suspected that.

"That would require someone actually be standing watch with the ability to maneuver the vessel. "


No problem , with progress in next iteration "Captain" autopilot and the GPS will have a horn sensor added with FADEC, auto throttle.

It will slow for 1/4 mile and go back to maximum wake mode automatically , no need to bother those aboard.

All will be reported via wireless to the boats owner when he wakes up.

FF said:

All will be reported via wireless to the boats owner when he wakes up.

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Usually the crash will wake them.

FF said:

........ and go back to maximum wake mode automatically , no need to bother those aboard.

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Maximum Wake Mode.......LOL. That's a riot, FF, but you're right. Down here in Miami where every other boat is a 45 or more sport fisher, I wouldn't doubt that the Auto-Pilots aboard have a software written for that particular speed setting!

Mark.....next time I'm going down the ICW through some of the narrow channels, I'm going to turn around and take a photo of the go-fast boats passing me on both sides at the same time while I'm stuck in the middle, not only dealing with their wakes, but the kickback from their wakes off the concrete sea walls that turn some sections of the ICW into a boiling heap of confused chop. You'd think you were entering an inlet with opposing tide and wind, for God's sake.

IN many sections of the ICW the simplest solution is a tape of "Victory At Sea."

The Dance of the North Atlantic and some others are great listening when suronded by boats with names like BRAIN DEAD!

Re the OP all this talk about blasting on horns and rules of the "road" seems odd to me.
I think I would'a just turned to avoid him. And you wouldn't have to hate him so if you took the liberty to flip him off big time as you went by. The flipping off seems quite appropriate and can be very soothing for the flipper.

Don your folks on post 16 probably stopped just about as fast as we stopped when we hit the whale this last summer. CRASH!

manyboats said:

Re the OP all this talk about blasting on horns and rules of the "road" seems odd to me.
I think I would'a just turned to avoid him. ...

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I was close to shore to starboard and I didn't want to turn to port (his starboard) as that was where I was expecting him to turn. Almost without exception there is a silent "ballet" of boats avoiding each other. Not that time, however.

It's easy to get all upset, though I just try to stay out of the way (goes back to my flying habits). Wave and say, "thanks for the wake", especially if it's a large one.

There's too many things to get upset about, I just try not to let anyone ruin the fun I'm having.

My wife just holds up her hand with her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart and yells, "SORRY ABOUT YOUR PENIS!!!!".......works every time!!!!

manyboats said:

Re the OP all this talk about blasting on horns and rules of the "road" seems odd to me.
I think I would'a just turned to avoid him. ............ !

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You missed the point where he said he had to take evasive action.

I have been put in the same position a couple of times. The AICW can be very narrow in some places and if an oncoming boat takes his half out of the middle it can put you in danger of going aground trying to avoid him. Picture this: A narrow land cut a mile or more long, straight as an arrow and lined by flat terrain and sea grass. The only two things moving are your boat and his. How can he not see you and move to his starboard enough for a safe passage? Yet he doesn't.

The only other option is to "play chicken", hold your course, and see if he takes action to avoid you. Most of us don't want to risk our boats and our safety to do this however.

Victor_Chat said:

It's easy to get all upset, though I just try to stay out of the way (goes back to my flying habits). Wave and say, "thanks for the wake", especially if it's a large one.

There's too many things to get upset about, I just try not to let anyone ruin the fun I'm having.

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We're not talking about a wake here although there will probably be one, we are talking about a collision. That's something to get upset about in my book.