Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld
The law of tonnage is not a rule of the road and that can be one of the issues commercial guys have with little guys doing the unexpected based on that myth.
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That's correct. There is no tonnage law. There is this, however:
INTERNATIONAL and INLAND
(b) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.
I don't think people realize how quickly we run out of room when we're loaded to 26 feet.
You're right about people only following the parts of the rules that they think apply to them. I'm sure a lot of people have never read the rules, and are just going on what people have told them. If you're in your own private vessel fishing for fun, you are not technically a 'vessel engaged in fishing' under the rules. You are just a power driven vessel, with the rights and responsibilities thereof.
(d) The term "vessel engaged in fishing" means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrict maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability.