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Old 11-01-2012, 11:51 AM   #1
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Question for all you seasoned trawler owners. We've had a bad an scary situation happen to us several times. While existing a no wake zone, bridge, etc. sometime a large twin engine gas sport fisher or the like will go to full throttle from just behind us causing us to almost roll over. Keep in mind that I'm in a 41 footer; so the whirlpool/wave is pretty big. What should I do? Running them down is not an option for a 6 knot vessel.
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:02 PM   #2
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Greetings,
Securite, securite, securite. All vessels in the area of XXX be aware that sportfish vessel named YYY is operating in a dangerous manner by producing very large wake.
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:09 PM   #3
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Hail the Coast Guard and report them. They'll usually switch you up to 22A and give you a number to call.
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:13 PM   #4
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This could be worth giving a try. Call on the radio something like this, "large sport fish coming through X bridge this is X. I am slowing to idle speed. Please give me a slow pass on my port side". I don't know how you are exiting the area, but if you are getting up to 7 or 8 knots he would have to throw a big wake to get around you. When I am following in that situation, I will ask for a slow pass. Most of the overtaken boats comply with the request.

I think the purpose is to keep the situation from happening.
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:23 PM   #5
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If you're exiting the area, I don't believe the CG will do much.
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Old 11-01-2012, 03:10 PM   #6
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Greetings,
Securite, securite, securite. All vessels in the area of XXX be aware that sportfish vessel named YYY is operating in a dangerous manner by producing very large wake.
Now that's a good one, Mr. Firefly!
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Old 11-01-2012, 04:10 PM   #7
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Now that's a good one, Mr. Firefly!
+1
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Old 11-01-2012, 05:48 PM   #8
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This happens to us ALL the time. Even when they do slow some, the wake they throw is HUGE and our little boat will rock all over. Scares the pee out of me. Throws the furniture all over. Tom calls it a "furniture scrambler". I learned later that our little boat snaps back really fast due to her full concrete keel and while good for the boat, it makes the rolling worse for me.

That being said. The thing to do is slow way down let him pass and turn into that wake taking it on the bow, not the beam. Get INTO his wake and then power back up.

It's scary, it sucks, but it's part of having a trawler. The boat will not roll over due to a wake. (should not) The boat can handle way more rolling than we can.

Slow down, let them overtake, turn into the wake and take it on the bow directly. When I'm at the helm and this happens, I also try really hard to not squeal like a little girl.
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Old 11-01-2012, 06:36 PM   #9
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We don't have the overtaking in a narrow channel problem much at all here but we do get some pretty large wakes from other boats passing us in either direction. The solution is simple and is as desribed by Bess--- turn into the wake. We try to always take it a bit on the quarter rather than directly head on. This seems to reduce the pitching some while not inducing any significant roll.
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Old 11-01-2012, 07:05 PM   #10
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Being passed

If I am in a que for a bridge, lock etc. I circle back and get behind the go fast boats. If on is approching I try to hailthem on the radio and ask for a slow speed pass. If I do not get a responce I will croud them to the edge of the channel forcing them to slow down. J.T.
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Old 11-01-2012, 07:22 PM   #11
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If I am in a que for a bridge, lock etc. I circle back and get behind the go fast boats. If on is approching I try to hailthem on the radio and ask for a slow speed pass. If I do not get a responce I will croud them to the edge of the channel forcing them to slow down. J.T.
Seems like a good system to me. I am interested to know how if many respond, and give a slow pass.
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Old 11-01-2012, 09:14 PM   #12
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If you're not in a no wake zone then there's nothing that the USCG can or should do. There is no violation of any statute.

The sports fishermen have just as much right to travel the waterways within the capacities of their boats as antbody else.

We as boaters need to keep a sharp lookout, and to respond to sea conditions regardless of their cause in a prudent manner taking into account our vessles and crews capabilities.

I do not run our boat up on plane very often, but when I do, it throws a huge wake. There's no way that I could drop off plane for every boat that come into proximity with. The open ocean is a free for all, and nobody I've ever seen slows down.
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Old 11-01-2012, 09:49 PM   #13
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Besides... It's just a wave.
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Old 11-01-2012, 09:59 PM   #14
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Awpptdt, Like you describe, I too will "peel off" of my course and come back behind the speeding vessel. It works great and also sends a message to the offending overtaker that his speed has consequences on other boats in his path. I also like that I don't have to power down and/or steer into his offensive wake!
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:43 PM   #15
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I thought of following the offender to their lunch anchor spot and doing circuits around them at full power, spilling the cheap wine they`d be drinking. But that would reduce me to their abominable standards. RTF`s idea of broadcasting a warning on 16 is better, and Maritime monitors 16.
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:44 PM   #16
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If you're not in a no wake zone then there's nothing that the USCG can or should do. There is no violation of any statute..
Someone could be subject to civil liability.

Law and Disorder
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Old 11-02-2012, 06:02 AM   #17
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If the turning into the wake tactic is sometimes impossible, as when they come up on you suddenly from behind, and their wake is coming at you from aft of the beam, if there is room, but no time to do the complete loop and come at them from behind, one can bear away and take it on the stern or stern quarter. Of course where we boat sometimes there is no room to for either option except to just rock and roll. I think I might try RTF's suggestion for that situation.
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Old 11-02-2012, 06:12 AM   #18
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Someone could be subject to civil liability.

Law and Disorder
While I agree with much of the article...it also smacks of why lawyers think lawyers and insurance are needed 24/7 by everyone.

I think you might be partially responsible in that last scenario where the boat powers up and knocks down the fisherman in the cove...but a good argument from you or a lawyer could keep the liability percentage to a minimum...by showing what you did was reasonable and had no way of knowing that the guy was there AND the knucklehead shouldn't have been standing when your wake came by (he has the requirement to keep a good lookout too! )
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Old 11-02-2012, 06:47 AM   #19
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Someone could be subject to civil liability.

Law and Disorder

I read the article, and although its interesting, I do not think a wake damage claim would be able to be upheld in the ocean, and thats whare most of us seem to boat.

As a defense to wake damage in USCG waters would be the argument that a boat damaged by a wake was not seaworthy for use in uncontrolled areas. Another argument would be that the captain of the boat that was damaged by the wake was neglegent in that he either did not keep a sharp lookout, and or did not possess the seamanship skills to avoid something (a wave) that he would could reasonable expect to happen.

Anybody can sue anybody for anything at any time. That does not mean a claim will be upheld.

We see this exact situation allot here in Alaska. A 50' charter boat throwing a 3' wake scares some guy that just drove his spiffy 18' alumanium boat off of the showroom floow with the promise from the salesman that said boat can handle the open ocean and will catch the happy new owner a freezer full of fish. They radio the USCG crying a river of tears.

The USCG, copies the information down then does nothing. They just don't get involved.

What really sucks is that it it these same newby boaters that get pissed when you won't eat up your weekend by towing them back to port when their boat runs out of gas 50 miles from port. They are the same ones that get rescued when they prove that the charts are accurate by locating rocks with their boat.

They think that because they can buy a boat that they are competent to operate it. They quickly realize that seamanship is not a built in feature of their boats.
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Old 11-02-2012, 06:59 AM   #20
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If you're not in a no wake zone then there's nothing that the USCG can or should do. There is no violation of any statute.

The sports fishermen have just as much right to travel the waterways within the capacities of their boats as antbody else.

We as boaters need to keep a sharp lookout, and to respond to sea conditions regardless of their cause in a prudent manner taking into account our vessles and crews capabilities.

I do not run our boat up on plane very often, but when I do, it throws a huge wake. There's no way that I could drop off plane for every boat that come into proximity with. The open ocean is a free for all, and nobody I've ever seen slows down.

You are responsible for any accident or injury caused by your wake regardless of wake or no wake zone.
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