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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/17/2010 : 12:20:56

At the end of Sunday's sail I had just taken the sails down and was pretty close to home when a 60+ foot powerboat with the 20ft fly bridge, etc. came barreling at me on full plane. He had 6 to 8 people on the fly bridge alone. We were in a skinnier portion of the channel, still he had plenty of room to pass on my port but instead veered to my starboard and then dead at me (figured at the last second he might run aground going to my starboard I guess), coming off plane maybe 80 feet in front of me. There was also plenty of room in the channel on my starboard for him to pass. Now he's moving 5 to 8 kts but still on a collision course so I took the initiative, gunned the Tohatsu 8, pointed about 80 degrees to the starboard and went around him. Didn't know the area but still tooling as fast as he could go (4 ft wake), too distracted by all the people around him and indecisive. A bad combination. It's the closest I've come to a collision.
NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!!!!!!!!!

Dave Robbins
PO to*Bamboo*
'89 SR/WK #5877
Daytona Bch., FL

http://bambooc25.weebly.com/

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 13:09:39

That would have been a real good time to let your Guard help you -- your Coast Guard. I'd have been on the radio with them in a New York minute, After the evasive maneuvers, of course.

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Unsinkable2
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273 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 13:21:27

"60+ foot powerboat with the 20ft fly bridge" vs. "gunned the Tohatsu 8"

Not much of a matchup! Glad you were paying attention.

I was teaching my 14 year old to motor out of our marina, and pointed out to him the nature of powerboaters to be generally poor seamen. And jet ski riders to be generally certified idiots :) Luckily, none of the local idiots have figure out to get 60' boats onto our lake...

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 13:37:42

Sounds like a typical day on the Clinton River. In front of the Harbor Masters office “I might add”

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 13:49:49

Glad you were able to evade, did you report him? I'd imagine the pucker factor was high waiting for your boat to speed up while making your turn.

Closest I ever came was on my 15' catamaran a dozen years ago or so. The lake I sailed on had a launch on the opposite side where all the jet skis & ski boats put in, unless they lived on the lake. This guy powered his 25-30' powerboat out of the finger piers and laid it over into a giant port side turn (he was on the starboard side fly bridge), the nose of the boat points into the sky, so he has zero visibility in front of him, but his wife/GF/SO in the starboard seat can see me and she's excitedly pointing & yelling, but he isn't paying any attention to her, and can't hear her over the engines anyway. The boat pushes up onto plane, and there I am, dead in his sights, I'm blowing away with my horn (which he can't hear over his own engines), and I've got my dog by the collar ready to bail out whichever side seemed the most advantageous when he hit me. His eyes get real wide (he's that close) and he lays the boat over into another even sharper turn to port, misses me by maybe less than 50' and zooms off across the lake without even looking back to see how bad his wake tossed my boat. A jet skier watched the whole thing, stopped by to see if I was OK, and then zoomed off herself.

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John Russell
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Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 16:11:31

I'm reminded of the time somebody flew past me and as I was bouncing in his wake, I heard him yell "If ya don't like it get a bigger boat!"

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 19:14:47

I think I've told the story here of the a police boat almost hitting our little Daysailer years ago--he was sitting dead in the water 30-50 yards from us as we sailed by... He took off at full throttle while looking the other way, saw us at the last second and veered off--close enough to spray us! From then on I kept the air horn next to me on the seat, although this may have happened to fast to use it.

Remember the danger signal--five quick blasts.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 03:47:49

A friend of a friend was on Lake Lanier and his daughter had dropped and they were coming around to pick her up on the ski rope when a power boat zoomed around them and drove over the daughter. They use dogs to smell out the location of the body and send divers down. My friend had to pick up the father at the airport and go with him during the search.

The Sea is a dangerous place, but a drunk at the helm on a heavily populated lake can come out of nowhere.

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redviking
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Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 12:47:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 At the end of Sunday's sail I had just taken the sails down and was pretty close to home when a 60+ foot powerboat with the 20ft fly bridge, etc. came barreling at me on full plane. He had 6 to 8 people on the fly bridge alone. We were in a skinnier portion of the channel, still he had plenty of room to pass on my port but instead veered to my starboard and then dead at me (figured at the last second he might run aground going to my starboard I guess), coming off plane maybe 80 feet in front of me. There was also plenty of room in the channel on my starboard for him to pass. Now he's moving 5 to 8 kts but still on a collision course so I took the initiative, gunned the Tohatsu 8, pointed about 80 degrees to the starboard and went around him. Didn't know the area but still tooling as fast as he could go (4 ft wake), too distracted by all the people around him and indecisive. A bad combination. It's the closest I've come to a collision.
NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!!!!!!!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

While your evasive action is commendable, it quite frankly came too late. Sorry to out curmudgeon our resident stinkpotter, BUT the stinkpotter in question WAS NOT going to pass you on your starboard side. PERIOD. Wine to wine - port to port - ALWAYS. When in doubt, think about the rules of the road. He is going too fast, he wants to pass you, which side will he choose in a narrow channel? You got it, Your PORT and his port. Always revert to the rules of the road when questioning what to do.

He should not have been going that fast, but this time I'm going with the stinkpotter. How's that for balance!

sten

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 13:13:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 ...Now he's moving 5 to 8 kts but still on a collision course so I took the initiative, gunned the Tohatsu 8, pointed about 80 degrees to the starboard and went around him.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
While your evasive action is commendable... the stinkpotter in question WAS NOT going to pass you on your starboard side. PERIOD. Wine to wine - port to port - ALWAYS. When in doubt, think about the rules of the road...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sten! If I have the picture right (and that's always open to question), he did exactly the right thing. The guy is coming at Dave from dead ahead, veering one way and then the other... maybe paying attention, maybe not... maybe knows the rules, maybe not... Dave turned to starboard so they would pass port-to-port (wine-to-wine)--"one whistle"--whatever you prefer. The rule that overrides all others is you must do what is necessary to avoid collision even if at the last moment it violates another rule, which in this case it did not.

I would only add that a single blast (horn--not shotgun), asking for port-to-port, might have helped. (Even if he doesn't know what it means or how to reply, it might get his attention.) Then five blasts, meaning "WTF!!" An air horn has a pretty good chance of speaking over a big stinkpot's engines.

Curmudgeon standing by on 1-6

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/18/2010 13:20:48

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 16:10:22

Dave, even though every time I leave and enter my port, I scout for powerboats. I do my best to NEVER enter or exit with them around. Enough said.
Steve A

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 16:44:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 ...Now he's moving 5 to 8 kts but still on a collision course so I took the initiative, gunned the Tohatsu 8, pointed about 80 degrees to the starboard and went around him.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
While your evasive action is commendable... the stinkpotter in question WAS NOT going to pass you on your starboard side. PERIOD. Wine to wine - port to port - ALWAYS. When in doubt, think about the rules of the road...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sten! If I have the picture right (and that's always open to question), he did exactly the right thing. The guy is coming at Dave from dead ahead, veering one way and then the other... maybe paying attention, maybe not... maybe knows the rules, maybe not... Dave turned to starboard so they would pass port-to-port (wine-to-wine)--"one whistle"--whatever you prefer. The rule that overrides all others is you must do what is necessary to avoid collision even if at the last moment it violates another rule, which in this case it did not.

I would only add that a single blast (horn--not shotgun), asking for port-to-port, might have helped. (Even if he doesn't know what it means or how to reply, it might get his attention.) Then five blasts, meaning "WTF!!" An air horn has a pretty good chance of speaking over a big stinkpot's engines.

Curmudgeon standing by on 1-6
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm not saying what he did was wrong - it was RIGHT! What he should have done is started to that side as soon as he saw the threat and made HIS intentions clear. Sailors often get a bad rap for this and I know how it happens. You are looking, thinking, etc.. If you are in the center of the channel move to the side immediately. The stinkpotter undoubtedly was trying to figure it out and wasn't a proper mariner per se, but in order to understand your enemy you have to understand how they think.

Curmudgeon in training standing by 69....

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 16:54:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redvikingbut in order to understand your enemy you have to understand how they think.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They think???

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
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Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 17:04:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stu Jackson C34
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redvikingbut in order to understand your enemy you have to understand how they think.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They think???
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Not often but something kicks in usually just in time.

BTW - you can google any documented vessel and figure out who they are at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html

If you have any damage as a result of this encounter, the stinkpotter is responsible for his wake.

Might take a little sleuthing - but by process of elimination you can find the f.......r I'm not on his side, just envisioned the scenario and I too have done the same. RI Fast ferry tried to take me out one night too.... I was a bit deer in the headlights now that I think about it - hence my viewpoint.

sten

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 17:45:39

Where is a stinkpot when you want one ? I was waterskiing with my wife at the helm on the Tennessee River. When she saw lots of traffic ahead she made a sweeping 180º turn to go back upstream. At that point I tossed away the tow rope since I was tiring. But she didn't notice I was gone for several minutes. By the time she woke up and slowly cruised back to where she turned the current had carried me 1/4 mile downstream. Despite all my efforts I couldn't get any of the nearby powerboats to come pick me up. Finally I swam to the bank and walked back upstream where I got the attention of a searcher.

Ever encounter two really stupid canoe paddlers ? This brilliant pair paddled a camoflage canoe with no light across a narrow part of Lake Martin (Alabama) right at sunset. The camo was very effective against the shadowy shoreline behind them. Just seconds before I would have plowed across the canoe at 30 - 35 mph I saw a face and turned hard to miss them.

Edited by - jbkayaker on 05/18/2010 17:50:34

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 18:12:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jbkayaker
 ...This brilliant pair paddled a camoflage canoe with no light across a narrow part of Lake Martin (Alabama) right at sunset...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">We recently discussed paddlers and visibility--Bruce Ross's thread... But skiing in a traffic area without a spotter??

That's really brilliant--in Darwin Award territory! There's not much that's harder to see than the head of a swimmer in a busy waterway. In my state, for skiing, a spotter is required by law--mirrors are not allowed as substitutes.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/18/2010 19:38:15

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 06:00:52

Well, I was going to give you a rash of sh** Sten but I see I don't have to

And DaveB you pictured it correctly. There was one other thing I could have done. Our #1 Curmudgeon

DaveB pointed out I should have given him a single blast of the air horn. His very large bow was between us and he might not have heard, but it's prudent to explore all options and I should have. Had the thing in the coaming too .....

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 06:53:53

OK.. that's funny. What we need on the boats nowadays is a button at the helm for the Air Horn. Or Maybe the Grape Shot cannon before the mast.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 07:23:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 ...I should have given him a single blast of the air horn...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...and to give our "trainee" his due, you can significantly help the situation by making an early and obvious change of course--not necessarily 80 degrees--to starboard so the other guy's not looking at you dead-on. (Maybe you did.) That makes your intentions clear and reduces his obvious options. You don't want to be doing the "shall-we-dance" dance. I know well it doesn't always work--the horn comes in when it doesn't. <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">OK.. that's funny. What we need on the boats nowadays is a button at the helm for the Air Horn...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I have one.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 07:28:04

I thought this was the reason we had to carry flare guns? To get another boaters attention, correct?

Once you have their attention then you can use the horn?

Edited by - GaryB on 05/19/2010 07:29:58

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 09:21:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 I thought this was the reason we had to carry flare guns? To get another boaters attention, correct?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Absolutely not! They're for PWCs... My flare gun has a laser-sight.

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redviking
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Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 09:50:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter...and to give our "trainee" his due, you can significantly help the situation by making an early and obvious change of course--not necessarily 80 degrees--to starboard so the other guy's not looking at you dead-on. (Maybe you did.) That makes your intentions clear and reduces his obvious options. You don't want to be doing the "shall-we-dance" dance. I know well it doesn't always work--the horn comes in when it doesn't. <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">OK.. that's funny. What we need on the boats nowadays is a button at the helm for the Air Horn...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I have one.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks chief curmudgeon!

It sounded like a dance to me and having been there way too many times, I now hug the starboard side of a channel like its my mother. I had one incident wherein a huge freighter asked me to choose a port or starboard pass. It was then that I realized I was smack dab in the middle of the channel. Drawing 6'6" makes you want to do that.

Sailors under power sometimes forget for a bit that we have to do stuff we wouldn't do under sail.

BTW Dave B if you were my insurance carrier, you would have just lowered my rates!

Better to get out of the way before you suffer an acci-dent!!!

sten

Edited by - redviking on 05/19/2010 10:06:04

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 10:36:44

There's something to be said for steel hulls!

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glen
Captain

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Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 13:57:41

We do a lot of night sailing, and if in doubt about an approaching noise buckets (off shore), I hit them first. (That is with a spot light) In the dark I will always have one of those hand held kazillion waters, plugged in and sitting ready in the cockpit. I figured the skipper on the go-fast would never hear an air horn but would take notice if he found himself in a beam of light. At first I was surprised how well it worked, but later figured that he probably thinks it’s the sheriff. Any way it gets his attention, and he knows that some one else is out there on HIS lake. Imagine the audacity

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JohnP
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Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 14:49:45

At night I also keep my million candlepower spotlight ready.

A powerboat came flying out of the area near my marina (and waterfront bar) late one night apparently not noticing it was coming up behind a big sailboat in spite of its stern running light and cabin lights. I was sailing about 1000 feet from the sailboat and saw a collision about to happen. I lit up the other boat's mainsail. The powerboat swerved just in time and kept on going at top speed out of sight. I don't think the sailboat crew even saw the powerboat coming.

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glen
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Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 04:32:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 At night I also keep my million candlepower spotlight ready.

A powerboat came flying out of the area near my marina (and waterfront bar) late one night apparently not noticing it was coming up behind a big sailboat in spite of its stern running light and cabin lights. I was sailing about 1000 feet from the sailboat and saw a collision about to happen. I lit up the other boat's mainsail. The powerboat swerved just in time and kept on going at top speed out of sight. I don't think the sailboat crew even saw the powerboat coming.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Good job John, your actions may have saved lives that night

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