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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/07/2014 : 15:12:04

Sorry for the Rant, but channel 4 TV here in South florida just had an article about the boats crash that killed 4 people on July 4th.

The reporter said (wait for it!)

<i><b>On the water there are navigation rules.

See these lights on the bow of a boat, if you see Red you have to stop if you see green you can go!</b></i>

holy carp!

Paul

Edited by - on

panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2014 : 15:22:40

I'll have to check Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2014 : 15:48:12

What a dummy! He forgot to say to look both ways on the green.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2014 : 17:47:46

Tell me the newscaster was a blonde

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2014 : 17:48:28

Very simplistically true... sorta. He should have said, "...there are rules that involve lights and directions. Any boat operator who doesn't know and follow them is much more likely to cause a tragedy such as this, and to have the personal responsibility for losses of life hanging over him for the rest of his life."

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2014 : 20:18:38

quote:
Originally posted by britinusa

Sorry for the Rant, but channel 4 TV here in South florida just had an article about the boats crash that killed 4 people on July 4th.

The reporter said (wait for it!)

On the water there are navigation rules.

See these lights on the bow of a boat, if you see Red you have to stop if you see green you can go!

holy carp!

Paul

Obviously nobody has right of way on the water - it's stand-on or give-way, and the ultimate rule is to avoid collisions by any means necessary. But aside from the reporter's oversimplification, what he said is exactly correct for motorized boats. The reason why all boats have red nav light on the port side and green nav light on the starboard side is exactly what he said - if you are motoring and see an approaching vessel's red light then he is approaching from starboard, and you give way to him. If you see green he is approaching from port, and you are the stand on vessel.

I hear SO MANY people erroneously claim that their boat has the green light on port and red on starboard. (Maybe they actually mount their bow lights upside down!

) So what the reporter said is actually a good mnemonic for remembering the stand on rules for motorized boats, and a good way of reminding yourself why your boat's red light is on the port side, not the starboard side.

Edited by - TakeFive on 07/07/2014 20:19:37

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2014 : 03:53:59

Please don't overlook the fact that the reporter was closing an article about how 4 people were killed in a boating accident that occurred during the mayhem of returning boats after the 4th of July fireworks display in Miami just south of the Rickenbacker causeway bridge.

So now millions of viewers, including thousands of power boat owners, are under the impression that if you see a green light it's ok, you can go!

Anyone that takes a boat out on the water down here, particularly in the Miami area where we have an awesome huge bay with fantastic beaches, keys, as well as million dollar water fronts, they have experienced the lack of boating skills at all levels.

We have seen (thus so have others) boats so obviously overcrowded that it's an accident waiting to happen. Skippers powering through swim zones where families are in the standing depth water. Low free-board boats being bailed using beer bottles - on the ocean five miles out! I could go on, but the point is that there are thousands of boats down here that appear to be under the control of ignorant skippers as far as boat safety is concerned.

This holiday weekend was a quiet one on the bay, we only saw hundreds of boats along the shoreline of Elliott key, normally we would see thousands. We did not know about the deaths on Friday night as we had News coverage. Perhaps it was that awful event that kept the boats in the docks.

Sadly, every holiday weekend, news of someone being killed on the water in the Miami/Biscayne Bay area is virtually guaranteed.

And during a news broadcast that so many will watch, the newscaster boils it down to 'Green is Go'.

No mention of the many opportunities that owners have to become knowledgeable and safer skippers on the water.

[url="http://www.local10.com/news/new-details-released-in-fatal-fourth-of-july-boating-accident/26824856"] The News (but not the Green is Go that we saw on TV[/url]

Paul

Edited by - on

dasreboot
Admiral

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804 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2014 : 05:55:06

port wine is red!

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2014 : 06:30:12

Paul it is NOT just the bay. I avoided fireworks this year, we did the 4th last year, and I'll say the display was pretty impressive. Our little 13 mile lake had an estimated 800 boats in the last mile or so of the lake, anchored out to watch the show (not my numbers, the local newspapers).

We rafted up with our sail club, but they told us they were going to break up the floatilla JUST as the fireworks stopped. It would be "too bumpy" to stay together.

Keep in mind I have a 3.5 hp outboard, and a very low freeboard boat (Capri 25)... as it stood I was about 1 foot lower than my fellow club members cruising boats (rub rail below rub rail)... So we bailed early, and we weren't apart for more than 60 seconds when we witnessed the first motorboats crash into one another (about 100 feet away, thankfully at low speed).

It takes me about an hour, 1:20 or so, to motor from the area where the fireworks are, to the marina where we dock the boat. That's about 20-30 minutes longer running than a full tank (so I have to refill along the way) hanging over the stern. I hadn't anticipated (pun intended) the crazy way that most motor boaters would head back. Most used their normal full daylight speed to motor back, that would be WOT!!!! I can't tell you how many times I had to whip out the horn, for boats bearing down on us at 40+mph, on a collision course. The closest call we had was about 10 boat lengths, in the dark with a boater that was doing well over 20 knots.

Now I am pretty conservative, and do my best to MAKE SURE I am seen at night. I use super high output LEDs on my boat, and I've tested distance with a fellow club member, and they are EASILY seen over 1 mile, even against our bright shorelines.

A combination of wrecklessness, inexperience, lack of knowledge, and drink, make for a nearly inexcusable set of parameters while boating.

All I can say is I guess the motor-boaters on our lake ONLY knew the rule you cited, because apparently WHITE lights mean RAMMING SPEED.

Some things to note..
Motor boaters hate wind.
Motor boaters hate anything less than 70 degrees.

I missed an opportunity of a lifetime this July 4th... the winds were blowing 12-15 mph, and it was 55 degrees for the fireworks. I hear they had record low turnout!
I CAN tell you many of the motor-boaters only have mushroom anchors on our lake, and never more than 2:1 scope, so I bet by the end of the night, they were all banging against one another with anchor lines entangled on the lee shoreline.

IF I were ever to do the July 4th fireworks, and boat parade again with our club... I'll
A) anchor by myself
B) plan to stay the night and
C) make sure I am WELL out of the normal channel of the lake.

Love it, red means stop, green means go... I suppose if you see both, you should floor it?

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2014 : 07:25:58

Dumb question: Paul, in FL, is there a legal requirement that all boaters take a Boating Safety Course?
In CT and NY we are required to take an 8 hour safe boating course with a test to obtain a "Safe Boater's Card".
Not a panacea by any means, but a start.
Uh, well, I guess I answered my own question.

For all Forum users and members:
1. Does your state require a mandatory safety course and license for boats with engines (sail or power)?
2. If so, do you think it helps prevent tragedy?
3. If your state does not require one, if it were proposed by lawmakers would you be in favor of it?
Maybe I should create a new thread ...

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2014 : 08:57:34

Paul,
Maybe you could offer to correct the reporter's error. Maybe the station will broadcast the correction? Might be worth a try. I'd bet the USCG Auxiliary would be willing to help get the message across.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2014 : 09:23:12

Bruce, unlike you, I'm old enough to remember well the time before CT required a Safe Boating Course and card... I'll assert that the difference on the water has been significant. Many people forget much of the details, but most seem to be aware that there are some "rules of the road" and that navaids have meanings. But it seems there are always some who have to learn by experience that it's really hard to see everything at night--sometimes at the expense of lives. I saw the remains of one boat crushed against the Stamford Harbor breakwater--after the bodies had been removed.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2014 : 13:08:26

Dave,
Every weekend on CT waters (the Sounds, CT, Housatonic and Thames Rivers, Lakes Candlewood, Bantam, Mashapaug, Pachaug) we hear about accidents, drownings, injuries and close calls. A one-time training can't prevent these tragic incidents. Unfortunately, according to the rules of "idiot-proofing", nature will produce better idiots. But if the laws can prevent one death or injury, that's a victory. I remember when we switched over to boater education in CT - did a lot of lake canoeing back then. The improvements were dramatic.

Edited by - on

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