Stupid, smart or unwise..

[BuzzStPoint]

We're fishing the river yesterday. It's real busy, lots of jet fleas, skiboats and wake boarders.

We come around the bend and we see a small sail boat, Probably 8 foot long. Looks like 2 people could fit in it.. Sitting right in the middle of the channel. Heres the catch... No wind.... We slowly come along side (cause I'm worried one of these other boats is going to plow into him (one boat already took out a shallow buoy marker )).

I pull up and say the dumest remark, "No wind huh" . he replied "nope". I then asked if we wanted me to pull him out of the channel or back to the dock. He told me, "Nah, I'm fine just sitting here"

Ok,

We went back to the dock. By the time we pulled away, he's still sitting there. Boats and skiers zipping past him...

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

It might not be wise but sailboats always have the right of way in MN so it's the responsibility of the powered motorcraft to adhere to this.

I'm sure these sailors have dealt with lack of wind before. My dad owns a sailboat and it is never the boats under power that have the close calls...it's usually other sailboats.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

In WI, Sail boats have right of way as well.


I was just worried the guy was gonna get smacked by a different boat. But he didn't want help.. Just kicking back feet up waiting. I was sorta thinking it was his intention of sitting in the middle. Just guessing.. It's not like there was a whole lot of wind the entire day. I also don't know how much wind you need to propel a small Sboat.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

funny, on my lake, it's always the fisherman sitting anchored in the middle of the channels, lanes, etc.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

funny, on my lake, it's always the fisherman sitting anchored in the middle of the channels, lanes, etc.

Funny, on MY lake its all the non fisherman that think the fisherman are in their "lane".

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

If they are not under power Sailboats ALWAYS have the right of way.
Also, there are rules about anchoring in the channel or other areas of limited manueverability......something about a hazard to navigation

That said, " Right of Way " is defined as " Something you do not have unless someone else gives it to you"

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

the sailor with the right of way is just as dead when he gets hit by a careless powerboat as the one who doesn't have it.
AKA Right of weight

BTW the "right of way" rules change in shipping channels.

I heard this on the VHF while I was fishing in a busy harbor: "Sailboat crossing the channel at XYZ: This is incoming container ship. You're not going to make it. Turn back."

And before it all starts: the rules of navigation aren't based on "right of way" like traffic is; they are based on who has to give way, or avoid, the other vessel. it's analagous to right of way but not the same; the one with the "right" is merely entitled to hold its course and the other vessel has to change course.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

HC,
You are correct about shipping channels, and the level of carelessness as well.

I never heard it phrased with rule of weight but it's accurate.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

If they are not under power Sailboats ALWAYS have the right of way.
Also, there are rules about anchoring in the channel or other areas of limited manueverability......something about a hazard to navigation

That said, " Right of Way " is defined as " Something you do not have unless someone else gives it to you"

Sailboats DO NOT have the right of way, IF they are overtaking the other vessel or the other vessel is moored, although in my experience, they all believe that they ALWAYS have the right of way.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

right of way doesn't won't help you much after you get run over and chopped up by a prop.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

Being right is no good if your dead and right.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

Yeh, talk of right of way always reminds me of this:

?Here lie the remains of William Jay
Who died maintaining his right of way,
He was right, dead right, as he sped along
But he?s just as dead as if he?d been wrong.?

 

[Danny Mc]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

I was on Lake Lanier on a weekday. I took of work to relax so took my 21 ft Searay back in a cove and anchored. Threw out a couple of catfish lines, turned radio on laid down on the back bench seat. I had bout dozed off when something hit my boat hard. I looked up and a pontoon on a catamaran went over me from the side and crashed off the other side. I raised up and saw a cat sail boat, asked the guy what in hell was he doing. He said I was in his way. I said heck it's only 30yds to the end of the cove, where were you going and I need your ID so I can be sure you fix my boat. Long story short I had to sue him got judgement but never any money. My Ins fixed my boat.

 

[Mark SF]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

"the one with the "right" is merely entitled to hold its course and the other vessel has to change course"

I believe you are in error. The boat with the right of way is not merely ENTITLED to stand on if it feels like it, the COLREGS state that it SHOULD stand on. To not do so can be dangerous. The give way boat is expecting the stand on boat to behave in a certain way.

Or at least if you are the stand on boat and want to change course, do so in a way that doesn't prevent the give way boat from behaving as it should.

I am reminded of the kayaker who, just as I was about to tack and avoid him, changed course to where I would have tacked leaving me the choice of going into irons, ramming a beach, or gybing. Thanks a bunch. He should have stood on. That's why you should, because the give-way boat is expecting you to.

I think that a sailboat becalmed becomes a boat not under control, in which case the COLREGS state that it should : post a watch, start engine or prepare to, and do everything else to avoid a collision (including accepting a helpful offer of a tow to a safer spot). You can't just sit becalmed in a dangerous place and hide behind the COLREGS.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

Pedestrians have right of way too, does anyone want to cross the street by closing their eyes and exercising their right?

 

[MPII]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

the sailor with the right of way is just as dead when he gets hit by a careless powerboat as the one who doesn't have it.
AKA Right of weight

BTW the "right of way" rules change in shipping channels.

I heard this on the VHF while I was fishing in a busy harbor: "Sailboat crossing the channel at XYZ: This is incoming container ship. You're not going to make it. Turn back."

And before it all starts: the rules of navigation aren't based on "right of way" like traffic is; they are based on who has to give way, or avoid, the other vessel. it's analagous to right of way but not the same; the one with the "right" is merely entitled to hold its course and the other vessel has to change course.

This is a good point. If my memory serves me from my US Coast Guard Course, you have "stand on" and "give way" vessells in traffic.

 

[MPII]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

I wanted to follow this up. I understand and agree that Sails not under power have "right of way" but, really, you have to sit in the middle of a channel with traffic having to avoid you? I mean, really???

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

I wanted to follow this up. I understand and agree that Sails not under power have "right of way" but, really, you have to sit in the middle of a channel with traffic having to avoid you? I mean, really???

Thats what I was thinking. Now my boat isn't the fastest on the water. Guessing 20 at full throttle. But seeing the ID10TS out there on the river some times, I just didn't want the guy get smacked into. That's why I offered a tow to a safer area or dock. But when they refuse, what can you do? He's on his own then.

 

[MPII]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

I agree with you totally. Sometimes just becuase the rules say you can do something you should exercise discretion and think, "wow, this just isn't a smart idea." I think you did the right thing by at least asking if he wanted to move.

 

[lonewolfed]

Re: Stupid, smart or unwise..

Any vessel "plying a trade" coming through the channel would supersede the sailboat's right of way (if under sail), which I agree having no wind or means of propulsion then becomes a "hazard to navigation" and as such needs to get out of the channel by any means necessary.

He should have let you pull him the 10-20 feet.

I was in my friends go fast 7.3 liter 22 foot Scarab and a father was pulling two kids in a tube, they were all on board but sitting in the channel with the tube out (not a no wake zone). We were headed in and I saw them and warned my friend who said "I see them" he did not slow down though, and gave them a huge wake.

We proceded to go about 300 yards through a no wake area and then here comes the guy (he must have sped throught the no wake zone to come yell at us and I have to say I agreed with him for being mad). First thing I said though was what were you doing in the middle of the channel? After he starts yelling I said "your right but I wasn't driving". When my friend arrives after positioning the trailer on the ramp he starts yelling and my friend says "sorry if I scared you but what were you doing in the middle of the channel?" that quieted him down because now her heard it twice. Then he said "Where are you from?" My friend grew up on that river LOL. Bottom line-the channel is the road do not sit in it. Who parks their car in the middle of the highway?