Conference vicki::boats

RE: >> < Note 336.0 by ARCHER::SUTER "Gentlemen, start your *marine* engines!" >
                     -< Different boats - Different folks >-

    
    
>>>    And don't forget that line that will be used over and over
>>>    during boating season.... "Are you OK?"....

    Boy, Did I laugh when I saw this one. We usually have to wait until
    the "skipee" stops laughing AFTER he/she stops skipping and tumbling
    across the water  (dueling OBRIEN Tubes). Then we can ask if they're
    ok. And if they want to go again. Usually, they do. Sometimes, even
    I'm surprised if they do. "But you already did 5 skips, you SURE you 
    want to go again???"
    
    However, on a more serious note, my brother was slaloming and went
    into a turn. No boat wakes, 11am, smooth water. He fell, no big
    deal.....
    
    Scott " ARE YOU OK?" boat returning to fallen skiier...
    Bro   "NO, I BROKE MY F**KING LEG!!!!!!"
    
    We all chuckle, "But are you ok?????" figuring he was kidding"
    Bro   "NO, I BROKE MY F**KING LEG!!!!!!" (now louder)
    
    Scott "Oh, Sh*t......" Boat moves faster now, rescue operations
    start, Brother goes to Hospital with broken upper leg bone (can't
    remember specific name). Fortunatly, people on shore saw accident,
    called ambulance for us. Boat medical insurance was soon increased
    from $2k to $5k. His hospital bill was $10k.  This happened in '85.
    What a bummer. 
    
    So we try to get to fallen skiiers/tubers a little quicker.

    

    Scott  
    

    'tis the femur he did rend asunder.
    Very bad luck, I hope is well on the way to making a good recovery
    
    jim
    

              <<< VICKI::SIE$DATA0:[NOTES$LIBRARY]BOATS.NOTE;1 >>>
                           -< Spring is in the air! >-
================================================================================
Note 336.3              Different boats - Different folks                 3 of 3
WEDOIT::MALCOLM                                       8 lines  12-APR-1989 10:34
                              -< Better now.... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Ya, ya Thats the one..
    
    He had it pinned for a year, and he was stiff for another year.
    
    He's still hasn't skiied on the "death" ski by itself since. Maybe
    this year. But he has gone tubing.....
    
    Scott
    

    
    re: Scott
    
    	I too wish your brother a full recovery! Was this a case
    of his foot not coming out of the bindings?
    
    	Actually, when I wrote the base note, I didn't have the
    skier/tuber/footer in mind, but other boats that appear to
    be out of commision out on the water..... for instance the
    outboard with the cover off or the Hobie that's capsized..
    
    Rick

Rick
    
    The ski stayed on when he fell. I think he had a weak bone. The
    bonding was a regular Obrien adjustable boot with the thumb screw
    attachment method. The ski was a 70" Obrien exhibition 2 ( I think)
    that I bought in 77 or 78. My good ski is a World Team 2 with a
    fixed Pro 2 boot. I could understand the fixed boot not coming off.
    I think it was a combination of leverage, a real big ski surface
    and some real sh*tty luck. But after we fished him out, checked on him
    in the hospital, got my parents to Wolfeboro, saw him shipped to
    Exeter hospital, We decided that there was nothing else we could
    do, soooo....We went back out in the boat. After all, If you fall
    off a horse, you should get right back on. 
    
    
    We also have helped out quite a few broken down boats. A 22' Century
    cuddy w/2 hours and a broken fuel pump. A 1950's Wood Chris Craft
    witha bad water pump, and lots of out of gassers.
    
    Later,
    Scott
    

    RE: Scott... I'm glad to hear that your brother is doing better.  Seems
    he hasn't lost his crazy attitude toward water sports...this is good. 
    He doesn't sound like the "I hurt myself doing that so it sucks and I
    won't do it again" kind of person.
    
    RE: Rick... You're a romantic, but I agree with the overall attitude. 
    You gotta admit that if the guy who was stranded was a jet boat that
    had just screamed past you throwing a rooster tail into the clouds and
    then ran out of gas, you would probably ask the "Are you OK?" question
    with a mighty cocky smirk on your face!  "Are you, OK?  Outta gas, are
    ya?  (Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk)...need a tow?"  :-)  Now the guy with the
    outboard cover off is always good for a "Troubles, friend?" followed by
    the old "Well if you had a REAL boat with an inboard you wouldn't have
    these troubles...need a tow?" at which time the guy tosses an anchor
    line at you (anchor still attached) and says "Hey buddy, tow *THIS*!"
    :-)  Now the capsized Hobie is a different story...I fear for lives
    here!  No jokes for that one.
    
    But seriously, I've towed and been towed many times and you can really
    appreciate the commeraderie(sp?) on the water.  If only there was more
    advertisement about the good that people do on the water (like towing
    stranded boats, removing hazardous objects seen floating in the water,
    etc.) instead of "Jet ski rider loses control, rides up dock slide,
    does 360 flip onto flybridge of cabin cruiser, causes $5000 damage to
    cruiser, jet ski demolished, operator in the hospital with broken leg,
    arm and ego," maybe boater's wouldn't be thought of as so nasty.  Ah
    well, I guess we take the good with the bad.
    
    					...Roger...

    I ran into a few " Hey were outa gas people last summer too" and
    then there was this guy and family halfway between cape ann and
    newburyport. He was flagging me down so naturally I went over. His
    battery was dead and it turned out that to get the boat started
    he jumpped it with his car (Story courtesy of his wife) He was too
    cheap to buy a new battery. Soooo- I called the coasties who called
    the commercial towing service who only charged him $175 to come
    out and jump start him again so he could get back to shore.
    
    Ya Hoo!
    
    BTW- You now are required to take a test for a licence to TOW. Any
    kind of boat, See you local coast guard office. I don't think this
    applys if you are towing your own boat, with another that you own.
    like a dingy or windsurfer or somthing like that.
    
                                               Walt
    

    Inboard ski-boats make the perfect *tow* boats.
    Last summer I towed no less than 6 stranded "boaterists" with an
    array of problems. (Out of gas, dead motor, key overboard, etc)
    Each time I've pulled up and played the recording, "Are You O.K.?",
    and got the response, "How 'bout a tow?", I've never had to get
    out of my seat. Just toss them one end of my "rescue rope" (with
    preattached safety snap) and attach my end to the pylon (conveniently
    located right next to me), and away we go...
    I also carry jumper cables, an array of tools, and first aid gear.
    Although I was never a Boy Scout, I still like to "Be Prepared".
    Doug.
    If this keeps up I'll have to install yellow strobes on the boat
    :^)

re .0:

>>>    	The powerboaters scream at the sailors for overusing their ROW!
    
ROW means right of way, I assume. The Rules of the Road are quite clear. 
In any given situation one boat has the right of way and the other 
doesn't. With some limited exceptions (which rarely if ever apply to 
pleasure boats) boats under sail have the right of way over boats under 
power. So how is it that sailors overuse their right of way?

Signed, 

Puzzled

RE:>>    < Note 336.8 by TAZRAT::WHYNOT >
   >>                      -< "Doug's Tow Service" >-

   >> and got the response, "How 'bout a tow?", I've never had to get
   >> out of my seat. Just toss them one end of my "rescue rope" (with
   >> preattached safety snap) and attach my end to the pylon (conveniently

    I am not sure how accurate the info was, but I was told a long time
    ago to NEVER throw your line to a boat in distress. I believe there
    are some nautical type liabilities here. It went something to the
    effect that if you throw a line to someone to help them you are
    in effect taking on some responsibilities or liabilities for your
    actions. This could mean that if something goes wrong you could
    be sued. The safe (ie no liability) method is to always have them
    toss you the rope which is already attached to their boat. I have
    never researched this to be absolutly sure of its truth. But since
    it sorta made sense to me, its the rules I live by.

    
    And then there was the guy in the middle of Winni, boat dead, with
    his engine cover up. "Need any help?" I asked. "Sure, I think I
    need a jump start." Said he. " So, whats it doing???" I ask. He
    describes some symptoms, which make no sense. So I said,"Let me
    hear it". So he tries..Rrrrrrr,Rrrrrrrrr, Vrooommmmmmmm. I said
    " So whats the problem, then??" "Oops." he said, face very red.
    "Thanks for the help" 
    
    must have been another case of " First day..New Boat " 

    Re Scott:
      What about the "Good Samaritan Rule" or is that for injuries only?
    Isn't it true that if the person accepts an end of a rope and affixes
    it to his boat he accepts all inherent risks that go with it? 
    Maybe I should just have a legal document drawn up absolving me
    of any and all liabilities and have them sign it first. Or perhaps,
    next time I ask "Are you O.K.?" and they respond, "How 'bout a tow?",
    I'll respond, "Sorry, but because of potential liabilities and the
    possibility of you suing me if anything goes wrong, I'd rather not,
    but here, I'll loan you my paddle."
    Doug.
    (Sorry for flaming here, but this struck a nerve. For all the years
    that I've owned piece of $h!t boats that were breaking down, and
    for all those NICE people who threw me their ropes, I feel obligated
    to return the kindness. As far as liabilities are concerned, that's
    why we all pay fistfuls of dead presidents annually; it's called
    INSURANCE. It's used to cover our a$$e$.)

re .11
    I wasn't saying don't tow them. I was saying that there *might*
    be a problem if you throw an attached rope to them first. If they
    don't have a rope, give them yours (unattached) to attach to their boat, 
    and then have them throw you back the remaining free end. This still 
    meets the spirit of the "law"  if what I had heard was true. 
    It may not be. Also, I would only be worried about this in a non
    emergency situation. If there were life or boat threating conditions
    I would not refuse or hesitate to render aid to stop injury or damage.
    Each situation has to be judged on its own merits and conditions.
    But if I run into a non time critical situation, I am going to minimize
    my risk and exposure to lawsuit. An example might be towing somebody
    thru a channel, them not paying attention to steering their boat, and 
    bumping a rock. If I did all I could to keep them on track, should
    I be potentially responsible because of wind, current, or traffic
    conditions which could contribute ? I don't think so. While I don't 
    necessarily expect a problem, I will consider its possibility. 
    I have never anything but positive responses with towing. But there
    are a lot of jerks out there who are always looking for way to get
    something for nothing. I don't see any indications of jerkdom in
    this conference. Well, not a lot anyway  :^) :^) :^)
    I guess I see it that you have to look out for yourself first because
    (unfortunatly) nobody else is going to.
    
    Also, I would like to hope everyone tries to minimize insurance
    claims. The boat insurance crisis is significant. My insurance doubled
    when I went from a Wellcraft Scarab 1 to a Four Winns 211 Liberator
    in 1987. 
    
    I hope I haven't pushed any more buttons....:^)

    JMO
    Scott (Splashdown = May 6)

    
    

    Dear Puzzled  (ie .9),
    
    I'll tell you about one incident I witnessed that I put in the catagory
    of "sailors overusing their Right of Way".  
    
    A 28-30' sailboat is about 100yds ahead of me and heading in the same 
    direction, apparently to the same island I am.  We are in a wide
    open, unresricted area.  We are hard on the wind (beating into the
    wind) and I assume he is also trying to get past a bouy ahead of
    us without tacking.  Enter an old wooden powerboat, 30', from the right.
    
    The powerboat looks to have people in the back fishing.  It is headed
    into the path of the sailboat.  Both boats continue on their courses
    as I watch the impending collision.  Just as it looks like the sailboat
    is going to climb into the cockpit of the powerboat, she falls off
    90degrees to the right, sails a-flapping, and arms a-waving.
    
    Now here is what changes this from powerboater who doesn't know
    the Rules of the Road to sailor abusing his Right of Way.  The sailboat
    does not resume its course to the island I thought we were both
    headed for. He sails off a bit in one direction, then tacks over
    to another.  In other words, he's just out sailing around with no
    particular (that I could see) place to go.
    
    Why didn't the sailor alter couse five minutes earlier and avoid
    the incident if he wasn't in a hurry to get somewhere?  Why did
    he insist on "his rights"?  I'm with .0 who says let the other guy
    have a break once in a while.  Let's try to get along out there.
    
    As a footnote to the story, as I continued on my course the power
    boat swung around and came alongside.  The skipper yelled over,
    "Did you see what that guy did to ME!!"  Pausing to measure my words,
    I replied that sailboats have right of way over power.  He thought
    for a moment and then said "I was holding my course and speed".
    With that I shrugged, and he turned away, ovbiously getting no sympathy
    from another "one of them".  So there you have it;  a powerboat
    owner who doesn't know the Rules of the Road, and a sailboat owner
    who piggishly applies them.
    

re .13:

It is often difficult to tell if two boats are actually on a collision 
course until they are quite close together -- at sailboat speeds five 
minutes is around a half mile. I certainly cannot tell if a boat a half 
mile away is on a collision course with me. Once a collision is a 
possibility, the priviledged boat is required by the Rules of the Road 
to maintain course and speed. It sounds as if the sailboat in the 
incident you described was doing exactly what it should have done. It 
has been my experience that many boats (power and sail) follow fairly 
erratic and unpredictable courses. I've stopped trying to guess what 
another boat is going to do. I think it is safer to follow the Rules of 
the Road (keeping in mind that all too many people have no knowledge of 
the Rules). 

I know just what you mean Rick about the jet skiers and the sailors
and all them others out there gettin in my way when I'm out to have
a good time. 

Now take your sailors, ragmen I call 'em.  They say they're out
there relaxing, but I just don't see how.  I mean every time I race
by 'em and get close enough to see what's going on, they're all
runnin around like a Chinese fire drill, crankin pulleys, pulling
ropes and rigging sails.  It don't look too relaxing to me.  Can't
figure out what they're doing out there; the boat ain't no damn good
for fishing or water skiing, and we already determined that it ain't
relaxing.  Near as I can tell their only amusement is to keep score
of how many times they can exercise their "right of way" and cut off
the power boats as they fly by.  After a major score it's a tradition
to shake a fist and yell "stinkpot!".

And them jet skiers, ain't got no use for them either.  There's just
too damn many of 'em, all buzzing around like a swarm of mindless bees.
Seems if you know the rules of the road then you ain't allowed to ride
one.  A recent study showed that 80% of all surviving Japanese Kamikaze
pilots are now in the states, training jet ski riders.  One of the 
first things they learn you is the points scoring system.  They give
points for tipping canoes, buzzing swimming areas, and scarin' the
bejeezus out of powerboaters by cutting across their bow in search
of the ultimate wake.  You know, the one that goes from 2:00 to 4:00
and 7:00 to 9:00?  And it's easy to tell the pro's from the amateurs.
The pros just laugh as they cut you off and narrowly miss being hit by
your boat.  The amateurs don't say nuthin at all, they just kinda lay
there motionless on the bottom of the lake.

And then you got your fishermen.  Them 80 mph glow-in-the-dark boats
ain't designed but for one thing: Drinkin beer.  J'ever see a one of
'em with fish in the cooler?  No sir, with fish in there you can't fit
in the required four cases of frosties.  And the reason they needs to
go so fast is so they can get out to their favorite drinkin spot before
it gets taken by someone else.  If ya ever noticed the good boats got
these flat spots all around, "casting platforms" they call 'em.  Why
is it then they only stand there to cast their little "pocket fisherman"
once fer each beer they drink?  And reelin' in fish takes time away from
yer beer drinkin', so the pro's don't put no bait on the hook to minimize 
interruptions.  Points are awarded not by the number of fish caught,
but by the number of frosties you can swill.  You let the score keeper
know you've tallied another by letting go with a loud belch after each
score.  You get double points if you can say a word like "Ralph" at the
same time.

And them water skiers is about the craziest boys I ever did see.  I hear
tell they been known to ski around the ice flows on the Merrimack River
in December, behind airplanes, and even with no skis at all!  Sure am
glad I don't associate with none of them types, 'fraid some might rub off
on me!  I feel kind'a bad for em though, some of them poor boys that can't
afford no skis and have to go barefoot.  Guess they spent all their money
on them fancy ski boats and didn't leave nuthin' for the skis.  Being well
off like I am, I can afford two skis and make sure I use 'em both every time
I ski.  Near as I can tell, the whole point is to do a "face plant".  The
amateurs cruise around the lake a few times before working up the nerve to
do one.  The pro's don't mess around, they just get right up, head for the
face planting buoys and plant their face.  Sometimes they ain't got enough
nerve and go all the way through the face planting course without doing 
one.  Then they make 'em shorten the rope until they get it right.

So you probly find you yourself asking what does this guy like to out on
his boat?  Well, I have to admit I've tried all of the above.  Been known
to drink a few beers, wet a few lines, ski a few laps, even tried jet skiing
and sailing.  Liked 'em all.  So whatever you're doing, if you see me out
on the water just wave me over and we'll swill a few.  And if you can't
afford no skis just let me know and I'll lend you my combos.

Rick W.

BAck to the near collision in .13. Alan properly describes holding the  course
until its clear the burdened vessel is not about to alter. At that point
the sailboat fell abruptly off course, probably lost drive and needed to alter
to the other tack to regain way- I would not assume he was simply out daysailing
and decided to go another direction. 

Its been my experience power boaters generally do not understand the details of
tacking, falling off, etc, and more importantly, the time it takes to perform
such a maneuver. Give a sailboat room to maneuver!

    Alan and Ron are "right on' regarding the sailboat holding course
    until it was clear the burdened vessel was not going to alter course.
    If someone does not follow the "rules of the road', I would not
    care to be liable for the result!
    

    
    re: towing
    
    I seem to remember in the Coast Guard Aux. course that I took that
    they recommended that you use your own lines when towing someone.
    The reason behind this is that you are familar with the condition
    and care of your lines.  If you are towing someone and the line
    snaps,  you had better hope you can get out of the way quickly 
    and I have no idea about the liability in this case depending on
    whose line it was. If you use your own line you have some confidence
    in its ability to do the job.
    
    You may have a point about first throwing them the line,  letting
    them look at it and ACCEPT the line, then have them throw you back
    the free end for you to attach.  
    
    But I would not ever tow with a line that I was not somewhat familar
    with or did not look at first.
    
    Mike
    
    

    RE; .18 THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE SALT. YOU HAVE THEM
    
    THROW YOU THEIR LINE, AND THEY ARE THEN RESPONBSILBE.
    
    HOWEVER ITS COMES DOWN TO YOUR DECISION.
    
    
    JIM
    

    Re liability>
     	I was led to believe that the main point of the liability issue
    was wether or not the rescueing boat was commissioned by the
    distressed vessel to render assistance. I was advised during a Power
    Squadron boating course to always get the distressed vessel to ask for 
    help before doing anything to assist. (i.e asking do you want assistance) 
    	Picture the helpfull but inexperienced boater coming up to a mildly 
    dissabled vessel. The rescuer assumes that the vessel is in peril
    and without asking initiates a rescue attempt which through his own
    neglegence causes damage. The owner of the dissabled boat can sue the
    rescuer for that damage. 
    	Its my understanding that a verbal contract is formed by simply
    asking and receiving permission to render assistance. This in effect
    transfers some of the liability to the boat being assisted.
    
    Paul                                         

    Re .13>
    
    	Travis witnessed another episode in the overuse of ROW that
    I know of. I was trolling for Mackerel with several ASO DECies.
    I was using my small auxilliary motor and trailing at least three 
    lines off the stern. I was parallel to the shore and close enough 
    to it so that I could not easily turn in that direction and of course 
    I was dodging lobster pots as well. I suddenly noticed a sailboat
    bearing down on me from the seaward side on what appeared to be a 
    collision course. The sailboat couldn't possibly need to be on that 
    course because there was nothing beyond me except the rocky Maine 
    shoreline, but of course he had the right of way. I said to myself
    "this turkey is really pushing it". 
    	Those of you who have trolled in this fashion know the mess you 
    can get into if you stop or make any sharp turns so needless to say 
    I wasn't pleased with the situation. I swung in a bit closer to shore,
    reduced speed even lower and tried to ignore the sailboat hoping it 
    would go away (BTW - It was making more headway than I was.). When
    this failed I resorted to glaring at the captain followed by a one 
    finger salute; that didn't work either. I was about to send one of the 
    crew below for the shark gun to either fire a warning shot across his 
    bow or get ready to repel borders when the sailboat changed course and 
    came along side ... and there was Travis just coming over to say
    hello.  :^)  :^)
    	A true story. Honest.
    Paul
           

re .21:

Ah, at least you know that a trolling powerboat does not have right of 
way over a boat under sail. Many fishermen don't understand this, and it 
does at times lead to uncomfortable situations. 

It is helpful to keep in mind that from a distance it may well not be 
obvious that a powerboat is trolling (for example, when the powerboat is 
seen from forward of the beam). If a sailboat is approaching you and 
you fail to yield right of way, most of the time the sailboat will 
attempt to pass astern of you (much safer than passing ahead). The 
temptation to pass close astern will be very strong, which might not 
result in good things happening to your trolling lines. 

It should also be kept in mind that many sailboats are sailed with a 
small crew (one or two) and that in many circumstances a sailboat's 
manuverability and ability to make large, sudden course changes is even 
more limited than a trolling powerboat's. In some conditions large course 
changes must be planned minutes in advance.

BTW, I try to stay out everybody's way. And if the other boat is big 
enough to sink me, it always has right way.

    re .21
    	I'm glad you don't fire til you see the whites of their eyes,
    Paul.  I thought that was just a wave you gave me, so I even waved
    back (with my whole hand).
    
    re .22
    	when you say that you try to keep out of other peoples way,
    that's my point of the .13 story.  The sailboat ahead of me could
    have easily kept out of the power boats way by falling off sooner
    or tacking, but he pushed ahead until it REALLY was a rules of the
    road, burdened vessel must maintain course and speed issue.  I expected
    him to resume his course to Jewell Is. where I was beating to since
    he seemed in such an all-fired hurry to get there, but I watched him
    for half an hour and he just sailed around back and forth in Broad Sound.  
    
    He reminded me of drivers who when in bumper to bumper, stop and
    go traffic, and see an oncoming car stopped to make a left turn
    across them onto a side street, pull up close to the car in front of
    them and block the other car from turning.  They have the "right of way"
    and they're damn well going to use it.
    
    
    PS.   Rules of the Road question---in almost every situation of
    two boats meeting, one boat has the right of way and one doesn't.
    What is the common occurance where this is not the case?
    

    
    For those who havent seen it: The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971
    contains a "Good Samaritan" clause stating: " Any person...who
    gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of
    a vessel collision, accident, or other casualty without objection
    of any person assisted, shall not be held liable for any act or
    omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment,
    or other assistance where the assisting person acts as an ordinary,
    reasonably prudent man would have acted under the same or similar
    circumstances."
    
    Note the statement, "vessel collision, accident, or other casualty"
    It does not say running out of gas, engine problems etc. But as
    we all know these too can be life threatening if the conditions
    are right. A vessel dead in the water could lead to a person in
    the same state. The problem today is to many people are sue happy
    and it makes the good samaritan almost obsolete. I guess the thing
    here is Good Judgement is essential on the part of both parties.
    It would be terrible to see all us boaters become paranoid because
    of this. 
    
    Well enough said. Have a good safe summer and maybe none of us will
    have to worry about these kinds of situations.
    
    Bill ( K'PORT PASSION )

Two years ago I had taken three of my buddies out from Sesuit Harbor
in East Dennis in my 15.5' tri-hull.  The day started out nice, and we
went over to Wellfleet for a day of cruising, sunning, and skiing.  
On the way back the weather picked up, and just about that time the
engine quit.  Nothing we tried would get the engine going, so I
fired up a flare.  The first boat to pass by ignored it and kept
going.  I fired another flare and a boat finally came over, but
refused when asked to tow us the two miles into Rock Harbor in Orleans 
He said he was going to P-town and Orleans was "out of his way".  All
he would do for us was call the Coast Guard to let them know we were
stranded. It's a good thing for him he didn't pull along side of us
or he'd have been the one in need of assistance.  Of course the Coast
Guard determined that it was not an emergency situation and asked him
to stand by while they decided what to do.

Now about this time we're 2 miles off shore, the seas were up to 3-4' 
or so and worsening, waves were splashing over the side, and two of
my landlubber buddies were chumming the water with their lunch.  To
me it sure seemed like an emergency situation at the time.  Fortunately 
for us a fishing boat on its way back in heard the call to the Coasties
and towed us back into the harbor.

Since that time I have towed many people, including one already this
year.  I've also since then been towed on Lake Winnipesaukee when a
broken flywheel shearpin left us stranded in a 14' boat.  Having been
on both ends of a tow line, I would not hesitate to offer assistance
to someone in need.  I know what it's like to be in a dangerous
situation and come across someone who will not offer assistance.  I
would think you'd be in more trouble if you refused to render assistance
and there ended up being injuries or fatalities on the distressed boat.
After my incident I called the Coast Guard to find out what the actual
law is and report this guy, and amazingly they told me you are NOT
required to assist a boat in distress!

P.S.  I now have a brand new, bigger boat, and will NEVER again head
      out into salt water without a VHF radio.

Rick W.

    Good choice Rick.
    It's a different world on the ocean than on a lake. The worst that
    would happen to you on a lake is you would end up being blown to
    shore and have a long walk. Now if you had an offshore breeze on
    the big pond Europe is a long way off.
    
    A Vhf is a must, no matter what size your boat is. Even if you run
    a rubber raft you can still use a hand held. 
    
    As far as tows go. If it's not life & death ( 3-4) ft waves are
    not unusual, and seem like nothing in a larger boat. I can see the
    boat not wanting to go way out of its way. Also you need to be properly
    rigged for towing ie: Heavy thru bolted cleats and a proper two
    line. Towing also can be dangerous if not done safely the right
    way.
    
    I remember the fellow last summer who wanted me to tow him, He was
    about a mile off rockport. I agreed to bring him into the harbor.
    He then said "No he wanted to be towed back to his trailer in Hampton
    Beach"  ABOUT 20 Miles AWAY. No Way! I called Marine Services who
    took care of him for a tidy sum.
    
                                               Walt
    

    Walt,
    The time we were stranded at the Cape we were directly off of Rock
    Harbor in Orleans, but about 10-12 miles or so from the truck and
    trailer in East Dennis.  I was more than happy to be towed into
    any port, figuring we could easily bum a ride over to Sesuit Harbor
    to get the truck.  Ha!
    
    When we got into Rock Harbor there were several people watching
    us get towed in and tie up to the dock.  We asked some of them
    if they were heading in our direction, but conveniently every one
    of them was "going the other way".  So two of my buddies stayed
    with the boat, while Charlie and I started hoofing it with our
    thumbs out.  Surprisingly, a few of the folks who were "going the
    other way" must have changed their minds because they happened
    to pass us on their way in "the other direction".  After about 3
    miles we finally ended up stopping at a pay phone to call a cab.
    
    Moral of the story: "Don't rely on anyone else to get you out of
    a jam."
                                                             
    Rick W.

    I'll try the question---how about meeting head-on?? Neither vessel
    has the "Right of Way" and both vessels are required to change
    direction to starboard to avoid collision (conditions permitting).
    
    Did I pass the exam????
    
    Don

    Yes Don you pass the exam,go to the head of the boat and do not collect
    $200.
    
    Handy hint. If the boat (car or truck) is bigger or more dented than
    yours? Give them the right of way.
    
    Trick Question. What is a flashing yellow light mean. 10 bonus pts!
    
                                               Walt
    
       ^ On a boat of course.
    
    

    Men At Work??

    Flashing Yellow light= Submarine underway.
    
    Mike EX-Submarine Look-out Watcher

    RE: .31  
    >> Men at work??
    
    Naahh, how about "men at play"?

    Re: .29
    Way to go Don! Are you *sure* you didn't get any help from .24?  ;^)

    RE .24, .29
    
    You're both close, but I'd say no cigar since you left out the critical
    part "when two POWER DRIVEN vessels meet head to head or nearly
    so..."
    
    

    Congrats Mike. You get the TDU Wieght prize!
    
    What boat where you on?          Walt       SSBN 630, SSBN 634
    
                                                Calhoun   Sonewall Jackson
    
    

    
    
    Walt, 
    
    I was a FTB1 on the Simon Bolivar, SSBN-641. Got to pull lookout
    duty on port entry at Fort Liquordale, FLA; the sights were
    awesome--alot of the daycruisers were sporting mermaids or
    something-or-other, they had no tan lines! One crossed our bow at
    about 100'; you should have seen the two officers and myself pan
    left with our binoculars!
    
    I had friends on the 634 from '75 to '80. (or longer if they re-upped!)
    
    Mike

    Ft. Liquerdale. Yea I was there, Thats wher the "Green House Effect"
    was started. Same years ? Wierd? That means you most likely went to the
    same schools? Shifting Sands navigation bar and grill.
    
    Sh-t- I missed the mermaids, thats what the sound was on sonar? Lots of
    grunts and wishels. I was a MT/ST/TD/MS and whatever else they needed
    that day.
    
                                         Walt
    

RE. .0, .9, .17, .22 (Sail VS Power and Right of Way and fishing too)
    
I followed this discussion, feeling that things weren't 100% spot on, but I
didn't care to add my 2� until I checked with my Power Squadron course
materials and Chapman's. I checked them out over the weekend (but forgot to
bring them back with from the Cape, so I can't directly quote). 
    
As we all know, generally sailboats have right of way over powered vessels, but
there are enough exceptions that sailboaters can't ignore the rules as
something that only powerboaters need to learn to lookout for them. 
    
Chapman's and the Power Squadron both summarize right of way rules into a
little list where boats ranked in decending order of right of way. Sailboats
are next to last, powerboats last. The thing about the rules is that they apply
to your boat and it's condition and operation *right now*, not when you left
the dock, or when it was bought. Right of way isn't etched in stone for you, it
depends on your condition and ability to manuever. The less you can manuever
the greater your right of way. Boats with limited manueverability have right of
way over those boats with greater freedom of manueverability.
    
"Certain vessels" engaged in fishing *do* have right of way over sailboats,
according to Chapmans and my course materials on rules of the road.
Unfortunately I couldn't find the specifics as to which vessels, but I believe
it goes back to manueverability. If you encounted a trawler with it's nets out
there is no way she can change course quickly, it is the sailboat that has
greater manueverability and therefore must give way. 
    
Power vessels operating in and confined to a very limited channel have right
of way over a sailboat that can manuever. They even show a little diagram of
big boat VS little boat in a channel. Even if the boat is powered, but is not
free to manuever freely because of size, or malfunction, or conditions it will
have right of way over a sailboat that isn't suffering the same conditions.

Also in an overtaking situation, the vessel overtaking is the give way vessel
and must give right of way to the boat it is overtaking, even if the vessel
passing is under sail and the vessel being passed is under power. The passing
vessel cannot take right of  way when she moves into the passed vessels danger
zone either, it remains the give way vessel until the manuever is completed.

In conversations it seems to be assumed that sailboaters are always wronged by
power boats, while powerboaters feel some sailors abuse right of way. While a
few sailboaters may intentionally place their boat where it shouldn't be
(called by some: "overuse of right of way", which it isn't at all, but a
violation of  the general principal of safe operation) I think that a lot of it
is that many sailboaters assume that they always have right of way, and that
they can do no wrong in the path of a powered vessel when that isn't true. We
all need to cooperate and to really understand the rules in the road, and not
to over simplify them.

john
    

Just to summarize the points John was making in .39 ....


In both the INLAND and INTERNATIONAL rules:

    "Except where specifically required otherwise, all power-driven
    vessels shall keep out of the way of
    
        (1) a vessel not under command,
    	(2) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
    	(3) a vessel engaged in fishing, and
    	(4) a sailing vessel.

    All sailing vessels underway shall keep out of the way of
    (1), (2), and (3) above; and all vessels engaged in fishing 
    when underway shall keep out of the way of (1) and (2) above."

----
Exerpted from the Definitions section of the Rules:

    "The word "vessel" includes every description of water craft,
    including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable
    of being used as a means of transportation on water."

    "The term "power-driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by 
    machinery, including sailing vessels under both power and sail."

    "The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided
    that propelling machinery is not being used."

    "The term "vessel not under command" means a vessel which through
    some exceptional circumstances is unable to maneuver as required and
    is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel."

    "The term "vessel engaged in fishing" means any vessel fishing
    with nets, lines, trawls, or other apparatus which restrict
    maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling
    lines or other apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability."

    "The word "underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made
    fast to the shore, or aground."