Boating rule

[RiverRogue]

I have pondered mentioning this here, but I really think it should be said. I was anchored at "The Wall" yesterday, along with several dozen other boats, fishing in the derby. There was no obvious clear cut path through the maze of boats. A larger deep V hull fiberglass boat, came down through all of the boats at nearly full speed. Many of us were tossed around like little toys on the water. I believe it was such a careless and wreckless act. This individual was also a derby entrant, (saw your boat, "C-Monster" on the video at the banquet). I want to remind you that you are responsible for your wake and any damage you may cause. Your boat created such a condition. Please be more courteous in the future.

[puddles]

that was definately uncalled for on that boats part.i am not the boat owner when we go fishing,but i can assure you we always slow down or swing way wide . i know i just hate being throw all over the place .GO SLOW, what could it possibly hurt!!!!

[BrionLutz]

RiverRogue,

There was no obvious clear cut path through the maze of boats. A larger deep V hull fiberglass boat, came down through all of the boats at nearly full speed. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">.
I'm one who slows down or goes around BUT I'm not sure boats anchored in and blocking the navigation channel can require traffic to slow down for them.

Brion

[ 03-16-2003, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: BrionLutz ]

[1pump]

Anglers blocking a river has been a source of frustration and hard feelings for the pleasure boat or "yacht" set. Can't say I blame them. If fishing boats are blocking a river, somebody has to move, but nobody wants to, and nobody does (usually). I, like many of us, have seen more than a few heated exchanges between a large boat passing through and boats fishing an area.
It's no wonder the big boats don't bother to slow down on occasion. I'm not clear on the law, but I don't think they're responsible for wake damage unless there's a speed limit.

[BrionLutz]

1pump,

Anglers blocking a river has been a source of frustration and hard feelings for the pleasure boat or "yacht" set. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">And other fishermen also.

In the RiverRogue's example, it was other sportfishing boats. Also, his example was a fishing tournament where time is a factor. To boot, this was a tournament with a bimini start, 100 boats screaming upriver (or down) kicking up quite a wake. I didn't see any of them slow down for folks not in the contest, fishing in the channel.

Or getting back to the weigh in on time, maybe a hour's run down river at top speed.

Like I say, I'm a slow down or around boater myself (time to kill &lt;grin&gt;) but for boats anchored in the main Columbia channel, I give them as wide a berth as their position allows but don't slow down.

From a practical and safety standpoint, folks anchored in the main Columbia channel should be prepared for some big wakes from freighters to the "Lewis and Clark" catamaran at full blast.

Brion

[ 03-16-2003, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: BrionLutz ]

[1pump]

Sorry, I should've included all boats in that post. It's a universal problem.

Funny you mentioned that L & C catamaran. I was bank fishing for ********* once below Bonneville when that thing came through. My buddy and I had to scramble for dear life up the bank to avoid getting knocked into the river by that....well, I guess you could call it a wake, but it was more like a tsunami. :shocked:
If I was on my PWC, I'd be diggin' it. But the wake that beast leaves behind is in a league of its own. graemlins/eek13.gif

[wetonwhite]

my thought is if it was a tidewater tug and a rack of 4 barges in that spot, he whould have had a clearpath and he's not slowing down to wave to you and see if his wake is bothering you. if you look at the charts for that area you will see that with 50 boats all looking to get a fish, a good poration of you were in the chanel.

leave a resonable path to use and others may think about slowing ******the golden rule!!!!!!!

[RiverRogue]

Whether there is a speed limit or not, you are always responsible for your wake. Yes, we were in the channel as that is the case for many of the boats. But that does not give reason for someone to disregard other boats. In this particular case, the operator completely disregarded safety concerns by plowing through the middle of the maze when he could have easily navigated the south side. We always have an obligation by law to not impede vessels that can only operate within the channel, but this certainly did not meet that criteria.

[greenbuttskunk]

I too was up there and witnessed this. It did lack
courtesy. I for one as a boat owner will either go around the group of boats of just motor through slowly. It's just common sense. Especially up at the wall, there is always roon to avoid the pack of boats. The same with a hog line, if I break off anchor I will come back up in front and drop in, so as to minimize disturbance where all the gear is. I been told by a few that it's appreciated. Let's all try to think of the other guy too.

[RiverRogue]

OK So we have a some good discussion going here. I also agree that anchoring in the channel can be dangerous. In last years' derby, I witnessed two incidents where anchored boats nearly became casualties to downbound barges. And have witnessed several close calls over the years. But BL, you are missing the point. Two wrongs never make a right. This character made a less than courteous, poor decision to risk safety of other boaters. I cannot say that I have ever seen any small boat hoist the proper shapes when anchored. That doesnt mean that it is right, but neither is it right to willfully operate a craft in an unsafe manner...ever. That operator would be held responsible for endangering the lives of others, if a mishap would have occured, especially when he had safe alternatives. I for one, would not be harping on this, if he would have just taken a second to slow as he went through. According to "The Rules", One should avoid anchoring in a narrow channel. It does not prohibit the practice, unless, the facts are that by doing so, anchoring in the channel caused a mishap. Is this a narrow channel? To a pleasure boat it is not, to a large tug and barges, it certainly is.

[fishuntr2]

BL...Anchor ball signals? That 2 foot bright orange anchor ball isn't enough? I have yet to see anyone hoisting signals...is this a requirement all the time or when in a channel?

[RiverRogue]

According to the rules (Annex 1), the shapes to be shown would be a two flags with black balls, not less than .6 meter in diameter. Then it really gets vague. Then under item #6 (c)., vessels under 20 meters, need only display shapes commensurate with the size of vessel. A 12 foot cartopper would show flags of about 6 inches across. This obviously is hardly ever enforced with smaller pleasure boats.

[RiverRogue]

Correction--That is one black ball when anchored.

[BrionLutz]

RiverRouge,

But BL, you are missing the point. Two wrongs never make a right. This character made a less than courteous, poor decision to risk safety of other boaters. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I think I understand that point but my point was that the inherently dangerous situation was created by the boats illegally anchored in the channel.

The first thing an Admiralty court judge would ask is whether they were displaying the correct signals for an anchored boat, none were.

Next thing he'd ask is why, if they were not in distress, were they anchored in a clearly marked navigation channel in the first place.

Under the law, the rude guy is OK and you guys are appearing on an episode of COPS &lt;grin&gt;.

That's not an excuse for the guy to be rude, just something to keep in mind.

If I saw the guy later at the banquet, I'd have said "I know we were all anchored in the channel and you had the right of way but if you could just give us a wider berth next time it would be a help."

Brion

[puddles]

just a silly observation on my part, but if you are walking across the street and faint or fall down and cant get up is it ok for people to run you over because you are in the right of way!!!people fish in the channel all over the river and when the big ships come you move.small pleasure craft go around or slow down. what is so compicated about this.sure being in the channel is not leglal but it is done by all if you want the hot fishing hole,and when the big ships come you move.sounds simple to me.

[RiverRogue]

All I saw of him at the banquet was a video of his boat. That is how I knew he was actually in the derby. I would have perhaps said something (nicely) to him if I had seen him. I am not a lawyer, but as I read the rules, in this particular instance, because there were other reasonable options, I think he would be at fault, especially due to the fact he was not exercising reasonable caution. It would be interesting to say the least. There is no question if a large vessel, but, in this instance I am not so sure.

[BrionLutz]

RiverRogue,

Whether there is a speed limit or not, you are always responsible for your wake. Yes, we were in the channel as that is the case for many of the boats. But that does not give reason for someone to disregard other boats. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">It's everybody's job and legal responsibility under Admiralty Law (how's that for name dropping &lt;grin&gt;) to do what is safe and avoid accidents.

Again...I'm a slow down, go around, low wake person BUT anchoring in the navigation channel creates real problems.

Anchoring in the navigation channel is inherently dangerous. Did you have your required anchor ball signals hoisted? If not, you are breaking the law.

Once you anchor in the channel, you are creating a dangerous situation.

What happens after that gets dicey on who is responsible both from a legal and ethical standpoint.

Not that the guy might have been able to be a bit more polite but it's a gray area.

Brion