ettiquette question

[wannacatchem]

As a new boat owner, I am always concerned how others perceive what I am doing on the water. When approaching a group of spaced boats in a relatively narrow river (MC), how close is too close to run by on plane? I know running slow causes big wakes, and sometime it seems that if I slowed for each group, it would take a day to get to my spot. Last weekend, there was a guy in a 30 foot boat that probably weighed 25,000lbs that went by me about 30 feet away at about 15 knots. He put up a major wake. Other boats that size went by much farther away and at a no wake speed.

So far, nobody has flipped me off, but I just wanna check in on whats right, whats wrong. Thanks.....someday I may attempt a hogline, as long as the boats are spaced 100 yards apart

[Lepper]

if you want to be nice slow down for them.. to the point there is no wake.. I normally just watch how the people go by me and then remember to do the same...

and yes I have slowed down and trimed er' up to put out the biggest wake I can!!

But for the norm I am a nice guy when I go by people..
d

[Pete]

Something I found very helpful for my "on the water" confidence is the U.S.Power Squadron Boater's Safety course. They have classes at lots of times and places which are announced in the Oregonian. It covers more than the Boater's Safety Card requirements and for me it was both fun and useful.

[sunshinefisherman]

Read my recent post titled "River Rage." It demonstrates the many varied opinions on what is OK.

You are the one who must judge each situation. What this person in the 30ft boat did to you would (in my opinion) be OK if you were anchored up in, or adjacent to, a narrow navigation channel. It would probably not be OK in other waters. 30ft is really the minimum in open water for any boat. Smaller distances could be acceptable in small water like the Sandy or Clackamas rivers depending on the situation.

You are financially responsible for any damage that your wake causes but unless you are in a huge boat or are doing something dumb, you are unlikely to do any damage to anchored boats.

I do not know the size or hull profile Alumaweld Stryker, or whether it has a jet or prop but you probably don’t leave much wake on plane. If you went past me, I would prefer that you go fast and that you stay 50ft or so away if you can. I run a big Duckworth inboard jet and I have to stay up on plane to maneuver. You also make much less wake on plane.

As far as hog line etiquette goes, I usually pull slowly through the spot I want making sure to avoid fishing lines, smile :smile: and acknowledge the adjacent captains, putt upstream 100 to 300 ft depending on the depth and current, look at the direction of the other anchor ropes, then drop anchor. Play your rope out slowly so you can see if you anchored correctly. If you are very close, you may want to put out bumpers or buoys to cushion bumps against adjacent boats. Maintaining your position is tricky, if you have a lower unit, turning it can help adjust your position. Drift socks are necessary as well, they help hold you in position, use a single sock on the corner of your boat to help adjust your position. If you have a quiet, non-smoky trolling motor, you can leave it running in reverse while you fish to help hold you in position. This is common up where you live but is rarely needed in the swifter waters near Portland.

Bottom line; It is impossible to please everybody. You will find people who anchor in the middle of the channel and get upset when you go by. There is no shortage of hotheads [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img] on the river, so if you would not mind if someone did it to you, go on your way and don’t take it personally.

OH by the way, congratulations on your newest family member (the boat)