BUI

[mrsrobinson]

We are traveling north, just after the wicomico.

While docked in Chestertown Maryland I saw many small boats with way too many teens on them, and no adults, racing around the harbor.

 

[Pirate Lady]

https://www.wtoc.com/2022/05/28/crews-respond-boat-incident-wilmington-river/

 

[Pirate Lady]

We are traveling north, just after the wicomico.

While docked in Chestertown Maryland I saw many small boats with way too many teens on them, and no adults, racing around the harbor.

Small rural river town, most those kids had boats way before they had a car.

 

[b_arrington]

I was a bit surprised we didn't see any LE boats in our harbor on Monday. They usually patrol heavily on Memorial day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Boating traffic was a little light, too, actually. There were a lot more cars in the lot Sunday, but I was in the bilge fixing my generator so didn't get out.

BUI is just so stupid. Being on the water, in heat, just magnifies the effects of drinking. BUI puts everyone on the boat in danger. 2 weeks ago I watched 2 women with their kid go out with a case of beer for the two of them. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I don't think I've had a drink on the boat in nearly 10 years. I used to carry a few beers and would have maybe 2 over a season; I don't even bother anymore. Now we have the fridges loaded with flavored seltzer and Bai.

 

[Pirate Lady]

BAI? -> Boating Above Influence?

 

[Pirate Lady]

What you said about heat magnifies it… yesterday I was down at marina launching zodiac in about 95* 90% humidity. Kicked my ass. Did not feel good. Went home quick shower, changed clothes, went to bar for cold beers and ac. Drank 4 beers. Got home and heaved my guts out. Haven’t done that in years. Combo of being overheated and beer did not mix.

 

[blaster]

What you said about heat magnifies it… yesterday I was down at marina launching zodiac in about 95* 90% humidity. Kicked my ass. Did not feel good. Went home quick shower, changed clothes, went to bar for cold beers and ac. Drank 4 beers. Got home and heaved my guts out. Haven’t done that in years. Combo of being overheated and beer did not mix.

Heat exhaustion is a real pisser. Hope you feel better today.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Heat exhaustion is a real pisser. Hope you feel better today.

Thx I do, stayed in house office to work today. Last night was not good, wife was ready to call an ambulance. It was not good.

 

[Pirate Lady]

one of the boats in the Bowleys Quarters wreck showed up at my marina this morning. Top half is split off the hull from the bow pulpit all the way back to the transom. The boat is a Pursuit. Frankly for the reports of the wreck, there is not as much damage as I would have expected, must be solid built boats.

 

[spikedaddy99]

BUI and kids at the helm. While boating North on the Potomac River Saturday bringing the boat home, a small fishing boat caught my eye coming from starboard to port racing in front of me. By small I mean one of those little tin cans that's maybe 12 ft long. Literally perpendicular to me going very fast. I kept waiting to see what he was going to do, thinking he'd slow down and go behind me. Nope he gunned it and went in front of me and I barely missed him. I later realized he didn't want to deal with my wake probably. Two kids, teens, seconds in my opinion from getting crushed by my boat. If his outboard engine had stalled it would have happened.

We actually saw a lot of young kids on boats with no adults.

Aren't you the give way vessel if he is on your starboard?

 

[440 Jim]

one of the boats in the Bowleys Quarters wreck showed up at my marina this morning. Top half is split off the hull from the bow pulpit all the way back to the transom. The boat is a Pursuit. Frankly for the reports of the wreck, there is not as much damage as I would have expected, must be solid built boats.
View attachment 127860 View attachment 127861

Any more info on that incident PL?

 

[BEH]

Aren't you the give way vessel if he is on your starboard?

I wondered the same thing.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Aren't you the give way vessel if he is on your starboard?

Absolutely, I have been waiting for someone to say that and it's why I said "starboard to port".

I had my hands on the throttles and was prepared to drop off plane and turn. I am 20,000lbs going 25 mph, he was 500lbs going 45 mph though. His boat was so small, and pretty much the same brown/green color as the water that I did not see him until he was close. I actually think he was idling then suddenly took off. My GF did not see him either and she usually spots things before I do. He had one of those greenish metal small boats. I was in the channel, he was crossing the channel.

I understand the rule, this has me thinking though: Anytime some dumb ass boat decides they want to cross in front of me while I am on plane, in the channel, I have to give way? So like Jet Skis love to do, circle around me to catch my wake I have to give way every time? Or a fishing boat when they get word of "fish on" and they take off? Which I what I think this kid was doing.

 

[mrsrobinson]

What you said about heat magnifies it… yesterday I was down at marina launching zodiac in about 95* 90% humidity. Kicked my ass. Did not feel good. Went home quick shower, changed clothes, went to bar for cold beers and ac. Drank 4 beers. Got home and heaved my guts out. Haven’t done that in years. Combo of being overheated and beer did not mix.

THIS - when I play tennis, especially in the heat, and have one beer afterwards with my buds, it goes right to my head. I am a cheap 2 beer date then

I enjoy an alcoholic beverage on the boat. But only at the dock and we do not go out afterwards.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I understand the rule, this has me thinking though: Anytime some dumb ass boat decides they want to cross in front of me while I am on plane, in the channel, I have to give way? So like Jet Skis love to do, circle around me to catch my wake I have to give way every time? Or a fishing boat when they get word of "fish on" and they take off? Which I what I think this kid was doing.

Yes, you do have to give way to a boat approaching from your stbd side. If you don't and there is a collision, you're F'd. Doesn't matter what their reason for speeding up, if they are crossing from your stbd side they are the stand on vessel and you are the give way vessel. Sailboat rules are different and you'd better learn those too.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Yes, you do have to give way to a boat approaching from your stbd side. If you don't and there is a collision, you're F'd. Doesn't matter what their reason for speeding up, if they are crossing from your stbd side they are the stand on vessel and you are the give way vessel. Sailboat rules are different and you'd better learn those too.

Thanks, again I know the rules and I was prepared to give way. I was simply shocked how he gunned it to cross in front of me.

When I boated the James and Appomattox Rivers this was very common, and frustrating, especially with bass fishing boats taking off to the next fish. They would take off not considering what it meant for me to come off plane then get back on plane again. They knew they could beat me with speed and probably have no idea about rules. I would be cruising, see them on my starboard side 100~ yards ahead, they'd suddenly gas it and start racing across in front of me.

 

[Gofirstclass]

You mentioned rude fishing boats. You should see the rude fishermen that anchor or drift just downstream from the lock at Bonneville dam. If you look at the screen shot below, the lock is the lowest of those two.

When you come out of the lock there have been times when the boats are so close together you could almost walk across the river going boat-to-boat.

When you come out of the lock and try to pass through the boats just about every one of them will flip me off, and I'm coming out at idle. Rude fuggers.

 

[b_arrington]

Here's a situation where I don't know the answer.

• You and another boat are traveling in opposite directions.
• Both boats will safely pass starboard to starboard on this course.
• Then the other boat alters course by turning to their starboard. Your course remains unchanged.
• This action puts them into your path causing a risk of collision.
• The other boat is now on your starboard.

Is it the duty of the turning vessel to not cause a dangerous crossing and therefore change it's course (they are the burdened vessel?
Or, do you become the burdened vessel and are required to alter course/stop?

Understanding is that regardless, all vessels must take any action necessary to avoid a collision.

 

[mrsrobinson]

You mentioned rude fishing boats. You should see the rude fishermen that anchor or drift just downstream from the lock at Bonneville dam. If you look at the screen shot below, the lock is the lowest of those two.

When you come out of the lock there have been times when the boats are so close together you could almost walk across the river going boat-to-boat.

When you come out of the lock and try to pass through the boats just about every one of them will flip me off, and I'm coming out at idle. Rude fuggers. View attachment 127865

Yup, I always got the finger as well, especially if I was on plane in a narrower part of the river and they were close to the shore fishing. They don't seem to understand if we come down off plane the wake will be worse than if I stay up on plane. Plus, why should I have to come off then go back on plane every 50 - 100 yards so they can fish peacefully?

Here's a situation where I don't know the answer.

• You and another boat are traveling in opposite directions.
• Both boats will safely pass starboard to starboard on this course.
• Then the other boat alters course by turning to their starboard. Your course remains unchanged.
• This action puts them into your path causing a risk of collision.
• The other boat is now on your starboard.

Is it the duty of the turning vessel to not cause a dangerous crossing and therefore change it's course (they are the burdened vessel?
Or, do you become the burdened vessel and are required to alter course/stop?

Understanding is that regardless, all vessels must take any action necessary to avoid a collision.

Good question. I was taught to show your intent quickly. During our trip down the Chesapeake Bay and up the Potomac it was surprising to me how many boats would not move over and insisted on staying in the middle of the channel. In all cases a showed my intent by steering to the starboard side while they did nothing.

 

[highslice]

Here's a situation where I don't know the answer.

• You and another boat are traveling in opposite directions.
• Both boats will safely pass starboard to starboard on this course.
• Then the other boat alters course by turning to their starboard. Your course remains unchanged.
• This action puts them into your path causing a risk of collision.
• The other boat is now on your starboard.

Is it the duty of the turning vessel to not cause a dangerous crossing and therefore change it's course (they are the burdened vessel?
Or, do you become the burdened vessel and are required to alter course/stop?

Understanding is that regardless, all vessels must take any action necessary to avoid a collision.

Well, if you and the other boat are in line to make a starboard to starboard pass and the other boat turns to their starboard, that would put you to their port and they are either directly in front of you or to your port. Technically, if you are to their port, they should give way. But they most likely don't know the rules since they screwed up a simple starboard to starboard pass, it is incumbent on you to avoid a collision. I always assume the other boater doesn't know the rules and 90% of the time I am correct.