Do you allow people on sundeck when boat is underway?

Alex F

Alex F

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2006
9,166
Miami / Ft Lauderdale
Boat Info
2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
Engines
Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
It’s obvious that anytime you might see people riding on sundeck at any speed other than idle is just a disaster waiting around the corner. However, there are number of boats with people ride on the sundeck when travelling at slow speed, usually in no-wake zones. My intend is to alert folks that even though this might sound like a safe approach, the coast guard has different point of view and might issue a ticket. The bottom line is that anyone who’s in the cockpit area has very low chance of being thrown overboard, unlike those who’s on the sundeck with no protection other than tiny rails.

Before I found out that this was a law not allowing anyone up on the sundeck when the boat is underway I also though that it was safe since I only let anyone there while going at idle speed. I didn’t have solid excuse for guest adults, but now it’s pretty simple it’s not allowed by CG, therefore by me.
 
While not completely comfortable with it, I have allowed people up there while at no-wake speed. This was until I got pulled over by the local water police. They just stopped me and told me it is fine to have them up there at idle only speed, but ANY faster than that and the people need to come back into the cockpit. YMMV

-Ryan
 
No. Never is anyone on the bow or foredeck except for when docking or mooring.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I see this all the time in our area and it just drives me nuts, especially when it is their kids. Last season I saw one coming into Maxwell Cove ON PLAIN with people sitting on the bow with their feet hanging over the side. Makes you wonder, should you have to take an IQ test before getting a boat?

NEVER allowed on my boat!
 
I let people go up at idle speeds but any faster and it's not allowed by anyone. Having feet hanging over the side is a big NO at any speed as it's too easy to slip under the rail at even a tiny bump. I've actually been stopped by the marine patrol here when I was at idle speed and had my kids up front and they didn't say anything. Both had life jackets on and were laying in the middle. I don't think the CG is quite as forgiving.
 
Only at the dock when grabbing lines. Other than that no way. If my boat had a designated seating area up front, than it would be different.
 
People ride on my sundeck all the time, but since I don't have a foredeck I guess it is ok (Grin)

Sorry I just could not help myself.
 
With a walk-through from the helm, I have a step/seat just forward of the bridge.
This area is very stable underway up to about 20mph.
I allow people to sit there if they have their PDF's on.
And with a grabrail leading back to the bridge, I feel it is pretty safe.

As an aside, it makes anchoring with the bridge controlled windless a breeze.

P1010082WinCE.jpg
 
I see the big picture; if someone's up there and you're doing 30knots, there's a highly increased risk that you'll end up overboard; maybe even knock your head on something and kill you. But isn't being on the deck at idle speed basically the same risk as being on it with the engine off? Near same level of risk. Same consequence. Maybe even the same instant head-bonking death. But more than likely, you'll just get wet and everyone will laugh at you later, and the story will never go away...
 
As always it would be wise to get very fimiliar with all boating regs that would apply to the area you boat and the boat that you use. There is a difference between "bow riding" and riding on the bow. I have not found USCG regs that say I can't allow riders on the bow of my current boat. To answer the op I don't allow riders on the bow while underway unless to preform necessary boat related activities like docking, anchoring or watching for submerged hazzards.
 
We've had this discussion before, but I believe there's a distinction between boats with bows designed for occupancy when in motion vs those not so designed. My parents' and sister's boats both have bow seats, safe walkways to the bow, and sufficient bow/side rails so that riding on the bow under way is quite safe. My boat, on the other hand, is not so designed and no one goes on the bow unless docking, anchoring, or at rest.
 
Woody said:
I don't allow riders on the bow while underway unless to preform necessary boat related activities like docking, anchoring or watching for submerged hazzards.
Click to expand...

This was precisely exception to the rule I was given by the CG officer.
 
We're a little loser with the rules down here. If the admiral wants to ride up there, I don't say a word.
 
It is not going to happen on my boat. It is too dangerous. There was a kid that fell off of a head boat by me several years ago. His shirt was found around the propeller and what remainded of his body washed ashore about two weeks later. It was kid's fault he went over board but that diesn't chaange the captain's dreams at night or the father that let his kid horse around. Most people don't realize how dangerous the bow of a boat is---but then again it is not the bow, it is the props that will hit the person who goies over the side and the boat passes over them.

Mr Salt
2001 540 CPMY
Caterpillar C-12s
Cape May, NJ
 
Like Mr. Salt said...if someone falls in from the bow even at Idle speed, they have a good chance of meeting a spinning prop in a second or two.
 
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