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Conference vicki::boats

Title:Powerboats
Notice:Introductions 2 /Classifieds 3 / '97 Ski Season 1267
Moderator:KWLITY::SUTER
Created:Thu May 12 1988
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1275
Total number of notes:18109

418.0. "rules of the road" by CGVAX2::CLARK_J () Mon Jun 26 1989 19:30

    what are the rules on right of way other than head on ,boats should
    pass to the left.
    is there a simple rule of thumb,or rules of thumb that cover most
    situations.
    do boats with skiiers have rights over those that don't?
    
    Q
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
418.1yea.PACKER::GIBSONI'm the NRAMon Jun 26 1989 21:0220
    A few quick rules.
    
    The boat overtaking another boat is the burdened vessel.
    Pass on the port.
    when crossing the vessel to starbord has right of way.
    Head to head keep red to red (port to port)
    Keep minimum of 150 ft away from vessels flying a red with white
    stripe divers flag and /or a Blue/white Code Alpha flag. Keep furher
    away if possible.
    A vessel under power is burdened to all others, ie: Sail,oar,paddle.
    Allways maintain speed & heading if you are the privliged vessel,
    this will allow the burdened vessel to change course or speed to
    avoid collision.
    Allway keep no wake speed in mooring areas ie: 5MPH MAX!
    Boats with ski'ers must follow all the rules , no special privlige.
    
    Invest in a Chapmans Plioting book. Its well worth the $25.
    
                                   Walt
    
418.2General guidelines are good (.1), but know exceptions tooSMVDV1::JGUNNERSONJLGTue Jun 27 1989 12:4521
    Re. .0, Also see note 336.40
    
    Re. .1, These statements are phrased in absolute terms:
    
    "A vessel under power is burdened to all others, ie: Sail,oar,paddle.
     Allways maintain speed & heading if you are the privliged vessel,
     this will allow the burdened vessel to change course or speed to
     avoid collision.
    
    When in fact there are few absolutes since even a privileged vessel is
    required to change course if the burdened (or give-way) vessel doesn't
    take the proper action in order to avoid a collision. You can't go into
    court and defend yourself with "but I was the privileged vessel and so
    maintain course and speed and he hit me instead of turning as he should
    have." Also notes 336.39 - 336.40 describe where vessels under power
    may not be burdened to vessels under sail.
    
    Basically you do anything you can to avoid a collision, even if
    it means breaking the rules.
    
    john 
418.3PACKER::GIBSONI'm the NRATue Jun 27 1989 17:235
    Yea John.
    The bottom line is to avoid collision if possible.
    
    alternate route is to carry heavy deck guns and lay some chain and
    grape across her rigging.
418.4This is the '80s ya know...BMT::SAPIENZAKnowledge applied is wisdom gained.Thu Jun 29 1989 12:5111
    
    .3> alternate route is to carry heavy deck guns and lay some chain and
    .3> grape across her rigging.
    
       That's old technology.  I might be able to get my hands on a small
    nuclear device if you're interested.
    
    
    Frank
    :-)  :-)
    
418.5Safe boatingNRADM::WILSONIt doesn't get any better than thisThu Jun 29 1989 13:2418

As Walt already advised, get a copy of Chapmans, or take a Coast Guard
Auxiliary or Power Squadron course.  This notes file is a great place
to exchange ideas, ask for opinions, or just shoot the breeze, but is
no substitute for a proper learning environment.  There are just too 
many rules, variations from state to state, and differences of opinion
from all the noting participants for you to get a complete understanding 
of all the rules that you'll need to know to be a safe boater.

Now I'll step down off my soapbox and tell you that I owned by boat for
2 years before taking the course.  It was not without its close calls,
but just a little knowledge of passing sutuations, reading markers and
buoys, and a good dose of common sense will take you a long way.

Have fun!

Rick W.
418.61990 Boating Accident Statistics in MASS.CARROL::YELINEKWITHIN 10Tue Mar 19 1991 18:0851
    I've read the last few replys from a couple notes under KEYWORD=SAFETY 
    and this note looked as good as any for this past years (1990) boating
    accident data.  I don't mean to be gory but these are rather sobering
    statistics.  While we can't be sure of exactly how these accidents
    occurred, we need to keep an eye out for the other person.  Be it by
    jetski, or waterski, or scuba diving, fishing, etc. etc.  We're all out
    to enjoy our leisure time on the water.  
    Let's get on with the 1991 Boating Season !		/MArk
    
			BOATING SAFETY BUREAU
		  1990 FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT DATA *
		  --------------------------------

FATALS        29                           TYPE OF BOAT 
SALT WATER    17                           CLASS A (UNDER 16")    11
FRESHWATER    12                           CLASS 1 (16"-25" 11")  11
                                           CLASS 2 (26"-39" 11")   2
                                           40" - OVER              1

BOATS WITH ENGINES      16                 PFD'S
BOATS W/O ENGINES        8                 USED
UNDETERMINED             1                 NOT USED       22
                                           UNKNOWN         7


AGE BREAKDOWN                              ALCOHOL RELATED           9
UNDER 20 YRS.           2                  NON-ALCOHAL RELATED      10
20'S                    8                  POSSIBLE                  2
30'S                    4                  UNDETERMINED              8
40'S                    3
50'S                    4
60'S                    4
70'S                    3
UNKNOWN                 1

TIME BREAKDOWN                              DAY OF THE WEEK

0100 - 0600            1                    SUNDAY             6
0601 - 1200            9                    MONDAY             7
1201 - 1800           13                    TUESDAY            3
1801 - 2400            5                    WEDNESDAY          3
UNKNOWN                1                    THURSDAY           0
                                            FRIDAY             6
                                            DATURDAY           4

There were 25 boat accidents which were the cause of 29 fatalities, four of 
which were double fatalities.
    
    * Statistics were reprinted without permission from a report issued
      from within the Massachusetts Division of Law Enforcement, 
      100 Nashua St. Boston Ma.