Re: Responsible for your wake? maybe not...
Thanks for the backing, and thanks also to those who feel differently. I respect your opinions, although I don't have to agree with them.
With that said, I think I need to recap some of the details that it appears some may have missed and add a couple of things I've learned about the offending vessel since this has happened;
It was past sunset, and was dark. Additional efforts are required to operate a vessel safely at night. That does not mean it's ok to break the law by going fast enough through a bridge throwing ANY kind of wake, or break the law by going fast enough to throw any wake in a clearly posted No Wake Zone.
The offending vessel's speed was fast enough to throw a ~2' wake. When I said 8 knots, I was purely guessing, and trying to be conservative. It was probably faster. We seriously got knocked around hard, I'm not a lightweight when it comes to rough water, and believe me, if I was in a small boat (like a 16' BR), there would have been a very good chance of someone going over.
The USCG boat was lit up like a Christmas tree, with 3 flood on my deck, and the flashing blue going.
When boarded, the offending vessel's captain apologized, accepted the blame and said he 'didn't realize' he was throwing such a wake, and totally agreed to have his insurance take care of it. (His demeanor and attitude change when someone without a uniform (me) contacted him about it).
The captain of the offending vessel docks his boat about 1 mile up the ICW, and is a licensed captain (according to him), has been in the area for years (the USCG and Sheriff all know the boat), and has full knowledge of the posted signs (NWZ, etc), so can't claim ignorance.
Bifflefan, can I come over to your boat, and take a sledge to your bowrail? I figure you'll just "man up" and repair it out of your own pocket, and not bother me about it. That would be a great way for me to relieve my frustration about this, and you seem as though you wouldn't mind.
I have been boarded 3 times in the last year (2x on a different boat), and all 3 times they tied off to the aft cleat, and the bowrail. Does that make it right? No. But if it's an accepted and ok'd practice (and I have no idea if it is or not) by the CG, then so be it. For the conditions and traffic (calm waters, only one boat during the half hour stop), I don't think their tie-up was irresponsible. This thread wouldn't be here no matter how they tied up if it wasn't for a law-breaking, irresponsible boater. I think that says it all as to who should be ultimately responsible. However, (and I don't think this will be the case), if he or his insurance don't pay for the damages in full, I will pursue the USCG angle, simply because YES, they have responsibility in this matter.
In our area (and there are many on the board that can confirm this), there are many kayaks, jon boats, peddle boats (
), canoes, and other tiny craft out at night either fishing or putzing around (hey, it's a tourist area). What if he tossed one of those small crafts, and someone was hurt or worse? This area (known as The Narrows) requires the captain to be cautious during the day (people swim across), and extremely prudent at night. IMO, this guy is not a safe captain, and figures 'My boat's bigger - MOVE!'.
