Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

[choppywaters]

Yesterday we were out and two issues happen that left me kind of ticked off. First was two jet ski's were well behind us about 100 yards. We were cruising at a much lower speed because the waves in that area were pretty big and we were coming in to drop anchor at a beach. These two stupid jet ski's pass by us with about 50ft to spare then pass right in front of us. Second issue, as we were exiting the channel (which is a no wake and the CoastGuard's headquarters is right there) I see this boat coming head on to out right. Usually I would have turned to the right but due to the 10 other bass boats sitting there fishing I couldn't. He gets closer and closer so I turn to the left, now I'm 3/4 in the left lane if you will of the boats going out to the lake. This idiot keeps coming so I almost come to an idle and he keeps coming then right before the mouth he stops and looks like he starts to fish. By this time he's only about 30 feet away! Who fishes almost right in the middle of a busy entrance/exit! I'm really starting to hate bass boats!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

The official rules of the road: Then the wave runners are approaching from behind, you have the right of way, but must hold course and speed.

When two boats are crossing, the one on your starboard side has the right of way, and he must hold course and speed. You need to get out of his way. It sounds like the only thing you could have done is slow down until he was out of the way. Obviously anchored or drifting boats have right of way over moving boats.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

To add to what was correctly posted above...the jet skis are obviously much more maneuverable and, depending on their speed, 50' should be more than sufficient for them to safely pass as long as you are maintaining course and speed. As far as the head on aspect, if you are doing everything correctly and the other boater is not, it is still your responsibility to do everything possible to avoid a collision. Whenever I have had close calls with other boaters who are not piloting appropriately, I reduct to full idle (if safe) and sound a warning device.
There are always going to be people that tee you off on the water. Never let it ruin a great day boating.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

Who fishes almost right in the middle of a busy entrance/exit! I'm really starting to hate bass boats!

It's not the boats, it's the people that operate them!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

Yeah - know your rules but don't bet your life on being in the right. Always be prepared to take evasive action.

If I had a buck for every doofus who caused me to alter course or speed even though I had the right of way, I'd be able to afford a boat big enough that those issues wouldn't be an issue.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

And the very reason I avoid being out on holiday weekends.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

As far as the jets, here in PA, rules say that (excepting narrow channels) ALL boats must leave 100 feet clearance so they were wrong. That is, a boat must not approach another boat (or dock, or shore, etc.) within 100 feet at anything over no wake speed.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

I get a little PO'd at that stuff too. But in the big picture, I'm out on the water to enjoy myself, I can alter my course for a dope any time. Trick is don't make a big deal out of it, the other guy might be some kind of wack job. Best practice is to wave and move on.

 

[Pa mountain man]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

It's not the boats, it's the people that operate them!

I have to agree...Don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

You can have the rules memorized but that doesn't mean anyone else does so it is safest to assume that everyone else is a jerk and is going to do something stupid so be ready to react to whatever they throw at you.

I really think the vast majority of people that own boats, non coastal, would be suprised to learn there are any rules at all, they just buy the boat or jet flea and throw it in the water and go at least here in the mid west, no Coasties you know.

As alot of others have said, you are out there to enjoy yourself and you are gonnaa run into a jerk or 2 almost every trip, let it slide and be on your way.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

No such thing as "Right-of-Way", just the "Stand-On vessel" and the "Give-Way vessel".
And as others have mentioned even if you are following the COast Guard's Rules of Navigation to the letter, you may be forced to give way, when you are the Stan-On vessel. Because the final rule is that you must avoid a collision.

When you say 50' away, do you really mean 50'? You realizae that's shorter than a ski rope, right? If they were that close to you, they were too close. If they were beyond a ski rope's length, then it's no harm no foul.

This is part of the reason I think everyone should take a safe boating course. I took one, after having 20 years experience operating boats, and it was time well spent.

 

[sasto]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

There are always going to be people that tee you off on the water. Never let it ruin a great day boating.

Yup!

It's not the boats, it's the people that operate them!

Yup!

I get a little PO'd at that stuff too. But in the big picture, I'm out on the water to enjoy myself, I can alter my course for a dope any time. Trick is don't make a big deal out of it, the other guy might be some kind of wack job. Best practice is to wave and move on.

Yup!

As alot of others have said, you are out there to enjoy yourself and you are gonnaa run into a jerk or 2 almost every trip, let it slide and be on your way.

Yup!.......and yup to the other posters.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

I had to make a post today to one of the fishing forums I visit. Here we are again with what seems like the idiot season. The past two mornings I was out to fish and I see it again and again. Here in SE Wisconsin on every waterway that I have visited has a "No Wake" ordinance from Sunset to 9 or 10 A.M. Yet at 6 a.m. there are boats coming out of the ramps and as soon as they clear they are "OFF", full throttle! Yet I know for a fact that these ramps have the local ordinance posted for everyone to see. Now these boaters were all fishing boats. All sizes and I'm sure they would be the 1st to pitch a fit if at sunrise the jetskiers and waterskiers were to come out and start zooming around the lakes! Would not bother me one bit to see more inforcement with huge tickets to go along with it!

I guess some people just can't read, are ignorant or just think that they are exempt!

 

[BonairII]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

Sounds like a good reason to have a LOUD horn on your boat.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

Here in SE Wisconsin on every waterway that I have visited has a "No Wake" ordinance from Sunset to 9 or 10

Seriously? I've never heard of a lake that is no wake until 10AM, we're usually done with the morning skiing by then. We were out at 7AM this morning.

The WI Law is:
A PWC may not be operated between sunset and sunrise
A Person may not be towed behind a vessel between sunrise and sunset

 

[choppywaters]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

No such thing as "Right-of-Way", just the "Stand-On vessel" and the "Give-Way vessel".
And as others have mentioned even if you are following the COast Guard's Rules of Navigation to the letter, you may be forced to give way, when you are the Stan-On vessel. Because the final rule is that you must avoid a collision.

When you say 50' away, do you really mean 50'? You realizae that's shorter than a ski rope, right? If they were that close to you, they were too close. If they were beyond a ski rope's length, then it's no harm no foul.

This is part of the reason I think everyone should take a safe boating course. I took one, after having 20 years experience operating boats, and it was time well spent.

YES I mean 50ft or less, I could almost see the time on his watch. Today the beach we were anchored at must of had no less than 150 boats there and some idiot came through on a jet ski and finally let off the throttle about 30ft past the no wake buoy's. Lets just say he was a popular guy until he left,lol. But I just wanted to know incase this ever happen again.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

Seriously? I've never heard of a lake that is no wake until 10AM, we're usually done with the morning skiing by then. We were out at 7AM this morning.

The WI Law is:
A PWC may not be operated between sunset and sunrise
A Person may not be towed behind a vessel between sunrise and sunset

I think then that you should come down to SE Wisconsin and READ the boards posted on all the ramps! If you can ski at 7 a.m. in Minn thengo ahead and do it. These are local village ordinances and do vary from lake to lake. Better check it out.

So also by your quote do you think we ski in the dark? NOT Between sunrise and sunset.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

twice this weekend twice I had boats push me way over to the side to pass port to port; I think they planned to pass stbd to stbd. May have been the same boat. This was in a gut in the marsh (picture a river <100 yards wide, but not speed restricted). Not a big deal and it would have been easier to go the wrong way but I hate playing chicken until we get it straight.

So even if you know the rules, sometimes it's safer to "do it wrong" rather than be dead right.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

I was a navigator in the Navy, been boating all my life. Have a copy of chapmans, know the rules. Yet, I always yield to the idiots. Life is to short. Just give em their space and enjoy my day, thats what I am out there for.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Who's right of way would this be? Kind of P.O.ed me!

I think then that you should come down to SE Wisconsin and READ the boards posted on all the ramps! If you can ski at 7 a.m. in Minn thengo ahead and do it. These are local village ordinances and do vary from lake to lake. Better check it out.

So also by your quote do you think we ski in the dark? NOT Between sunrise and sunset.

LOL - typo on the ski hours. We were skiing in Polk county at the lake place - doesn't sound like we want to ever go to SE WI