posted 03-20-2009 01:01 PM ET (US)        

Now who the hell can understand the challenge and complexity involved in this collision, especially since this early report has the nuclear sub running submerged--certainly not me. But that brings me to the subject I'd like to discuss with this thread:

My pet peeve is the cheerful ignorance with which many boaters--primarily motorboat operators, I'm sad to say--handle their craft at sea. I'd guess that at least half the folks (I almost said idiots) out there don't even have a beginning knowledge of, nor do they seem to care about, the basic navigation rules, including the simple, straightforward "Rules of the Road" in effect when boats cross paths, meet one another heading in opposite directions, or overtake one another.

The classic personal example I've used before at this website involved an otherwise competent, handy member of this forum. I was a guest in his large, beautifully maintained Whaler (I'm purposefully obfuscating some of the details for reasons which will become obvious) four or five years ago. We were blasting right along, heading out to the fishing grounds, and I watched as a large cabin cruiser of some sort approached from starboard, with the boats in a crossing situation. It was a crystal clear day, and I spotted the other boat at least one mile away. Its approximate bearing remained the same as the distance between the boats closed, so I knew that we were on a potentially hazardous course, and I waited for my friend to make a course change in a timely and obvious manner, as required by the Rules since his was the burdened vessel. I mean, this situation was as common and straighforward as glancing to one's right at a four-way stop sign intersection on land, and yielding when proper. But my buddy just kept on his course, glancing at the approaching boat every now and then but making no course change whatsoever. We were probably cruising along at about 28-30 knots, and the other boat--the one with the right-of-way--was making the same speed. We were real close, and I nervously said, "Check that guy out," or something like that. My friend just nodded acknowledgement and proceeded on his merry way, as if nothing at all was wrong. When the boats were perhaps fifty meters apart, and I was tensing myself to either 1) grab the wheel, 2) jump overboard, or 3) meet my Maker, the other boat sheared off and passed right behind ours, with its skipper screaming something very unpleasant to accompany his single-digit salute. I wiped the sweat from my brow, took several deep breaths, and as casually as I was able said, "___________ (his name), doncha think that guy had the right-of-way?" My pal's response--and I swear this is true and that he wasn't joking: "Whaddaya mean, Tony...my boat's bigger."

Soon after, I bought my friend a copy of Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship and showed him the chapter on navigation rules, which he promised to study. I don't think he ever did.

I want to re-emphasize that this guy had owned a series of boats for many years, kept them in beautiful condition, and was very, very capable in their maintenance and repair. An otherwise very intelligent, well educated, decent fellow, he just didn't see any need for studying and obeying some sort of arcane rules about handling his craft in company of other boats. All I can figure is that he thought the "sea is so vast and his boat so small" that he, and the other boats he might come upon, would always be able to somehow blunder their way around one another. I don't know. I just don't get it.

Anyway, there's my long-winded, ultimate pet peeve about boating...unless you want to get me started on the ULTRA-ULTIMATE idiots who blast through our N. Pacific dense fog at thirty knots, often in crowded locations near the harbor entrance or on San Francisco Bay.

posted 03-20-2009 01:16 PM ET (US)            

Hence, the Chicago waterfront, despite it's breathtaking views of the skyline and deep blue waters, is one of the most dangerous places on all of the Great Lakes (statistically speaking).

Now....I don't hold my captain's license, and I am far from perfect; but generally I take evasive maneuvers no matter who has right of way. Better to be defensive than dead.

posted 03-20-2009 01:37 PM ET (US)            

While "Fault" by rule is clear, "Fault by absence of grey matter" is also at work in the stricken vessel.

posted 03-20-2009 02:03 PM ET (US)            

My Dad told me when I started driving not to be "dead" right. Even if you have the right away, yield to avoid a collision.

My experience is that most of the boaters in my area of Puget Sound are pretty good and most of the boaters on the local lakes are pretty bad.

posted 03-20-2009 02:26 PM ET (US)            

The difference is that blow boaters are just making mistakes in slow motion - meaning there is more time to re-think, change course, change your mind or react.

posted 03-20-2009 02:44 PM ET (US)            

I know it's not a popular position, but I believe it is time for licensing. Today, anyone with enough money in the bank can purchase a 25 foot vessel which holds 10 passengers (or more) and can run as fast as 60mph. That same day, with no prior experience whatsoever, they can be running full speed up some narrow, congested waterway.

Add to this situation: The popularity of sea doos, which people somehow fail to realize the craft does not have breaks; the large 30+-feet offshore go-fast boats that can be found racing atop the narrow waterways; the stupidity factor; and sometimes booze.

It's scary out there.

posted 03-20-2009 02:48 PM ET (US)            

John, your dad was a wise man.

posted 03-20-2009 04:05 PM ET (US)            

I agree - if a work boat is moving from vessel to vessel and had fenders deployed as an obvious measure to protect the vessels during these encounters, that makes sense. This boat is moving along at a good clip. Unless they were deployed in an urgent fashion, (i.e. an emergency call on the radio), wouldn't proper preparations for getting up on plane include stowing loose gear such as fenders?

Whenever I see our local CG boats they pull those fenders in when they're moving out to a different location.

When I'm getting ready to move out on plane, I do a sweep of the deck and make sure things are stowed because there is a much greater propensity for things to become airborne, slide, go overboard or otherwise cause distractions/problems when on plane. Likewise, I do a quick check of my companion boats and notify their captains if they are trailing a line or have a fender outboard before getting under way.

I'm not saying that it is "wrong," but it just starts to reflect on the captain about how much he is paying attention to his own vessel operations - which in this video, he is clearly NOT doing.

My experience with coast guardsmen is that they are typically consummate professionals on the water and seem to have their "ship in shape" - right down to personal grooming and bearing.

posted 03-20-2009 05:02 PM ET (US)            

The logic here is clear: if the stand-on vessel is skittish and too early fails to maintain course and speed, because of premature fear that the give-way vessel doesn't know what the hell it's doing, the give-way vessel won't know how or when to make its own required course correction. Very important stuff here, even though we know that half the 'biggest lug' no-sailors out there don't know or give a damn anyway.

Tony

posted 03-20-2009 08:18 PM ET (US)            

Chapman's says: "Survivors of collisions between ships and boats are nearly always those persons who are on the ship." That seems pretty obvious.

It also says if you are on a collision course with another boat, even if you have the right of way, you would be foolish to assert that right if it would likely result in a collision. That also seems pretty obvious.

Despite what Chapman's and the CG auxiliary manual say I have my own rule. That is to stay the hell out of everyone's way regardless of who has the right of way. Its my survival instinct because where I boat it looks like this:

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/sapple2/4thofJulycrowd.jpg

If you are not carefull it can look like this:

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/sapple2/Humor-7.jpg

posted 03-20-2009 09:13 PM ET (US)            

Coast Guard AUXILIARY. Not Coast Guard.

Let's be clear here. Not that the real Coast Guard guys don't make errors, they do. But this was a PRIVATE boat. The quality of the Auxiliaries range from absolutely professional to buffoonish. Less so now than then.

Dave

posted 03-20-2009 09:17 PM ET (US)            

They are not in jeopardy, they are over. Jeopardy means that there is some possibility of saving the day.

Well, there is one permutation here though: There is absolutely zero possibility of the submarine skipper ever commanding a rowboat in the Navy again. As for the surface vessel skipper: LA Class Attack Boats are so quiet as to be a black hole in the ocean. He 'might' survive if there was no possible way for him to have detected the sub.

Dave

posted 03-21-2009 10:12 AM ET (US)            

Why would he do that; he is in the bigger boat. Hey smaller boat, I will crush you. Get the hell out of the way.

"I also find it amazing the pleasure craft pilot DID NOT NOTICE the large and fast moving CG boat approaching and do the same."

Why would he do that, he had the right-of-way. Hey bigger boat, I am in the right, so get out of my way or I'll crash into you to prove a point. Don't f--- with me, I have been drinking & have a bad attitude.

"Both pilots appeared to be inept, in different ways"

Not too different; both of them are clueless. Calling them inept is being too kind.

"Despite what Chapman's and the CG auxiliary manual say I have my own rule. That is to stay the hell out of everyone's way regardless of who has the right of way."

AMEN!!!! Sapple hit this one spot on. I am a big-time defensive driver. I know you guys who boat in busy areas probably are as well.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I have been cut off, flipped off or been buzzed while fishing. I boat in & around Boston Harbor, and we have to constantly watch out for the knuckleheads & clowns bombing around in their expensive new boats. I have seen some truely stupid behavior over the years, as I'm sure all of you have.

I took a CG Safe Boating Course whe I bought my first whaler. I probably wouldn't have taken oue, but it was included in the cost of my second-hand boat. The dealer truely believes in educated boaters. The instructors stated that less than five percent of boat owners take any training course at all. Not sure of the accuracy of that statement, but I believe it!

I had a Regulator cut me off last summer,and he gave me the finger when he did it. I was trying to wave him off, because he was heading full speed at a shallow area between two islands. He grounded hard on Great Brewster Spit.

The brain surgeon came to a stop real quick, so I went over to see if anyone got hurt. No one was, probably because the operator & crew were all loaded. Lots of swears when I asked if they were all right "What kind of stupid f---ing question is that? F-U, we are f---ing fine. What the f---, you couldn't of warned me!"

WTF???? OK, I will be right over to help pull you off, drunky. Yeah, right away. Need another beer?

I got on the radio & sent them some help. Probably didn't end too well.

posted 03-21-2009 07:34 PM ET (US)            

I have heard you can walk between Lovells & Great Brewster Islands at extreme low tides.

It always amazes me to see boats grounded here. It is right by Boston Light, so you think people would be extra careful, especially if they weren't familiar with the area. Maybe consult a chart or something? Perhaps stay in the channel? Maybe pay attention to all the darn electronic gizmos in front of them? Perhaps there is a reason that there has been a lighthouse out here since 1716?

It all comes back to clueless people with no experience or formal training operating expensive toys.

posted 03-22-2009 01:43 PM ET (US)            

Tony