Does anyone follow the 'rules of the road'?

B

bport

New Member
Feb 28, 2009
205
Gloucester, MA
Boat Info
2008 330 DA, Raymarine C80
Engines
8.1 V-drives
I was coming through the Annisquam River on Saturday (a narrow channel full of traffic) when I see a 40 foot sailboat under sail :wow: coming toward me down the middle (the guy was nuts to sail the channel, but that's his problem). I am only going just above idle speed, but the channel is narrow enough and he is wide enough, with his boom extending off his port side, that if he turns to port (to hold the wind, or any other reason) I will have no place to go. So I give him a single blast of my awesome Sea Ray horn as to let him know that I am altering course to starboard and will keep to that side of the channel, and what do I get in return? He starts yelling and giving me hand gestures, obviously thinking I was honking like a car horn :huh:. Maybe I am not clear on the rules, but I think I had it right...and it was appropriate to 'ask' him if he felt passing on that side was safe.

Of the many times I have tried signaling with my horn, I do not ever recall recieving an appropriate response. It is always interpreted like a car horn. For that matter, I hardly ever notice motor vessel traffic on my port side 'give way'. I generallly hold my course until I feel it is time to avoid a problem, and then I make an exaggerated turn to avoid any risk of collision. Maybe the signals are just not used in pleasure boating...was it a waste of time learning them in the Power Squadron class?
 
There may be some regional influences at play here, but we are in an coastal port area with Navy, USCG, Air Force and all sorts of commercial shipping. I think the sound signals are nearly a dead or dying art. I have never heard sound signals used in 25 years on the water here. What you always hear is contact made via VHF radio and the vessel operators agree on passing needs......and they do refer to "1 whistle, Capt." or "2 whistle side". It is always done, unless you are in open water with lots of room, and there is never a problem.

If a sailboat, a small boat or some other idiot is there and isn't monitoring VHF 16, then the rules of the road control, and God help you if you are in the wrong place and can't get out of the way.
 
Second the "sound" signals on the radio, and I ALWAYS assume that boaters do not know the rules of the road.......so often they don't.
 
katricol said:
Second the "sound" signals on the radio, and I ALWAYS assume that boaters do not know the rules of the road.......so often they don't.
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Its a shame more people do not practice them. From my slip I always need to back into the channel and with boats berthed on either side of me i need to use the appropriate signal for operating astern as I come out of the berth.

Most people in the area and know the rules of the road certainly give there undivided attention when they hear either one long blast or three short ones that someone is entering the channel or operating reverse propulsion. As far as the 1 or 2 short blasts I have never heard anyone respond with an appropriate signal either.
 
Where I boat in the MS, TN, AL area no-one seems to know or care about any stinkin' rules of the road. The only time I've ever seen any understanding of what to do is if two boats are approaching head on, then they seem to know to go to starboard. Other than that, it's every man for himself, and "don't y'all hurt nobody now!"...it can be a bit of a circus.
 
I have had a similar experience on Lakes Mead & Mohave. I used to think it was a local problem, but after reading this I suppose there are plenty of idiots to go around. I can't think of a single time where I met another boat out here in a crossing situation where it appeared they were aware of the rules of the road. Initially I felt determined to hold my ground in a case where I was the stand on vessel, but my sense of self preservation prevailed and I now typically slow down or alter course well in advance just to avoid the frustration.

I have discovered that an air horn makes a MUCH better signaling device than the Sea Ray quacker horn. A long blast on one of these commands much more attention!
 
bport- i remember back in 65,when i first took the pow. sqdrn. course--at that time rules of the road ment everything--other boaters aknowledged the fact that you honked,and gave right of way--my dad and i went together in a 30' chris a short time later--we went on a few poker runs,and nav. runs--it was quite an experience-i don't think there are that many type boaters around anymore--a few yrs. later in the lake wash. ship canal--a guy in a brand new searay ran right across our bow--low ,and behold we tied up to him when we were at ballard locks--dad asked him WTF--the guy had no clue of rules of the road-salesmen today sell boats (as-turn key,and go)believe it or not --thats the way some people do it --i still stick to the rules--at least i'v got a 50% shot !

my thoughts,steven
 
One good hand gesture deserves another. :thumbsup:
People that own sailboats are different... they do sandals with socks, wear spandex, have an assortment of tilly hats, eat beans before bed... and give them selves 'dutch ovens'... that sorta' thing... :smt001
 
magster65 said:
One good hand gesture deserves another. :thumbsup:
People that own sailboats are different... they do sandals with socks, wear spandex, have an assortment of tilly hats, eat beans before bed... and give them selves 'dutch ovens'... that sorta' thing... :smt001
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Oh, c'mon, I hurt myself laughing over that one!!! :smt043
 
My initial reactions almost always start according to the rules of the road. However, like most of the others, I assume nothing. I find that space to operate and distance from other boats are my best friends. To me, this means reacting early and definitively. Generally speaking, it is not what other boats are doing, it is what I do.
 
Blow your horn all you want BUT a Sail Boat under sail ALWAYS has the right of way
and you are to yield to them..but if the sail oat is under power he MUST follow the same rules as a power boat

Sometimes it is NOT worth trying to be DEAD right....
 
Agreed. I often find myself on a collision course with the right of way. Though I want to maintain course and speed for awhile just to see what the other boater does, I never do. It is just not worth the risk.
 
I have taught my son to keep his head on a swivel when piloting Old Skool. You boat enough and you will see things that are down right dangerous and stupid. The only saving grace is that if you are in an accident, you have done everything according to the book. Doesn't make lives come back but it can leave you sleep at night.
 
This is not entirely true. Yes, as a general rule, sailboats have the right of way. But, under Rule 9 - in a narrow channel, they are required to keep to the right and they are obligated not to force a powerboat out of the channel IF the powerboat can't navigate outside that channel.

blueeyeboatr said:
Blow your horn all you want BUT a Sail Boat under sail ALWAYS has the right of way
and you are to yield to them..but if the sail oat is under power he MUST follow the same rules as a power boat

Sometimes it is NOT worth trying to be DEAD right....
Click to expand...
 
Sea Gull said:
This is not entirely true. Yes, as a general rule, sailboats have the right of way. But, under Rule 9 - in a narrow channel, they are required to keep to the right and they are obligated not to force a powerboat out of the channel IF the powerboat can't navigate outside that channel.
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Typical sail-boater - it's always "the-finger-first" with them. A guy yelled at me back in July as he came sailing out of a mooring field into a narrow channel, next to a fuel dock at my marina. He started yelling every obscenity in the book at me at 7:30am on a Saturday morning. Nice...
 
Maybe you can take some satisfaction that in the years to come, if that guy keeps his boat, just maybe he'll pick up a Chapmans, or other book and then he'll read about the horn signals. And just maybe, he'll remember the day he met you and he'll feel like a jackass for a moment... :smt001
 
I have had only a couple of run-ins with Blow boats—all positive.
A few weeks back, I was coming back into my marina and to get to my slip, there is a blind bend on my starboard side—Very blind.
I blasted one prolonged blast (with my wife laughing at me) and to my surprise—hers especially, I received one prolonged blast back. In about 15 seconds I got to the bend and sure enough, there was a blow boat under motor power waiting for me. As we passed each other, we smiled and waved.
The wife turned to me and said, “I know, you told me so” and since then has not ever questioned my blasting the horn—wwwweeeellll at least on the boat.
Bottom line, I use them—even if I get the finger, at least they would have seen me and we avoid each other.
P.S. I have never gotten a negative reaction from any one that I have signaled to that I can remember.
 
In the Seattle/Tacoma area we have Puget Sound (salt) and several fresh water Lakes... We can go through the "locks" to get to two of the lakes that are connected.

I find the difference between boaters on the Lake and boaters on the Sound are like night & day.... Please do not take offense if you are a fresh water boater and that is all you have access to.

It seems the lake boaters in my area are very recreational and most do not have a clue about any type of rules of the road.... The salt water boaters seemed to be a little more professional in there approach..... I know there exceptions to every rule and this is kind of a blanket statement, but it is my observation....

And with that I choose not to spend time on the lakes in my area.....
 
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