Insult to recreational Boaters?

[Woody]

I'm having a hard time believing any of that ^^^^^

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Q: How do the Rules of the Road apply to the operation of a sailboard?


A: According to the Navigation Rules, International and Inland, "The term, 'vessel,' includes every description of watercraft including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water." As a result, the Coast Guard considers a sailboard a "vessel" as the term is used in the Rules of the Road. Therefore a sailboard is subject to the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other vessel.
Most of the above material appeared in Boating Safety Circular No. 58 published June 1984. The exception is the definition of sailboard which appeared in amendments to the PFD equipment carriage regulations which were published August 4, 1993 [58 FR 41607].
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[OldSkool]

Someone should let the blow boat owners know that statute so the next time they cut my bow and I salute them with one finger they understand who the transgressor is.

 

[Do Over]

Q: How do the Rules of the Road apply to the operation of a sailboard?


A: According to the Navigation Rules, International and Inland, "The term, 'vessel,' includes every description of watercraft including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water." As a result, the Coast Guard considers a sailboard a "vessel" as the term is used in the Rules of the Road. Therefore a sailboard is subject to the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other vessel.
Most of the above material appeared in Boating Safety Circular No. 58 published June 1984. The exception is the definition of sailboard which appeared in amendments to the PFD equipment carriage regulations which were published August 4, 1993 [58 FR 41607].

still hard to believe that a board with a sheet attached is considered a "vessel"

 

[Woody]

Someone should let the blow boat owners know that statute so the next time they cut my bow and I salute them with one finger they understand who the transgressor is.

If they salute you back you can be pretty sure they understand.:smt043

If they're under sail 'you' are the give way vessel. I know it can be frustrating some times but you'd be better off using that hand to turn the steering wheel than giving them the finger.

 

[OldSkool]

Usually it requires pulling off the throttle and controlling the wheel at the same time. It takes some talent to get the salute in too.:grin:

Last I recall they still have a rudder even if they are on the tack.

 

[2000SR380]

In the instance in the video where the guy was coming from my port side, that put me in the position of being the stand on vessel and him the give way vessel. Most of the time they will challenge the power boat but yield far enough away that it doesn't become a real issue. The guy in that video apparently isn't as smart as some of his windsurfing brothers. Can y'all say "Darwin Award Candidate"?

I am in on the Darwin Award nomination :0) I have a few more to consider. We had a kite boarder jump over the house on a commercial fishing boat I was operating. Landed on his board and kept going! Had to have been at least 15 feet up. Looked like a lot more. We were coming in the Gate with the poles up, making 7-8 knots. He jumped over us port to starboard making 30-40 knots. I put the fishing boat in neutral when I saw the kite board head towards us and gave him five blasts. Still almost caught him with the poles. Another time we were docking a 38 foot Fu Hwa Trawler in Sausalito, edging up to the dock against a 2-knot flood. We were less than four feet from the pier when a kayak decided to run the gap between us and the pier. Almost squashed him like a bug and he thought it was our fault! Not to put too fine a point on it, the USCG does consider sail boards "vessels", under the jurisdiction of Coast Guard's authority. Protected by and bound by the maritime rules of the road. Maritime law likes to assign blame for collisions in percentages. As a 'sailing vessel' the sailboard in question has the stand on position. Even though he is crossing your bow from port to starboard. As a sail powered vessel (not being propelled by machinery at the time) he has the right of way over a power driven vessel. There are exceptions regarding commercial fishing, trawling, towing, and he would be the give way vessel in an overtaking situation(if he was passing you). If he had been a power boat crossing from your port to your starboard you would have been the stand on vessel. The moral of the story is that if you are going to be hit by one of these gadflies, try to present them with your stern or a rear quarter. Given your lawyer something to work with;0)

 

[2000SR380]

Last I recall they still have a rudder even if they are on the tack.

there are rules for the "stand on" vessel as well. If you are the stand on vessel, for instance, you are required to maintain course and speed. Even a sail board is not allowed to sail around willy nilly cutting off power boats because they have the stand on status afforded to real blow boats.

 

[OldSkool]

there are rules for the "stand on" vessel as well. If you are the stand on vessel, for instance, you are required to maintain course and speed. Even a sail board is not allowed to sail around willy nilly cutting off power boats because they have the stand on status afforded to real blow boats.

Very true, I just give them as much room as possible even when I'm the stand on vessel. Just part of the boating experience.:smt001

 

[CV-23]

I have to admit being on the water 90 days this summer (May-Oct Captain Training) I've seen more unaware/crazy boaters than ever before. We only have a nice 10 mile stretch of river to use and you would think every yahoo wants to circle our 60 ton steel hull. Plenty of skiers and tubers circle us like a show and jet skiers try to show off to passengers. People just drifting or fishing in the main channel also gets interesting too. They even block the channel under our bridges. Hint.....fiberglass loses to steel every time. No near collisions but if people lose control and hit us the paperwork gets ugly with the Coast Guard. It is true 80% of boaters do not know the rules of the road and inland water can be the worst. We have little or no law enforcement 6 days a week. We keep it fun and just shake our heads and be safe. Being the biggest fish in the small pond is fun and that's ok as long as you don't take it personal and just keep it safe and have fun. All boating is fun!

 

[Dsybok]

The windsurfers have the right of way, but I am betting they don't really know that. But GFC certainly does I would assume.

 

[2000SR380]

I have to admit being on the water 90 days this summer (May-Oct Captain Training) I've seen more unaware/crazy boaters than ever before.

Wow! That is a lot of days! I just finished an OUPV Captains class, and am putting together Sea Time for my USCG application. I have 55 'days' this whole year, and I thought that was a lot:smt001 We generally make closer to 30 days a year and we have nice winter days too. I have an opportunity to get some part time duckets working with a local charter company on the weekends. Read going boating on other peoples boats, on other peoples dime, and getting paid for it! Spent the month of November going to school two nights a week 7-10 and both Saturday and Sunday 8AM-5PM. While also holding down my day job. It was hell, but I am through it. Nothing left but paper work. I am with you on the "all boating is fun". I am fine on a mini-fish, or a row boat. Just get me out there. I have worked a 32 foot Monterey fishing boat (out of San Francisco) fishing 80 hooks with two guys. My wife and I have owned a C36, and a Slocum 43. Now we are Dark-Siders, and are learning the power boat game with our 380DA. It can be frustrating dealing with fellow boaters, but it does not come close to cancelling the feeling of freedom and adventure afforded by a nice day on the water:thumbsup:

 

[BritLady]

We have lots of boat rental places near us as we are a tourist town. I think a lot are from abroad and don't even speak English too well either as they rarely obey even the posted signs


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[Lidokey]

Lots of discussion about sailboarders. What about kayaks? Good news is they are far slower and at least in my experience, seem to have a stronger sense of self-preservation! Rare to see a paddler try to cut in front of a powerboat. My issue is that I am located in an area of Sarasota where there are frequent kayak tours. Not at all uncommon to have groups of 15-20 kayakers led by a guide looking at uninhabited Keys and mangrove forests. Can happen multiple times a day. I've had to wait 5-10 minutes to travel the last 100 feet to my dock as the "flotilla" passes through or if a dolphin or manatee is in the area and the group is watching them. I'm not overly complaining about that as they are generally predictable and I've never felt I was in a situation where someone could get hurt due to bad judgement.

 

[2000SR380]

I did mention a kayak incident in a previous post here, but as you say they are much easier to work around except when approaching or leaving docks and moorings. I have done kayak tours in Hawaii, and they are not very informative as to regulations. The orientation is pretty much "Kayak, Paddle, seat adjustment, follow me". If you have a tandem Kayak they may hint at how to synchronize the paddling. We are also a tourist area. South Beach and the Sausalito channel can have herds of Kayaks on nicer days. They will block fairways and slips, congregate mid-channel, and show a real sense of impunity and entitlement. Once we dropped a fender rounding the last aton before our harbor. A school of kayak's were getting a lesson right on the edge of the fairway, and just inside the Marina. Not only did none of them make any effort to retrieve our lost fender, but they paddled into our path! When I turned around I had my bow 3 feet from one guy who just sat there. Paddle suspended in the air. Staring at us. Because of our attempt to avoid the kayaks all around us, we were not able to get back to the fender before it went into shallow water. We had to turn around again, dock our boat, and go after the wayward fender (which by then was about a half mile away) with our dingy. Kayaks are annoying because of operator ignorance, lack of skill, and the attitude of a great many paddlers. Sailboards are annoying because they are really fast, not always under good control, and can usually be counted on to do the stupidest thing possible. In general we just keep our eyes open, stay as patient as possible, and try to enjoy the show:smt021 For the record, there are plenty of sailboarders that are conscientious and have earned my respect as fellow mariners. Sometimes I have even run up to 4000RPM to flatten out the water so they can sail in my wake. I am sure there are kayaker's that are great people and competent mariners as well, but I have found them to be fewer and farther between. It seems their definition of "share the water" is that they have as much right to the center of the channels and fairways as the boats that are bound by them, and we need to respect their space while they make zero concessions for larger, less maneuverable, vessels. In fact, they seem to delight in getting in the way:smt101

 

[WDCboater]

Lots of discussion about sailboarders. What about kayaks? Good news is they are far slower and at least in my experience, seem to have a stronger sense of self-preservation! Rare to see a paddler try to cut in front of a powerboat. My issue is that I am located in an area of Sarasota where there are frequent kayak tours. Not at all uncommon to have groups of 15-20 kayakers led by a guide looking at uninhabited Keys and mangrove forests. Can happen multiple times a day. I've had to wait 5-10 minutes to travel the last 100 feet to my dock as the "flotilla" passes through or if a dolphin or manatee is in the area and the group is watching them. I'm not overly complaining about that as they are generally predictable and I've never felt I was in a situation where someone could get hurt due to bad judgement.

I posted earlier in this threas regarding kayakers. They routinely cut in front of our boat near Georgetown in Washington, DC. Granted it's a no-wake zone, but they have no regard for power boats or tour boats.