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My kids got me a 365-day sailing knowlege calendar for Christmas. So every day I get to test myself. One of the questions was, "According to the Coast Guard, what percentage of recreational boaters have a rudimentary understanding of the rules of the road?" Answer? Ten percent.
I was depressed. Always assume the other guy a) doesn't see you, or b) thinks he's the stand-on vessel. Sort of like riding a motorcycle....
So be one of those 10 percent - take at least a boating safety course!
pmoyer, I would be interested in knowing where your kids got the sailing knowledge calendar. Sounds like a great gift idea. Can you find out and let me know. Thanks!
pmoyer, I would be interested in knowing where your kids got the sailing knowledge calendar. Sounds like a great gift idea. Can you find out and let me know. Thanks!
IMHO, it's unfortunately the case that most boaters afloat these days haven't a clue, regarding Rules of the Road or any of the rudimentary principles of navigation. I wish it weren't so, but my observation and experience tells me it is.
What to do?
I think one needs to follow the sage advice of an old San Francisco harbor pilot:
"There's only one Rule of the Road which makes any sense: GIVE WAY TO TONNAGE".
IMHO, it's unfortunately the case that most boaters afloat these days haven't a clue, regarding Rules of the Road or any of the rudimentary principles of navigation. I wish it weren't so, but my observation and experience tells me it is.
What to do?
I think one needs to follow the sage advice of an old San Francisco harbor pilot:
"There's only one Rule of the Road which makes any sense: GIVE WAY TO TONNAGE".
I second the notion of owning a copy of Chapman's. Venturing onto the waterways without a good understanding of the rights of way is irresponsible, inconsiderate, rude and dangerous.
All the rules you really need to know fill less than a page, and yet everytime I go for a sail, there's at least one nitwit who insists on remaining on a collision course with me despite the fact that I have the right of way.
Who can tell whether they don't know or just don't care?
To really thoroughly understand the rules of the road takes quite a bit of time in the book. Just ask anyone who's sat for a USCG license. For most, that is time they will not spend. A decent working knowledge can be had, and should be pursued, without commiting to memory the details necessary for licensing.
A word of advise I would offer, that may be of aid to those found in a situation where they are unclear as to their responsibility, is to make course alterations early and substantial. Small progressive course alterations have been the root cause of many a collision or near collision.
At sea, at night or restricted visibility, while on watch on an ocean-going ship I would quite often make a substantial course change, say 45 degrees, just for the purpose of "showing her a red". Another vessel seeing this, while on my starboard bow, would have no doubt that my intension was to pass under his stern. As you open, you can then start walking back around towards original course. This technique works well on radar also, providing a display showing a large bearing drift.
Also, remember that the ultimate responsibility is to avoid a collision if at all possible. It doesn't really matter who has right of way-both parties have a responsibility to avoid collision under COLREGS. In some legal cases, the party that had "right of way" was found to be responsible financially, since they did not take appropriate action to avoid collision.
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