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Cruising America's Great Loop and other inland routes
View all threadsRe: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
Jay Leonard wrote: "Great in theory. I have been called only once in 20 plus years of boating. I have NEVER received a reply when I have called an asked for a slow pass from either end."
That has not been our general experience on the East Coast and Gulf Coast ICWs. New Jersey, yes. Canadians in Georgian Bay at the North Channel, yes. Usually though, if I call an overtaking vessel, they'll respond. I have a deck box on my aft deck, and it has our name on it in large letters, so they know when I hail, "Vessel overtaking Sanctuary...." I mean them. My usual procedure is to slow first, then immediately hail them. I tell them "I've come to slow bell; I will drop into the wake when they get past, so they can be on their way." One sentence. And yes, for the purists out there, arranging a safe pass is a "Marine Safety and Information Broadcast" on VHF 16! If you make it easy for the overtaking vessel to help you, most of them will. Should it be on you? No. Do the nav rules put it on you? No. But you have more to gain by helping them help you, so it's your ball. Welcome to the game of life. You're the one with skin in the game. My (limited) experience in New England was, Down East owners only think they own the water; it's the Hinckley owners who know they do. Neither care about others. We didn't see that many traditional, mid-atlantic-type, go fast boats in Maine.
David Doyle wrote: "For my boat to get by you at that speed I am making my maximum wake, sorry that's just the way it is designed."
Let me respond this way: "Again, that has not been my experience." A lot of go fast boats think slowing to 12- 15 mph is " courtesy slowing," but they haven't been courteous at all; they've just dropped to their full displacement speed, and it does generate their largest wake. Try this as an experiment, David. Try watching the actual wake you're producing. Pretend you're passing a Coast Guard Swift Boat or a DNR or Maritime Police guy on lunch break. Imagine for that moment that he's pouring a cup of coffee as you pass him. I'll wager you could even reach "no wake" speed, let alone "minimum wake" speed, and still be making way in gear. I know it's possible for Rinker's to do that when an expensive ticket is involved; I've seen it. Actually, I've seen it with both results. I'm not sure which one I personally enjoy more...
Finally, never hesitate to hail the coast guard and report a vessel that is operating recklessly at high speed. Whenever I've done that, I hear others call in after that; sometimes to report the same offender, sometimes to report another. Usually, though, the offender knows they're come to the attention of the authorities, and wanting to avoid trouble, they often treat others better. Your report of a reckless operator to the authorities might benefit me, as mine might benefit you.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436
An example of a good report to the USCG is
"Calling all concerned vessels in the vicinity of Rock Hall MD......We have
just been swamped with excessive wakes by fast moving vessel SANCTUARY. We
are still assessing damages. Repeat - we are still assessing damages. Vessel
refuses to acknowledge on the radio and is moving away quickly".
When you say you are still assessing damages, it makes people think.
R.
-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of Jim Healy
Finally, never hesitate to hail the coast guard and report a vessel
that is operating recklessly at high speed. Whenever I've done that, I hear
others call in after that; sometimes to report the same offender, sometimes
to report another. Usually, though, the offender knows they're come to the
attention of the authorities, and wanting to avoid trouble, they often treat
others better. Your report of a reckless operator to the authorities might
benefit me, as mine might benefit you.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436
Here's a situation I had a few years ago delivering a 56 foot Neptunus to
Ft. Lauderdale from Rochester NY. We were a few miles East of Great Bridge
in the cut and came upon a sail boat doing 5 or so knots. We successfully
hailed them on 16 and requested a slow pass. We were anxious to get to
Coinjock Marina for a good prime rib dinner and were making good time
despite the swing bridge at Centerville. Anyway, the response from the
sailboat was something suggesting we "stinkpots" should learn to slow down
and essentially that we could "stick it". He wasn't about to slow down.
There were 4-5 power boats behind me and given the location we could not
give this guy a wide berth. The cut is not that wide. The radio
transmissions from the other boats were getting pretty heated. Let's say
the air was blue. He was essentially holding several boats hostage to his
ideology.
Attempting to pass a slow vessel close-by at 10 or so knots is not good. We
threw a good sized wake at that speed that I am sure would have caused some
potential issues on the sailboat. I figured it was a lawsuit ready to
happen.
What would you do if you were in the power boat and wanted to pass this
slower vessel? I'll tell you how it turned out after a few responses from
other listers.
Thx.
T
Not sure that the guy had a basis for a lawsuit given your request to pass per regulations and his refusal and the presence of witnesses. We had a similar experience on the Tenn-Tom a few years ago. A very odd boat that looked like a floating flat-bottomed RV was barely moving along so I hailed him to say we were going to ease by. He didn't respond verbally but went running upo onto his "bridge" and increased his speed. We attempted to hail him several more times and then eased by-the river was wide enough that we could give him a lot of room but he still rocked a good bit. We then heard him hailing the lockmaster at the lock we were approaching
, saying there was a boat waking everything in sight! We were prepared to explain what had happened but when we got to the lock, the lockmaster said "That crazy coot does this 3 to 4 times a day-hopefully someday someone really WILL sink him!!"
Sally
ONE OLIVER II
--- On Thu, 9/20/12, Terry Allen tallen01@rochester.rr.com wrote:
From: Terry Allen tallen01@rochester.rr.com
Subject: Re: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
To: great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 8:54 AM
Here's a situation I had a few years ago delivering a 56 foot Neptunus to Ft. Lauderdale from Rochester NY. We were a few miles East of Great Bridge in the cut and came upon a sail boat doing 5 or so knots. We successfully hailed them on 16 and requested a slow pass. We were anxious to get to Coinjock Marina for a good prime rib dinner and were making good time despite the swing bridge at Centerville. Anyway, the response from the sailboat was something suggesting we "stinkpots" should learn to slow down and essentially that we could "stick it". He wasn't about to slow down.
There were 4-5 power boats behind me and given the location we could not give this guy a wide berth. The cut is not that wide. The radio transmissions from the other boats were getting pretty heated. Let's say the air was blue. He was essentially holding several boats hostage to his ideology.
Attempting to pass a slow vessel close-by at 10 or so knots is not good. We threw a good sized wake at that speed that I am sure would have caused some potential issues on the sailboat. I figured it was a lawsuit ready to happen.
What would you do if you were in the power boat and wanted to pass this slower vessel? I'll tell you how it turned out after a few responses from other listers.
Thx.
T
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I would power up to bring my bow to his stern. Then hail him again on the
radio and explain that if we both execute a slow pass properly, he will not
be rolled and we can get by quickly. I would tell him that I can talk you
through it, its easy.
If, after that, he was still not wanting to cooperate, I would slowly pass
him within one boat length then move on after my stern wave was forward of
his bow.
R.
-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of Terry Allen
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 8:55 AM
To: great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: Re: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
Here's a situation I had a few years ago delivering a 56 foot Neptunus to
Ft. Lauderdale from Rochester NY. We were a few miles East of Great Bridge
in the cut and came upon a sail boat doing 5 or so knots. We successfully
hailed them on 16 and requested a slow pass. We were anxious to get to
Coinjock Marina for a good prime rib dinner and were making good time
despite the swing bridge at Centerville. Anyway, the response from the
sailboat was something suggesting we "stinkpots" should learn to slow down
and essentially that we could "stick it". He wasn't about to slow down.
There were 4-5 power boats behind me and given the location we could not
give this guy a wide berth. The cut is not that wide. The radio
transmissions from the other boats were getting pretty heated. Let's say
the air was blue. He was essentially holding several boats hostage to his
ideology.
Attempting to pass a slow vessel close-by at 10 or so knots is not good. We
threw a good sized wake at that speed that I am sure would have caused some
potential issues on the sailboat. I figured it was a lawsuit ready to
happen.
What would you do if you were in the power boat and wanted to pass this
slower vessel? I'll tell you how it turned out after a few responses from
other listers.
Thx.
T
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Snip:"...What would you do if you were in the power boat and wanted to pass
this slower vessel? I'll tell you how it turned out after a few responses
from other listers...."
Well interesting story but the unfortunate reality is that the "overtaking"
vessel is the burdened vessel hence totally responsible for any damage to
the "overtaken vessel". That is frustrating but a maritime reality as we
all know. This type of jerk is the same one travelling at 1 mph under the
speed limit in the fast lane on a highway bottlenecking traffic. There is
nothing we citizens can do but grit our teeth until a chance to pass occurs.
Police can and do charge for obstructing traffic, however I know of no law
on the waterways of that ilk.
As a side note to give contrast, I was forcibly passed by a 44 Viking Sport
fisherman in the Myrtle Beach Rock Pile on the ICW...which is very, very
narrow rock ledge lined channel which is just a short distance long. The
delivery captain approached within 10' of my stern and screamed at me to get
out of his way. There was not contact by radio. I held up a hand held VHF
radio pointing to it make contact as he was not near his radio I then tried
to hail him on 16 at the helm VHF when he returned to his helm to advise
that I would pull to the side in about 300 yards where it was wide enough to
safely pass. While trying to hail him, he put the Viking up on plane when
next to my stern quarter and his climbing bow wave shoved me aside nearly
onto the adjacent rock ledge. I was lucky to keep off the ledge by turning
into him with full throttles as he continued up thru Myrtle Beach severely
waking all adjacent docks. The radio was full of securites' and expletives
concerning the dangerous actions of this captain. At no time did he ever
answer the radio nor slow down in this no wake zone. I won't bore anyone
with the "end of the story" other than to state frustration is not
justification for any deliberate endangerment of vessel or souls on board.
Joe
M/V "Carolyn Ann" GH N-37
MTOA# 3813
AGLCA# 5485 (Platinum Looper)
http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/
Joseph.pica@gmail.com
Holding up your cell phone camera or IPad camera when they blast past is a useful and intimidating tool, and may be useful if the law wants to know what 'really happened'. I appreciate this discussion, and have it found it educational. Thanks.
Tim
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 20, 2012, at 12:21 PM, "Joseph Pica" joseph.pica@gmail.com wrote:
Snip:"...What would you do if you were in the power boat and wanted to pass
this slower vessel? I'll tell you how it turned out after a few responses
from other listers...."
Well interesting story but the unfortunate reality is that the "overtaking"
vessel is the burdened vessel hence totally responsible for any damage to
the "overtaken vessel". That is frustrating but a maritime reality as we
all know. This type of jerk is the same one travelling at 1 mph under the
speed limit in the fast lane on a highway bottlenecking traffic. There is
nothing we citizens can do but grit our teeth until a chance to pass occurs.
Police can and do charge for obstructing traffic, however I know of no law
on the waterways of that ilk.
As a side note to give contrast, I was forcibly passed by a 44 Viking Sport
fisherman in the Myrtle Beach Rock Pile on the ICW...which is very, very
narrow rock ledge lined channel which is just a short distance long. The
delivery captain approached within 10' of my stern and screamed at me to get
out of his way. There was not contact by radio. I held up a hand held VHF
radio pointing to it make contact as he was not near his radio I then tried
to hail him on 16 at the helm VHF when he returned to his helm to advise
that I would pull to the side in about 300 yards where it was wide enough to
safely pass. While trying to hail him, he put the Viking up on plane when
next to my stern quarter and his climbing bow wave shoved me aside nearly
onto the adjacent rock ledge. I was lucky to keep off the ledge by turning
into him with full throttles as he continued up thru Myrtle Beach severely
waking all adjacent docks. The radio was full of securites' and expletives
concerning the dangerous actions of this captain. At no time did he ever
answer the radio nor slow down in this no wake zone. I won't bore anyone
with the "end of the story" other than to state frustration is not
justification for any deliberate endangerment of vessel or souls on board.
Joe
M/V "Carolyn Ann" GH N-37
MTOA# 3813
AGLCA# 5485 (Platinum Looper)
http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/
Joseph.pica@gmail.com
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Well I hope no one was holding your breath waiting for how we did it. It
was obvious this guy had a major issue with power boats. Probably he had
been waked several times was was "mad as h*ll and wasn't going to put up
with it anymore". Ralph was exactly right. We drew up near his port quater,
I walked out on the bow and explained that we didn't want to create a wake
and disturb his cruise. We just wanted to get by as quickly as possible.
This conversation brought his son up on deck and he took over, appoligizing
for his dad who was "up in years and set in his ways". It seems that the
older gentleman was an environmentalist who did not like power boats waking
and eroding the swamp along the cut. Go figure.
He cut back, we idled by and waved good bye. The point is that a reasoned
non-confrontational conversation does alot more that a bunch of stiff
arming.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph Yost" ralph@alphacompservices.com
To: "'Terry Allen'" tallen01@rochester.rr.com;
great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 12:18 PM
Subject: RE: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
I would power up to bring my bow to his stern. Then hail him again on the
radio and explain that if we both execute a slow pass properly, he will
not
be rolled and we can get by quickly. I would tell him that I can talk you
through it, its easy.
If, after that, he was still not wanting to cooperate, I would slowly pass
him within one boat length then move on after my stern wave was forward of
his bow.
R.
-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of Terry Allen
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 8:55 AM
To: great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: Re: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
Here's a situation I had a few years ago delivering a 56 foot Neptunus to
Ft. Lauderdale from Rochester NY. We were a few miles East of Great
Bridge
in the cut and came upon a sail boat doing 5 or so knots. We successfully
hailed them on 16 and requested a slow pass. We were anxious to get to
Coinjock Marina for a good prime rib dinner and were making good time
despite the swing bridge at Centerville. Anyway, the response from the
sailboat was something suggesting we "stinkpots" should learn to slow down
and essentially that we could "stick it". He wasn't about to slow down.
There were 4-5 power boats behind me and given the location we could not
give this guy a wide berth. The cut is not that wide. The radio
transmissions from the other boats were getting pretty heated. Let's say
the air was blue. He was essentially holding several boats hostage to his
ideology.
Attempting to pass a slow vessel close-by at 10 or so knots is not good.
We
threw a good sized wake at that speed that I am sure would have caused
some
potential issues on the sailboat. I figured it was a lawsuit ready to
happen.
What would you do if you were in the power boat and wanted to pass this
slower vessel? I'll tell you how it turned out after a few responses from
other listers.
Thx.
T
http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com
To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address,
unsubscribe, etc.) go to:
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Perhaps better ..get on the vhf and say something like.."unit 2 to unit 1.,unit 2 to unit 1....Blue and white cigarette boat exceeding posted speed is heading your way. repeat......"
Jay Leonard
leonaj99@yahoo.com
--- On Thu, 9/20/12, Ralph Yost ralph@alphacompservices.com wrote:
From: Ralph Yost ralph@alphacompservices.com
Subject: RE: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
To: "'Jim Healy'" gilwellbear@gmail.com, great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Cc: leonaj99@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 7:54 AM
An example of a good report to the USCG is
"Calling all concerned vessels in the vicinity of Rock Hall MD......We have
just been swamped with excessive wakes by fast moving vessel SANCTUARY. We
are still assessing damages. Repeat - we are still assessing damages. Vessel
refuses to acknowledge on the radio and is moving away quickly".
When you say you are still assessing damages, it makes people think.
R.
-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of Jim Healy
Finally, never hesitate to hail the coast guard and report a vessel
that is operating recklessly at high speed. Whenever I've done that, I hear
others call in after that; sometimes to report the same offender, sometimes
to report another. Usually, though, the offender knows they're come to the
attention of the authorities, and wanting to avoid trouble, they often treat
others better. Your report of a reckless operator to the authorities might
benefit me, as mine might benefit you.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436
"...get the tear gas ready !!!!"
LOL !
R.
From: Jay Leonard [mailto:leonaj99@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 5:32 PM
To: 'Jim Healy'; great-loop@lists.trawlering.com;
Ralph@alphacompservices.com
Subject: RE: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
Perhaps better ..get on the vhf and say something like.."unit 2 to unit
1.,unit 2 to unit 1....Blue and white cigarette boat exceeding posted speed
is heading your way. repeat......"
Jay Leonard
leonaj99@yahoo.com
--- On Thu, 9/20/12, Ralph Yost ralph@alphacompservices.com wrote:
From: Ralph Yost ralph@alphacompservices.com
Subject: RE: GL: How to execute a SLOW PASS
To: "'Jim Healy'" gilwellbear@gmail.com, great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Cc: leonaj99@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 7:54 AM
An example of a good report to the USCG is
"Calling all concerned vessels in the vicinity of Rock Hall MD......We have
just been swamped with excessive wakes by fast moving vessel SANCTUARY. We
are still assessing damages. Repeat - we are still assessing damages. Vessel
refuses to acknowledge on the radio and is moving away quickly".
When you say you are still assessing damages, it makes people think.
R.
-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
<http://us.mc1615.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=great-loop-bounces@lists.traw
lering.com>
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
<http://us.mc1615.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=great-loop-bounces@lists.traw
lering.com> ] On Behalf Of Jim Healy
Finally, never hesitate to hail the coast guard and report a vessel
that is operating recklessly at high speed. Whenever I've done that, I hear
others call in after that; sometimes to report the same offender, sometimes
to report another. Usually, though, the offender knows they're come to the
attention of the authorities, and wanting to avoid trouble, they often treat
others better. Your report of a reckless operator to the authorities might
benefit me, as mine might benefit you.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436