dimer2
Moderator Emeritus
Why would the Bayliner try to go port to port when he is already hugging the starboard side of the channel?.
That would never be a Bayliner. You sure it wasn't a Sea Ray?
Why would the Bayliner try to go port to port when he is already hugging the starboard side of the channel?.
Why would the Bayliner try to go port to port when he is already hugging the port side of the channel?
He either knows or doesn't know. Doubt that scenario happens that often.
He either stays on the port side of the channel and is prudent and goes to idle on the edge of the channel, or is on the starboard side to start with.
menzies, In my scenario I did not mention "hugging the port side of the channel", you came up with that. My point was that boaters often think they HAVE to go port to port, even when they don't, and will then go to no small trouble to get there. I have seen it often, doubt that you may. And no offense to Bayliner owners, just a random boat pick for the scenario.
I struggle with your reference to "port side of the channel". Port is usually relative to a boat.
menzies, In my scenario I did not mention "hugging the port side of the channel", you came up with that. My point was that boaters often think they HAVE to go port to port, even when they don't, and will then go to no small trouble to get there. I have seen it often, doubt that you may. And no offense to Bayliner owners, just a random boat pick for the scenario.
Wow!
So if he wan't on the port side of the channel why did he have to cross in front of the oncoming vessel to go port to port?
I saw a lot of wakes across your bow at the speed this is set at. So I ran it at 1/4 speed on YouTube to see what the heck was going on - and realized those "wakes" were actually the bow thruster!
Years ago we were launching a new tug on the ship canal in Seattle and the "other guys" were running one of their big boats at the dock for some reason, and he was making a lot of prop wash. A small wood troller came roaring up the canal headed for the Ballard Locks and the fishing grounds when he got caught in the wash, which he apparently didn't see, and WHAMO! He drove the troller right into the side of the drydock we were using (endo to the beach) to launch this big new tug. Split the stem, sprung all the guards and some planking, taking on water, one guy bleeding at the head. Skipper assessed it all and turned right around and headed for the nearest boatyard for repairs. Total bummer for the guy.
I struggle with your reference to "port side of the channel". Port is usually relative to a boat.
This may be a gross generalization but:
While we have these discussions occasionally here on TF, seems to me I read more of these types of discussions on some sailing sites. Most often on those sites, those complaints about right of way are directed at us power boaters, but there always seems to be several posts directed at commercial ships. It usually seems to go like this: "I was under sail in my 26' sailboat, coming into X port. I was in the channel and clearly had the right-of-way per Colregs X.xx. There was a 985' RORO car carrier hogging the entire channel. He made no effort to change course even though I signaled with my little handheld airhorn. He almost ran over me but I changed course just in time. Then his bow wave almost swamped me! I clearly had the right-of-way, what is wrong with those captains?"
WOW. I'm impressed. Do you ever scrape the sides of the pilings of those bridges?
I haven't yet, but I've only been driving through them for a couple of years now. It's not unheard of, and as long as you planned for that eventuality in advance, it's not that big a deal to graze the pilings.
We had a bad one awhile back in Texas. A barge hit the bridge in Port Isabel and the bridge collapsed. it was at the peak of the bridge at night and cars just kept driving off into the ICW and falling to their deaths. It was awhile before someone figured it out and stopped people from going over the edge. I think 8 people died....one was a friend of mine and his beautiful wife.
Ten years since accidental collapse of South Padre Island bridge | abc13.com
This was only 5 days after 9/11 so it got little press.