Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

Woodsy · 09-10-2013, 11:37 AM

Prices....

You are right and wrong.... it is the job of the give way vessel to alter course and speed to avoid collision. The Formula did exactly that. See what I wrote below.

The Formula did what he was supposed to do. He made a command decision to pass Laser on the right.(No legal issue there although judging from the story Laser tells, passing on the left would have been the wiser choice) The Formula committed and started to pass Laser on the right with an overtake speed of approximately 7 MPH. LASER DIDNT SEE THE FORMULA, SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED INTO THE PATH OF THE FORMULA. This error in judgement is on Laser, not the Formula. Laser is the STAND BOAT. Laser then COMPOUNDED the error by turning even more sharply into the path of the Formula. Before Laser began to slow and turn LASER should have cleared his baffles and made sure there was nobody there. The Formula obviously gave Laser some clearance when he went to pass him on the right, (150' can be debated as we weren't there but it wasn't that far off) otherwise Lasers sudden slowdown and course change WOULD have resulted in a collision. No doubt about it. At some point the Formula took evasive action by turning left and crossed Lasers wake soon after after Laser sharpened his turn to the right. Both boats upon seeing a possible collision situation are REQUIRED to TURN AWAY from each other. Laser is required to turn left to avoid a collision, the Formula was required to turn right. Had the Formula turned right And Laser turned right (which he did) there would have been a collision.

Had Laser kept and maintained proper lookout he would have known there was a boat BEHIND HIM thus making Laser the STAND ON BOAT.

Draw the diagram out on paper.... like I did. Then add speeds into the equation... 23MPH = 33.73 FPS or approximately 4.4 seconds to cover 150' and 30MPH = 44FPS or approximately 3.4 seconds to cover 150'

Had this been a cut an dry crossing situation, Laser would not have the right of way as he was crossing the Formula's bow from Left to Right.

Woodsy

09-10-2013, 11:37 AM	#23
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,949 Thanks: 80 Thanked 969 Times in 432 Posts	Prices.... You are right and wrong.... it is the job of the give way vessel to alter course and speed to avoid collision. The Formula did exactly that. See what I wrote below. The Formula did what he was supposed to do. He made a command decision to pass Laser on the right.(No legal issue there although judging from the story Laser tells, passing on the left would have been the wiser choice) The Formula committed and started to pass Laser on the right with an overtake speed of approximately 7 MPH. LASER DIDNT SEE THE FORMULA, SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED INTO THE PATH OF THE FORMULA. This error in judgement is on Laser, not the Formula. Laser is the STAND BOAT. Laser then COMPOUNDED the error by turning even more sharply into the path of the Formula. Before Laser began to slow and turn LASER should have cleared his baffles and made sure there was nobody there. The Formula obviously gave Laser some clearance when he went to pass him on the right, (150' can be debated as we weren't there but it wasn't that far off) otherwise Lasers sudden slowdown and course change WOULD have resulted in a collision. No doubt about it. At some point the Formula took evasive action by turning left and crossed Lasers wake soon after after Laser sharpened his turn to the right. Both boats upon seeing a possible collision situation are REQUIRED to TURN AWAY from each other. Laser is required to turn left to avoid a collision, the Formula was required to turn right. Had the Formula turned right And Laser turned right (which he did) there would have been a collision. Had Laser kept and maintained proper lookout he would have known there was a boat BEHIND HIM thus making Laser the STAND ON BOAT. Draw the diagram out on paper.... like I did. Then add speeds into the equation... 23MPH = 33.73 FPS or approximately 4.4 seconds to cover 150' and 30MPH = 44FPS or approximately 3.4 seconds to cover 150' Had this been a cut an dry crossing situation, Laser would not have the right of way as he was crossing the Formula's bow from Left to Right. Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.