Quote:
Originally Posted by Descant
Having read the preceding 20 posts, and re-read the OP, I see some open questions.
If the OP is stand on, and the other vessel makes no course or speed correction and then passes behind the OP, then the appearance to me is that both vessels held the other on the port side. Passing behind, "uncomfortably close" is not familiar to me relative to 150 feet, but in 49 states, there is no 150 foot rule and it happens on occasion.
If they passed behind the OP and then started a conversation, it sounds like the OP may have then stopped to discuss too, otherwise he could not have understood much of the conversation.
Action to take? No matter what the other guy says, does, it is always boating etiquette to smile wave and keep on going, expecting they would do the same. (Remember when all boaters waved to each other?)
Next action? If you are verbally assaulted, there might be cause for action. Get the bow # and whatever other descriptive info you can, get on the VHF and report to MP. The value of VHF here is that others will hear and be watching. You can't do this by phone. Even if MP can't do anything immediately, they have a record, and if Captain Bonehead is reported elsewhere on the lake, doing similar things, they can often look up an address and meet him later in the day. Because MP does not have a lot of resources, does not mean they are not resourceful. I am aware of instances where a VHF report resulted in MP tracking down the other boat, confirmed stories, and giving the captain a 20 minute lesson on rules of the road.
Also sounds like the Bonehead and the Wave runner were traveling together. Bet they were at speed and not 150 feet apart, right?
Can't imagine where the idea originated about unwritten ROW rules, except on some small ponds where locals agree that skiers, etc go counter clockwise.
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To clarify, he passed behind me within 20 feet with both boats still at speed. I was in his starboard sector until just before I passed in front of him. If I had slowed down or stopped at the last minute and he did not alter his course or speed, he would have hit me broadside. I slowed down to headway speed after the passing as I was approaching the shore and the boat and wave runner stopped, turned around and followed me in to dish out some verbal abuse. They were so close at that point, that I could not ignore them and had to engage. Yes, they were traveling together and were not 150 ft apart.
I have taken several things away from this unpleasant experience. One, when I do venture away from where we live in the quieter part of the lake, I will anticipate issues like this on weekends and holidays and be much more likely to yield even if I am the stand-on vessel. Two, if confrontation is unavoidable I will take a picture or video and get on the VHF to MP. And three, I will rethink my typical policy of giving people the benefit of the doubt and assuming they are reasonable unless proven otherwise, at least when it comes to boating on Winni.
Thank you for all the responses and suggestions. C2P