right of way question

[MichaelB]

We have two sets of bridges on our lake. The water under them is a no wake zone, marked with a single buoy on both sides. The pylons are wide enough that two boats can easily transit through at the same time.

This afternoon we were west bound entering under the bridge and came upon a monohull east bound (call him B1). We both setup to pass port to port. As we were under the bridge, I saw another pontoon boat (call him B2) to my right outside of the no wake buoy. He was in a bad postion, and I expected him to reduce speed and pass behind me.

...............................B2
----------- B1 Me -------------

Well, he didn't. I continued straight and I ended up going to full reverse to stop before he finally slowed and turned hard to port. We missed but not by much. There were four people on his tan 18 footer, all four drinking Miller Light. And the driver had about half of his bottle to go. Yes, we were THAT close.

So let me have it guys....what did I do wrong? He was on my starboard but I was on his as well. I was in the no wake, headed out, he was headed to right where I was and needed to really be behind me or on the other side of the channel to go under the bridge on the right side. I stayed my course, which I thought made the most sense. My wife said after we passed that the guy made a circle and then entered the bridge on the right side. I just smiled and motored on like nothing happened.

[bassn386]

The problem with the "rules of the road" as it applies to boating is that most boaters have never read them and if they did, wouldn't quite know how to follow them.
You can have the right of way and wind up dead if the other guy is ignorant of the rules. Boat defensively; act as if you are the only one who can slow down/maneuver safely or stop to avoid a collision.

[Old Dog]

Pictures sometimes are worth a thousand words:

From what you described the top picture would be you on the top heading west and B1 on the bottom heading east. In the crossing situation at the bottom you are heading west (white boat) with that boat you termed B2 on your starboard side in a 'bad' position. Now, not being able to visualize your circumstances exactly, I'll have to leave it to you to decide if you were in the right or wrong. However, as bassn386 said boat defensively.

Cheers!

[GregF]

Old dog gave you the picture but the short answer is you yield right of way to anyone approaching from the right side. That is why you show him a green light and he shows you a red light at night.

[MichaelB]

Ok so I think I would have been better to just stop since I could have seen his red light. If I would have turned to starboard to pass on the port side I would have been turning right into his path. Given more distance or time that would clearly have been the right decision.

[krusskruss]

Great way to explain it GregF. That one is easy to remember which is key.

I know that I should never trust anyone to follow the rules of the road on my lake or anywhere else for that matter. The fact is that right of way should never be forced and there are always going to be times when we have to make quick decisions.

I love the "1 short blast", "2 short blast" rules. I know why they have them but on my lake, all that would do is get people to raise their beers to you while they continued on a collision course.

[ksmith]

I love the "1 short blast", "2 short blast" rules. I know why they have them but on my lake, all that would do is get people to raise their beers to you while they continued on a collision course.

That's good stuff there. And the truth.

Kevin

[playcat]

Okay, let me throw a wrench in all of this...The Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) aka Rules of the Road, only describe situations that involve TWO vessels, NOT more than that! If more than two vessels are involved, the rule of "Special Circumstances" takes effect. That rule basically says, everybody MUST do whatever they have to do to avoid a collision. That also means no vessel is stand-on, and no vessel is give way, everyone is obligated to avoid a collision.

You were correct in your actions, and the other operator was wrong(no surprise there).

[GregF]

You still operate under the general rule that the vessel approaching from your starboard side is the stand on vessel and you are the give way vessel in regard to him. Judgement would come into play if that put you in conflict with a 3d vessel but that was not the case here since the other vessel was passing to port.

When in doubt, slow down or stop if sea conditions permit. If nothing else, it makes the collision softer.

Also bear in mind that the stand on vessel should stand on (maintain course and speed). They do not have the "right of way" to do anything they want. That is why the COLREGS are worded the way they are.

BTW this is why they have no wake zones under bridges. That is a very popular spot for collisions, just because of restricted visibility and lots of traffic.

[GXPWeasel]

I'll agree with Greg F here, in that technicaly, your "B2" was the stand on vessel, and had the right of way, However, I'm not 100% positive on that, as it was near or in a No Wake Zone, and there was yet a 3rd boat involved in the situation.

I like to live by this rule first on the Lake/ River. On a boat, as the Captain, I have the same mindset as I do when driving a motorcycle, in that everyone out on the lake is driving a deadly weapon, and should be avoided at all costs, and I am the only one who has control. That being said, drive defensively. I won't go by the rule of "Stand On" vessel all of the time if I am that vessel, because I don't trust the other boater to give way. I just watch closely, and if I have too, I'll even stop. In fact, I did this last time we had the boat out, while pulling my nephew on the tube. When he got back on the boat, he asked me why I stopped, and I told him it was because I didn't trust the other boat, and I'd rather ruin your tubing experience once, than ruin your/our lives.

[Old Dog]

I like to live by this rule first on the Lake/ River. On a boat, as the Captain, I have the same mindset as I do when driving a motorcycle, in that everyone out on the lake is driving a deadly weapon, and should be avoided at all costs, and I am the only one who has control. That being said, drive defensively. I won't go by the rule of "Stand On" vessel all of the time if I am that vessel, because I don't trust the other boater to give way. I just watch closely, and if I have too, I'll even stop. In fact, I did this last time we had the boat out, while pulling my nephew on the tube. When he got back on the boat, he asked me why I stopped, and I told him it was because I didn't trust the other boat, and I'd rather ruin your tubing experience once, than ruin your/our lives.

Good words of wisdom .

[smltooner]

The problem with the "rules of the road" as it applies to boating is that most boaters have never read them and if they did, wouldn't quite know how to follow them.
You can have the right of way and wind up dead if the other guy is ignorant of the rules. Boat defensively; act as if you are the only one who can slow down/maneuver safely or stop to avoid a collision.

[bassn386]

GXP: good advice! I've done the same when pulling the tube.
In Missouri you are supposed to have an orange flag that goes up when a skier or tuber is in the water (fallen off, getting on). Most boaters keep it up all the time and it diminishes the real intent, but the water patrol guys say they generally don't say anything because that's a little better than not putting it up at all.
I've had to jump up and down and wave the flag wildly to get the attention of some idiot boater who is bearing down on me while I'm trying to either pick someone up or put them in the water. The old adrenaline really starts pumping then!

[curtiscapk]

Yep bassn Those that always fly the orange flag piss me off. We put ours up when we are floating, pissin, or just cooling off, and never when we are underway.

[GregF]

I have never seen the orange flag here.
I would assume it was a "bravo" and think you were shooting.