Boating Etiquette

[jsuber]

From: http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/manners.htm

Boating Etiquette
Boating, as a recreational sport, has been around for over 300 years. During this time many customs and traditions have been developed in order to help relieve the natural stress that comes with dealing with the elements. No matter how long you have been boating there is always that tense feeling when you are out there on your own. If this feeling ever goes away, you should probably take up golf. Whether underway, anchoring, mooring, docking at a marina or cruising with friends, don't add to the stress of your boating neighbor by ignoring custom and tradition.

Underway
Obviously, the rules of the road are going to dictate how you operate your vessel underway in order to prevent collision. But what if no risk of collision exists, are you then free to do whatever you want when operating in the vicinity of other vessels? Above all, remember that you are responsible for you own wake and any damage done by it.

When overtaking a slower vessel in open water, do so with as much room as depth conditions allow and slow your speed, if necessary, to avoid rocking the other vessel. There is nothing worse than being below in a slow trawler or sail boat, cooking breakfast, and being suddenly overtaken in close quarters by a loud, wake-throwing, go-fast boater. Especially if the wake causes the hot bacon grease and coffee to be thrown around the galley.

It should be remembered that sometimes the boat being overtaken may need to slow its speed to accommodate the overtaking vessel. If you are proceeding at 8 knots, the passing boat can only slow to about 10 knots to still have enough speed difference to pass successfully. However, at that speed the overtaking vessel still throws an uncomfortable wake. You may need to slow to 4 knots to allow the overtaking vessel to pass at 6 knots which allows for a much smaller wake.

If you are overtaking a vessel under sail, if possible, overtake them well to leeward or pass astern in a crossing situation, so as not to block their wind.

Anchoring and Mooring
Be sure to enter an anchorage or mooring area at a slow speed. This is like moving into a new neighborhood. You want your neighbors to like you. Again, you don't want to create a wake that would upset someone's dinner or drink.



Remember that the first person in the anchorage has the right to determine the swing radius. Don't get too close to other anchored boats. The wind can change and in a matter of minutes you can have fouled and tangled anchor lines, and hulls and dinghies banging against each other. I'll never forget the commotion caused one night off the Bitter End in the BVI when a late-arriving boat anchored too close to another. The shifting wind at 0300 caused them to tangle with one another and soon there were two angry and burly boaters on deck, sans clothing, but armed with spotlights, shouting and cursing while blinding each other with the lights. Not a pretty sight! Speaking of spotlights, if you need to use one, make sure you don't inadvertently blind your neighbor.

Before anchoring evaluate your intended behavior; the more music, people on board, children, pets and smoke from your barbecue that you intend to create, the further downwind you should be from your neighbors. Sound carries exceptionally well over water and many boaters retire early for an early departure. Respect their right to sleep in peace. Also, remember that any comment you make may be heard.

If you are using your dinghy at night to go to shore or visit others in the anchorage, do so using oars and not your outboard. How far could the shore be if you're anchored in ten feet of water? Some boaters are friendly and like to socialize, while others are reflective and just want to be left alone. If you are rowing around the anchorage and see people on deck, you should be friendly but not intrusive unless, of course, encouraged. Tradition dictates that if you approach another vessel you should do so on the starboard side six to ten feet away. If you strike up a conversation and you recognize by the tenor of the strangers that they really aren't interested, just move on out of their space.

Make sure you get permission before picking up a guest mooring. It may be reserved for another boater arriving later on or it may be unsuitable for your vessel.

Marina Manners
When you stop for fuel, keep in mind that other boats may be waiting to get to the fuel dock. Do not leave your boat to pick up groceries or hang out in the bait shop. Tie up securely, follow proper fueling procedures, pay the bill and move away to another docking area or guest slip if you need to do other business ashore.

If you are already safely docked in the marina and there is no dockmaster or helper around to assist boaters as they dock and undock, it is courteous to assist other in your vicinity with their lines. This may sound like an oxymoron, but boating is like a fraternity of individuals. Everyone has a right to their space but everyone provides assistance whenever necessary.

Make sure to keep the area around your slip clear. Roll up and stow hoses, place power cords in such a manner as to not trip a passerby who is looking up at your new radar reflector. Keep buckets, mops, tackle, docking lines and other items stowed in their proper place, not strewn around on the dock. When finished with carts or other equipment at the marina intended for common use, be sure to put it back where it belongs so others have access.

Tips For On Board Guests
Whenever you invite guests aboard for the day, a weekend or an extended cruise, you should explain to them in advance what is expected of them, especially if they are not experienced boaters. If they are expected to perform duties onboard make sure they know this (and how to do it) before you give the order to swab the deck or handle lines. If you have special "rules" regarding behavior on your boat (smoking, drinking, etc.), let them know before they arrive.

[Arclight]

The stand on vessel is not obligated to slow down other than to avoid collision. The overtaking vessel is obligated to pass without affecting the vessel being passed.

[Dubble Trubble]

You forgot the 10 things NOT to do:

1: When unloading at the ramp, be sure to wait and load your rods, ice chest, bait.....etc after you have tied up at the ramp dock, and always in the middle of the dock, so you are the only one that can be there.

2. Be sure to park your tow vehicle and trailer in the lot somewhere that will be sure to block the road real good. Even better is to just park it in the area where everybody get their boats loaded with gear and ready (Cause you do not do that, so it aint needed)

3: When proceeding out the river, be sure to stop in the middle of the channel and do a little fishing. And if anyone tries to go around you, be sure to give them the finger.

4. When fishing on the flats, be sure to get as close to the guy near you as possible, even getting in front of his drift if you can.

5. When you finish that tasty adult beverage bottle, be sure and throw it overboard, after all it will disappear in a few hundred years.

6. And those fishing lure packages, well when they are empty, they will just fly right out of the boat, no cleaning to do, right...

7. When that reel tangles and you have to despool all that tangled line, just let it go in the water. After all,there are a lot of us boaters that can't wait to get out in the water and unwrap our props, then pay for new seals in the foot when (and if) we get back in.

8. When coming back in, be sure to stop in the channel again and fish some more. Even better is to tie up to one of the channel markers and drift out into the channel, that way, the boaters only have one choice as to which side to pass you on. Oh, and remember, "heres your sign" as they just squeeze past.

9. When back at the ramp, be sure to put someone who has NEVER backed a trailer in charge of getting the trailer. Then tie up to the dock, and unload ALL the stuff before you go to get the trailer. Remember to tie up right in the middle.

10. As you load the boat, it will not stay on the trailer, so just leave it on about half throttle in gear, climb off, and hook the winch, then climb back on to shut it down. (I actually witnessed this at Econfina ! ). As you are leaving, be sure to put all the trash in the back of the pickup, so it will blow out all along the road on the way home.

Happy Fishing!

Dubble

[beatswork]

Unfortunatly too many people subscribe to the rules according to Dub. Thanks jsuber for reminding us how we should act on the water. By the way, I'm the guy in the Ford pick-up down at Keaton chewing on my fist to keep from screaming while I "patiently" wait for the good folks to load their gear tying up the ramp. Screams become more audible on their third attempt to successfully back down the ramp.

[mojokoko]

I have witnessed quite a few people going full speed right through no wake zones, fishing in the channel, and various other dumb things around the fort/st marks area recently. I am a young boater *Only 25* and it's sad that I am a better captain than most out there. When I park my trailer I always leave more than enough room for someone to get out and away from any other trucks parked. The one thing I can't stand at the fort is, a lot of people when they take there boat out of the water park really close to the ramp and than proceed to clean their boat. I'm sitting here thinking that's an easy way to have an accident.

[Reel Cowboy]

Unfortunatly too many people subscribe to the rules according to Dub. Thanks jsuber for reminding us how we should act on the water. By the way, I'm the guy in the Ford pick-up down at Keaton chewing on my fist to keep from screaming while I "patiently" wait for the good folks to load their gear tying up the ramp. Screams become more audible on their third attempt to successfully back down the ramp.

I thought I was the only one to do that.

[grim reeler]

I've noticed that most people that fail to demonstrate proper "etiquette", do so as a consious decision, not because of a lack of knowledge.

The guys that cut in line at the ramp or on a drift know exactly what they are doing. They just dont care.

[jsuber]

Rob Baker and myself have talked about setting up a Camera at the Wakulla River boat ramp to make a few extra dollars off a reality TV show.

[mojokoko]

The main problem at the fort is they need to put up a sign with directions for how people should put their boat in the water. Sometimes people will be in a straight line and then sometimes people will chill 2 at a time to the left of the ramp. I usually do whatever everything else is doing. If someone could post a sign it would kill a lot of BS at the ramp. One day I was out with the Skiff and I backed up ready to go and noticed another boat chillin by the left still putting things in the boat etc etc. So decided to wait a few mins to make sure they were not going at that very second. So they keep fumbling around trying to get their boat ready and I decided to go ahead and go. I mean if you're not ready to go when you get to the ramp that just sucks for you. I backed the truck up and had it out of the water almost by the time they were done. I then had this crabber getting all pissed cause I "Cut in front". I was to lazy and didn't cause a seen but I was about to say "Listen I'm sorry you suck at your job so much it takes your 10 mins to get ready at the ramp when it's your turn". The only reason I went ahead and went is because we were the only 2 people there.

[Capt. J.D]

Boating Families of America (weekend boaters who have no idea what is going on). Gotta agree with Mojo! The past 2 times I have put in at the Fort with clients I have had trouble with NO WAKE!!!! It really pisses me off when I leave my boat to get the trailer in the water and some dumb ass rides by the ramp throwing a wake causing my boat to slam into the dock while I back the trailer in. I am going to call Larry Anderson who is the Chief Law Enforcement Agent for the refuge and see if we can't get some more patrols on the weekends.

Suber, there is a ramp near Miami Beach where folks show up on the weekends just to picnic and watch the show. They will actually hold up score cards for your loading and unloading ability. Its a hoot.

[Dubble Trubble]

Suber, there is a ramp near Miami Beach where folks show up on the weekends just to picnic and watch the show. They will actually hold up score cards for your loading and unloading ability. Its a hoot.

Now THAT sounds like fun!!!

May have to do a little "tailgatin'" at Anky.....

Dubble

[mojokoko]

Capt J.D. do you do charters on the week days of just weekends?

[jsuber]

It is entertaining to watch.

[beatswork]

Boating Families of America (weekend boaters who have no idea what is going on).

I agree with all of the above except this. I am a family boater who see's a lot of charter and commercial fisherman who think they own the ramp, flats, and any other thing connected to the marina or channel as well. I respect your right to make a living on the water, and I'll do my best to stay out of your way and won't tie you up at the ramp or cut through your drift, just be sure to stay out of mine as well.

[jsuber]

When I'm on the water, and a working man comes through (Guide or crabman) I make way for them to earn their living. Its just what I do.