Mobos get a Life (or sense)

[TheBoatman]

I’ve always been a live and let live type of boater. I both sail and motorboat so it is with great regret that I have to say that after this weekend I now really question the sense of motor boaters. I have just spent the entire w/end being pitched on my beam-ends being passed at speed not more than a couple of boat lengths away. I got seriously pi***d off with continually picking all my gear up off the deck just because some nutter with a whole load more HP than brain cells couldn’t see what they were doing.
Now before anyone starts jumping up and down saying “it’s only a small minority” I can say that it was only the small minority that showed any care for their fellow water users. The majority of PB’s showed no such concern it was throttles full open never look to the side or astern just forward and let the rest go to hell.
Come on guys, just occasionally look behind you to see what effect your having on anchored boats. One poor sod was out fishing with his young son, he had anchored his small fishing boat (maybe 14’) in shallow water right out the way of everyone. Everyone that is accept the mobo’s stern wave, after he was almost capsized for the second time he came over to me and asked was there anything that could be done about these boats (he did in fact use far more salty language) when I said not a lot it was an education thing he said that his sons day had been completely ruined and he was going home.
Sad to think that a certain section of the boating fraternity can through their thoughtlessness destroy a young child’s day and probably put him off boating for life.

I had several long lengths of floating polyprop line on board and for the first time in my life I thought about “going fishing” for a mobo.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Lori]

BRAVO !!!! I just posted the WINCH WENCH - new to sailing, at sea at any rate. But my experience so far has been that power boats (Gin palaces in particular) seem to come at us with guided missle like precision and there veer away at the last moment... Or is it just me ??
Maybe it's just the sun that gets to them......didn't see many off Humber in me Force 7.......



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

C'mon Peter. according to your profile, you are an accredited powerboat instructor. As such, you should know as well as anyone that there are many powerboaters who are diligent in avoiding upsetting anyone, and that while it seems that there are many idiots out there, they are indeed in a minority

Many people complain about how busy the Solent is, but I have to say while out there, there are a lot of boats sail and power, and most interact quite pleasantly, and when the odd idiot makes themselves known, both sides complain about them ...I've complained about powerboaters more than raggies because I want to make it know how I feel about being cast into that particular mould, and dislike any one in a powerful powerboat causing problems.

I could however make an issue about many saily boats behaviours .... I don't ,because I don't wish to perpetuate that particular theme to the detriment of the willingness of the majority to get on together.

Quite frankly, it amazes me how often people here disparage other forms of boating. There is nothing wrong with long boats or enjoying canals and rivers, dinghies, pwc's, Just the odd twat, who is probably anti-social in other ways as well.

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[[2574]]

Boatman,

The detail below from your bio -

"I hold a DTI Boatmasters Lic with COP(from commercial fishing days) based Ramsgate.YM Offshore with commercial endosement.RYA Powerboat Instructor and ICC tester cert for power and sail. RNLI SeaCheck advisor. I'm always willing to help anyone."

does not reconcile with this comment from your post -

"I had several long lengths of floating polyprop line on board and for the first time in my life I thought about “going fishing” for a mobo"

You'll be getting no further training work from Mobo'ers with this kind of sentiment. And training is, after all, exactly what these folk need.

Please don't use such broad generalisations in condemning all Mobo'ers - you see the same mix of high & low standards on the M3 every day. Have you never wondered why so often one sees a Porsche doing 70mph and then a knackered 1.1 Vauxhall Nova cutting everybody up - fast cars don't necessarily make bad drivers - just as with boats.

rob

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Rob, I usually stay away from these arguments, but it does amaze me the amount of Mobo's who seem to go out their way to upset people. Do'nt think its a Mobo/Raggie thing, its just a simple fact that Mobo's generate sufficient wake to be a nuisance and in extreme cases a danger.

In Soton Water the disruption caused by a Mobo operating at speed is considerably greater than that of the Red Jet or even that of Queen Mary 2. I normally have a live & let live attitude but I can guarantee that if I'm sailing up Soton Water on a Sunday evening with the whole width empty that at least two will come within 20 foot of me and look back laughing .. these statements are not anti mobo , they are factual .. I for one would support compulsory certification and some sort of enforcement system (eg speed limit in confined waters such as the Solent or Soton Water for non commercila craft). Name & shame .. possibly though I do believe that any naming & shaming would have to be supported by independent evidence in some sort of way.

This lack of consideration is not just mobo's there are many inconsiderate people on yachts as well .. but fortunately they don't generate the enormous wash.

<hr width=100% size=1>I've got a wonderful profile.

 

[[2574]]

Jimi,

Likewise I normally steer clear too!

Your comments are all fair and I entirely agree that a big wash from MoBo's can be a real problem, the two most problematic areas that I see often are the entrances to Chichester and Portsmouth harbours where big mobo's leaving at speed can be v scary - and I'm scared when in a 40' mobo myself so it must be hyper scary in a 25' yacht that rolls uncontrollably in the wake.

As boatman says it should be "live and let live" but regrettably there are always extreme cases which do not fit within that compromise. But I don't believe that the solution to the extreme cases is to "go fishing" for a MoBo - two wrongs don't make a right.

rob

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[[2068]]

It's not just a Mobo to SailingCraft thing, it can also be a BigMobo to MiniMobo thing too. In the same way that a 24ft Mobo can cause chaos to a 14ft Dinghy, a 40footer driven inconsiderately can cause serious upset to a 24ft Mobo. One of the worst scenarios for a smaller (24ft) Mobo is being overtaken too close by something fast and heavy generating a big wash - it's very difficult to adjust course to take the wash at the optimum angle at short notice, and it's all too easy to "fall" into the wake and end up with violent rocking about, but at 22 knots - scary ! Safest course of action is to drop off the plane to 10knots and smile at overtaking craft though gritted teeth.

dv.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mike21]

Well said Brendan
Don't know about you, but with comments like that from the Boatman and others,and a lot of behaviour you see a weekends from raggies makes you wander whether it's worth trying to be considerate or just to say stuff em.
Not defending the behaviour of some mobo's, but the Boatmans type of comments imho are unlikely to help improve things.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ParaHandy]

pah .. stuff & nonsense .... !!

met a crowd of them at cherbourg and a more agreeable lot one couldn't hope to meet. it was an MBM organised cruise (one wag pointed at the little blue signs on each boat telling you they were part of MBM cruise and opined that he wouldn't want to admit he read the mag ... ). an organising type with female crew even crossed the channel in a small rib ("Time Flies") sans loo and other creature comforts we know they cherish ... quite how she coped is a mystery.

perhaps this lot knew what they were doing whereas some others don't?

one seriously rat-arsed elderly mobo swmbo offered my two crew a fistfull of dosh ("pocket money" & this to two 26 yr olds!) if they'd ferry her back to the waiting pontoon from Q pontoon but wisely declined.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

Speed control can be done effectively if one wants to. It's done very effectively in the busy section between St Tropez and the Plage de Pampelonne. The fines are such as to make the super rich sit up and take notice.

However compulsory certification is the thin edge of the wedge. It may possibly lead to better behaviour; it most certainly will lead to higher boating costs.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[SteveB_Sigma33]

In all fairness one Mobo actually slowed to a crawl and passed in front of me at the weekend. It was a very nice gesture, however I lost count of how many screamed past me and the other boats (raggies and mobo)!

I guess the bit that had me shaking my head and laughing was when two similar mobos screamed past and one was flying a blue defaced ensign!!

I'm sorry my friends and I have a special term for the majority of inconsiderate Mobos - W Class!!

I'm sorry but I feel the argument that it's a few inconsiderate mobos doesn't wash (excuse the pun), it seems to be the majority nowadays!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[[2068]]

...So, trying to be constructive. How to improve the (currently good) levels of consideration shown by boaters to fellow boaters.

- A new sound signal to be added to colregs? - "Your wake has just swamped me"
- The effects of wash to be more strongly emphasised in Day Skipper / Powerboat training courses, with graphic demonstrations of consequences using video ?
- Small cannons to be fitted ?

dv.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Aye .. but the MBM meet was actually at Wooton Creek .. where a very puzzled meet organiser could'nt work out why only 27% had actually turned up despite seeing them depart from Porto Solente .. he had told them to follow the ferry ..

<hr width=100% size=1>I've got a wonderful profile.

 

[KevB]

I am afraid you need to accept that by definition motor boats make wake, it's not an option and I can guarantee that cutting my cruising speed down by 10 knots will produce much MUCH more wake. I suppose you would suggest then that we all give up and take up sailing? Sorry but it bores me to tears so no thanks.

It's about time people grew up and learned to accept they can't have everything in life for themselves i.e. an empty Solent......

Of course there are arseholes out there who show no regard to others, but they don't pick on sailors, they pi$$ off everyone. It just seems sailors like to whinge more than motor boaters.

I get thoroughly pi$$ed off almost every weekend coming out of Chichester harbour with twats sailing in and out of marked channels showing total disregard for COLREGS and expecting to be given right of way, I accept they are primitive degenerates and live with it. It's my choice to use a boat there so have to accept that there will be morons about, pretty much the same as when I use the M25, I know there will be morons there too and accept it.

How can you honestly expect motor boats to give you enough clear water so as there wake will not effect you, it's impossible in the confides of the Solent with so many boats about. AFWIW the effect of wash on a slow moving motor boat compared to that of a yacht is much more severe.

I can only assume all this moaning comes from a deep routed inferiority complex



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

Re: Photographs....

Get photos with the transom name showing evidence of proximity and speed and post them here. The news will soon get around.

In fact standing on the side deck (holding the shrouds of course) with a camera might ensure that they stay off..!

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[KevB]

Re: Photographs....

Ah ha, but your shutter speed could never be quick enough and will only capture a blur....... Where as I can take pictures all day long of saily types doing wrong!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ParaHandy]

hmmm ... possible ... the organising bod in the rib looked a bit harassed and that might explain the presence of the girl "just going to Wooton, dear"

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[SteveB_Sigma33]

If any mobo actually wanted to experience what it's like to be buzzed by one of their own kind, I'd be more than happy to take them out sailing for an afternoon.

Maybe it could serve as an education to both parties!!!!



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Wiggo]

genuine question

Given that it is not possible in the Solent to leave sufficient room for wash to die away completely, and given that dropping from 20 to 10 knots will leave a vastly bigger wash, which gives the most comfortable ride for a yacht:

a) overtaking you and remaining on a parallel track so you have to cross my wash at a gentle (30 degree-ish) angle, or

b) overtaking you and then turning sharply across your bow (a good distance away), so you cross my wash at right angles, but it's quite wide at that point, or

c) overtaking you and turning sharply across your bow as close as is safe, so you cross a very narrow wake at right angles?

I imagine that a) will make you corkscrew violently, b) will make you pitch quite a lot, and c) will make you pitch much less, but may frighten the living daylights out of you if you think I don't know what I'm doing.

Happy to modify my behaviour if it helps make life more comfortable...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Idealism gets us no where.

nor will being in denial.

On a trip from say Cowes to Lymington the average sail boat will upset no one.

The average powerboat will upset someone in a small boat, a sailing boat or on shore.

Why? Because the movement of his boat will create a wave of anything upto 3ft in height that will run counter to the prevailing conditions and disturbs the rhythm of the sailboat affected.

This situation is much worse in light winds and flat seas where sail boats are left floundering, stopped dead, with arcing mast and flapping sails and a most discomforted, if not actually injured crew.

This can happen repeatedly and frequently and is not at all enjoyable. It leads to the hordes of motoring sailboats heading for port because there is no pleasure left in the day.

Small fishing vessels and dinghies are affected to a much greater extent and put at real risk.

There is no way around this situation. For a MoBo owner to enjoy himself in the more crowded sailing areas he will discomfort a lot of sailing crews. Denying this gets us nowhere.

To belive that there is a simple answer is equally dumb. The preponderance of MoBo's are designed to make wash, well it's a by-product but you know what I mean, and designs that make little wash, like the Hunter Landau, are not really changing the world yet.

Slowing down often makes the wash bigger so thats not going to work. Better trimming might help. You often see two boats of the same type and one makes big wash while the other is bearly noticeable. Giving more searoom is only possible if there's room to use which in the mid Solent on a weekend is unlikely. So there is no answer. MoBo's are growing in popularity, add in the RIBS, which are growing in size, and the PWC's, and I've seen the Solent future and it's MoBo.This spring and summer's light winds and flat seas have suited MoBo's very well.

So whats to be doneif your a raggie? Well maybe Gordon Brown will save us, or we could put our faith in Global Warming and hope for stronger winds. We could buy bigger boats that'll ride the wash better and get us further away from the Solent quicker.

Perhaps we could split the Solent in two and sail in one half and MoBo in the other.
It's a real problem that those of us with sails, and huge genitalia, will just have to endure so that MoBo owners can continue to compensate.

<hr width=100% size=1>