Restricted manoeuvrability

[rwoofer]

For the first time, we managed to stay in Bembridge on Friday night, as our 2.1 metre draft has usually been too much to stay inside. Anyway we left the marina about 6:30 on Saturday evening cause lots of boats were coming in and we didn't want to get stuck inside a raft. This was about 2.5 hours before HW.

At a steady 2 knots we crept out through the middle of the channel, with as little as 10cm under the keel. Cause it was tight we were at times taking up most of the channel. We must have had about 5 incidents of Motorboats trying to push as aside by literally pointing straight at us, shouting us etc etc to get out of the way. Problem was we didn't have the any water.

How could I indicate, in a way most people can understand, that they need to stay clear as I'm restricted in my manoeuvrability?

(By the way when we got out the depth gauge at the entrance was reading less than 2 metres)

 

[tazzle]

Um, fly a nice big 'D'?

Surely even if people don't know the meanings of flags apart from 'A', if they see one flying they'll look it up?

 

[landaftaf]

display a black cylinder as per regs

Rule 28

Vessels Constrained by their Draft

A vessel constrained by her draft may, in addition to the lights prescribed for power driven vessels in Rule 23, exhibit where they can best be seen three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or a cylinder.

interestingly enough I noticed hms nottingham was flying the cylinder when entering and leaving pompey harbour the last couple of days ....... unusual to say the least

 

[Norman_E]

You would be perfectly entitled (in the circumstances you describe) to display the day shape for a vessel constrained by her draft as this was in fact your situation. Trouble is I doubt you have the shape (a cylinder) on board, and some MOBO owners probably would not recognise it anyway.
I would suggest a call on VHF channel 16 to tell the other boat in good time that you are unable to manoeuvre and ask them to wait till you are clear of the shallow channel.
The MOBOs might have drawn less water than you, but if they only had a metre or two of water under them, their skippers probably thought they could not turn out of the centre of the channel.

 

[rwoofer]

I knew that there are recognised symbols for restricted drafts, but I really don't think that people know what they mean. I'll put my hand up and say I would be consulting the almanac myself.

VHF sounds a good pre-caution, but nowadays I think a lot of vessels don't bother to listen.

Maybe I need one of those scrolling signs, like Jeremy Clarkson bought in a recent Top Gear ;-)

 

[Norman_E]

Loud hailer and collision flares as backup?

 

[gandy]

Assuming the other boats were less than 20m, wouldn't they be obliged to "not impede" under Rule 9, without any shapes shown? I don't know Bembridge, and I don't know whether the Rules would define it as "a narrow channel or fairway" for these purposes.

Funny this scenario should come up, because I could easily be in the same position coming into or out of Findhorn, for example a RIB or jetski loitering in the channel and making me the overtaking vessel.

 

[Malcb]

[ QUOTE ]
with as little as 10cm under the keel.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're lucky, when I have less that 0.8m on my depth gauge it just goes blank /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[landaftaf]

I take the situation as the yot under power is advising the other incoming vessel he is constrained by his draught, and needs to keep to the deep water in the channel - not favouring the stbd side. I would not use the radio, I would prefer the cylinder - being the correct day signal as per regs

even if both are under 20 m, or the yot under power is under 20m and the incoming vessel is over 20 m, in my opinion the incoming vessel should keep clear if she was not constrained.

however, on the flood tide, another vessel going with the flood, which is constrained by its draught, could expect the other vessel stemming the tide to make way for her ..... even if she also was constrained by her draught

of course both vessels would be displaying a cylinder ........ and when have you ever seen that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

but I have never seen a black cylinder carried on a yot I have been on (apart from a gas cylinder used for the keg beer - and that would not be used for anything other than wot it was intended for) ...... have you ?

 

[[3889]]

Nasa, by any chance? Mine goes from 0.8 to 1.4 and that's when you know you're going to ground.

 

[stevebirch2002]

2 fingers is a good reply or just shout in Icelandic

 

[kengill]

I'de suggest fly Flag X and D plus from the port crosstree and the two flag hoist UY from the starboard. Combine this with a cylinder in the fore triangleand that should be clear to anyone.


Failing that try MB3 (You should leave the channel free) and MY2 (It is dangerous to proceed on current course).

If you're really upset use MZ1 (I consider you are carrying out a dangerous navigational practice and intend to report you).

Failing that sound five "dots" on the horn.

 

[ColinHuggins]

Interesting. Here's my two pennyworth:

Flags are a waste of time since not required for Yachtmaster and certainly not described in Reeds. That's why I have an unused set of code flags for sale (sorry about the plug.)

No tide worth worrying about, so upstream/downstream doesn't feature.

Local knowledge? I do happen to know that deepest water is near the red cans over the shallowest part, in other words drive on the right when leaving - but heaven help you trying to enforce the opposite when entering!! The HM will amplify and he might also admit that the tide gauge at the entrance deliberately under-reads; can you guess why?

I would settle on holding my course and making the appropriate sound signal = a long blast. And hold your course.

Oh, next time you're inside at LW (as you were) I'd walk the sands with camera and notepad. Then you'd really know the channel.

 

[tillip]

Seems like the olo old story, us yachties seem to be of the opinion that mobo owners don't know much about coll regs and other stuff. I am sure that some do but in the main I think that to get a sailing boat from one place to another often need a bit more thought, especially something like a moody 44. We sail out of christchurch (4ft draught) and touch bottom on most occasions, as we come out of the run the bottom is shingle but the mobos will overtake between the channel marks, they have all of that sea in front but they just can't wait to get the hammer down, totally oblivious as to the damage that they would cause, should we be dumped on the bottom, it doesn't bear thinking about. I don't know what the answer is but we are aware that most RYA evening classes are mainly folks taking up sailing.

 

[Goldie]

Re: Code Flags

Not all boaters even know the 'A' flag. I was under the boat sorting out a loose prop anode about 10 days ago with my wife (also a qualified diver) as top cover. When a RIB approached too close/too fast she pointed to the 1m x 1.5m 'A' flag displated prominently from a boat hook hung over the side where I was working. The idiot came over "to see if she was in distress" (tied to a pontoon on a flat calm evening!). When she explained, all she got was verbal abuse. He was still shouting abuse when he returned downstream half an hour later by which time I was on the surface. Loss of face in front of the trophy blonde and child perhaps? This was in the upper reaches of Portsmouth harbour, mid week, mid evening and he was one of only 3 boats we saw all night. I'm afraid it is one more step to me supporting comulsory licensing!

 

[Goldie]

Re: Day shape

I'd never though of using it as a day shape, but I have a cylindrical "D-Fender" (one of those heavy duty fenders stowed deflated) which is the right shape and a darkish grey. I might try it to see if anyone notices/understands/cares!

 

[Malcb]

[ QUOTE ]
Nasa, by any chance

[/ QUOTE ]
Yep, you guessed.

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
but I have never seen a black cylinder carried on a yot I have been on (apart from a gas cylinder used for the keg beer - and that would not be used for anything other than wot it was intended for) ...... have you ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. We were trying to cross one of the watts behind the Friesian Islands, and to get across as early as possible we were ploughing the mud. Looking behind us we saw a car ferry coming up, so bearing Rule 9 in mind we hoisted a black cylinder.

Dismantled the anchor ball to provide two disks, then clothes-pegged a black towel round the outside, and hoisted on the genoa halyard. The ferry immediately sheered off, and passed us with much waving!

The point about hoisting such a signal is that it puts you further in the right should there be an insurance claim. But only under power, and only if you really are constrained by draught.

 

[[3889]]

[ QUOTE ]
I would settle on holding my course and making the appropriate sound signal = a long blast.

[/ QUOTE ]

Shum mishtake shurly? 5 dots on the horn seems a better idea as there is no restriction in visibility.

Maye us ragiies should go down the fishing boat route and permanently display a cylinder as they do with cones / basket.

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
The point about hoisting such a signal is that it puts you further in the right should there be an insurance claim. But only under power, and only if you really are constrained by draught.

[/ QUOTE ] Why only under power? Clearly a yacht with a working auxilliary is likely to be be under power, but how about a sailing boat without an engine? For example the National 18s that sail locally, and probably draw more water than we do. Of course the sail vs power rules would apply in many such cases.