RIB drivers. Ignorant or inconsiderate?

pessimist

Well-known member
Joined
7 May 2003
Messages
3,178
Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
Visit site
We have many ribs driving through the moorings kicking up a large wash. Today's morons take the biscuit. SWMO was doing the "pick up the mooring" dance on the foredeck when two came through kicking up a lovely big wash for the third to criss cross. Are harpoons illegal.
 
Last edited:

johnalison

Well-known member
Joined
14 Feb 2007
Messages
41,010
Location
Essex
Visit site
We have many ribs driving through the moorings kicking up a large wash. Today's morons take the biscuit. SWMO was doing the "pick up the mooring" dance on the foredeck when two came through kicking up a loveley big wash for the third to criss cross. Are harpoons illegal.
No, it is legal to harpoon them so long as there isn’t an R in the month.
 

Mister E

Well-known member
Joined
16 Nov 2015
Messages
4,734
Location
here
Visit site
Less smell and it would fire better.

Plus would you be able to keep a straight face if someone told you about being hit with a frozen dog turd.
 

mm42

Active member
Joined
9 Sep 2014
Messages
385
Location
North of England
Visit site
I'd be wary of grouping whole boat owners together, just as not all yachties are WAFIs who come into a narrow channel dead ahead of a large commercial constrained by her draught, then stop and drop sails, but some have done it to me.

There's dicks in every type of boat.
 
Last edited:

Chiara’s slave

Well-known member
Joined
14 Apr 2022
Messages
7,737
Location
Western Solent
Visit site
I'd be wary of grouping whole boat owners together, just as not all yachties are WAFIs who come into a narrow channel dead ahead of a large commercial constrained by her draught, but some have done it to me.

There's dicks in every type of boat.
Too true. Many of us have RIBs as well as sail boats. They’re used for rescue, mark laying, chase boat for instructing, all sorts. The kind of use that involves tearing through moorings, I fully sympathise. Some people are just utterly thoughtless.
 

[2574]

...
Joined
29 Nov 2002
Messages
6,022
Visit site
There's dicks in every type of boat.

Very true. I was gullwinged dead downwind recently when a yacht approaching, across our bows, was on starboard. So I gave way, real PITA as had to gybe and gybe again, as we passed astern of said yacht I could hear and see the engine running……
 

Chiara’s slave

Well-known member
Joined
14 Apr 2022
Messages
7,737
Location
Western Solent
Visit site
Very true. I was gullwinged dead downwind recently when a yacht approaching, across our bows, was on starboard. So I gave way, real PITA as had to gybe and gybe again, as we passed astern of said yacht I could hear and see the engine running……
That happens to us frequently in the Solent. They like to motorsail without a cone on starboard tack.
 

savageseadog

Well-known member
Joined
19 Jun 2005
Messages
23,296
Visit site
A few years ago......

We were tied up at At Georges Pier at Menai Bridge (Menai Strait). I was about 40ft up our deck stepped mast trying to swap a furling gear for a wire/Tuffluff forestay. The rigging was slacked off to do this. As I was about this a giant excursion RIB returned at high speed with enormous wash. The mast with me part attached flicked and swiveled about like crazy. Being fractional there was no backstay, just a 6mm topping lift, the strain on it as we pitched forward was obvious from the thinning of the rope. I did expect it to part which would have dismasted us into the water with me attached. I actually planned in those moments what I would have to do if that actually happened.
 

ylop

Well-known member
Joined
10 Oct 2016
Messages
2,558
Visit site
Does your harbour / moorings have a speed limit? The problem is often that at the official limit planing powerboats make large wash. Whilst well intentioned it would be better if harbours had “no wash” rather than “5 knots” - that might mean some ribs staying on the plane which will then result in different complaints.
 

westhinder

Well-known member
Joined
15 Feb 2003
Messages
2,541
Location
Belgium
Visit site
I'd say it was ignorance, of the clueless kind, rather than the wilful kind. "If I can drive a car I can drive a boat with a steering wheel, just keep to the left......"
I agree.
I was invited on a friend’s powerful mobo and it was only when I pointed out the effect of his wash on sailing yachts we passed at high speed that he realised. He had owned powerboats for over 20 years and had never looked behind the boat for the results. At the speeds he did, he needed all his attention on what was happening in front.
 

Chiara’s slave

Well-known member
Joined
14 Apr 2022
Messages
7,737
Location
Western Solent
Visit site
Does your harbour / moorings have a speed limit? The problem is often that at the official limit planing powerboats make large wash. Whilst well intentioned it would be better if harbours had “no wash” rather than “5 knots” - that might mean some ribs staying on the plane which will then result in different complaints.
My 6.5m rib makes little wash at 5kn. 6-7 is another matter entirely. In open water it’s often better to be planing fast though, wash is limited, and as long as you don’t pass too close, doesn't seem too bad. With a foot in both camps here, though I’m very much a sailing person, some of this mobo prejudice is just that. Mobos have a right to exist, and be used. This is always going to conflict with sailors to some extent. The disagreement is minor compared to the car/bicycle arguments. Both camps need to show some consideration, thats all.
 

Adios

...
Joined
20 Sep 2020
Messages
2,390
Visit site
Does your harbour / moorings have a speed limit? The problem is often that at the official limit planing powerboats make large wash. Whilst well intentioned it would be better if harbours had “no wash” rather than “5 knots” - that might mean some ribs staying on the plane which will then result in different complaints.
I thought I was the only one to think this. Planning (small) boats make very little wash but the worst wash they create is when they fall off the plane which they will tend to do just before the moored boats if they are being considerate. Its quite backwards thinking. Of course then yes there's the speed vs safety issue...
 
Top