RIB drivers. Ignorant or inconsiderate?

[oldbloke]

I am sure that if the wash preceded the boat rather than follow it people would behave very differently.

 

[pessimist]

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.

I agree. We use rib as a tender ourselves but are careful about wash around moored boats. My beef is with those who simply don't care.

 

[pessimist]

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.

There is a speed limit and also a "no wash" rule. They are seldom enforced and the rib jockeys know this.

 

[DownWest]

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.

Presumable you could have ID ed the rib, as it was a trip boat? I would have gone round and made a formal complaint to the management about the 'seamanship' of their driver.

 

[ylop]

There is a speed limit and also a "no wash" rule. They are seldom enforced and the rib jockeys know this.

Well the speed limits in many harbours are never enforced at all but that doesn't stop many people following them!
I think a speed limit AND a no-wash rule is probably confusing for some people. Like a 20mph road with "SLOW" signs!
Presumably, they were the overtaking boat so had a duty to keep clear. Many of those people will never have helmed anything different so have no perception of your experience. Ask an HGV driver what he thinks of average car driver and you'll get a similar response. In a busy harbour with constant wash issues perhaps a different mooring pick up technique (like lasooing) would be safer? If its a one off, perhaps its better for skipper to abort and come round again once wash has passed?

Realistically you will never solve the wash issue - it happens in countries with licensing and mandatory qualifications as well as water cops to enforce stuff. For those particular individuals did you see them later to have a "polite discussion"? If you did would you manage to do that without it turning into an argument that ruins your day?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I doubt that 90% of harbour speed limits are legally enforcable. Technically they are voluntary. And it is a pretty small minority who break them.

 

[savageseadog]

Presumable you could have ID ed the rib, as it was a trip boat? I would have gone round and made a formal complaint to the management about the 'seamanship' of their driver.

Menai Bridge is very lightly overseen, there is no speed limit and the driver would have been unaware that I was aloft. There is a lot of regular wash there from motorboats largely from Conwy and Deganwy. There is an enforced speed limit at Port Dinorwic, Y Fenyllheli.

It was a truly scary moment though and I probably shouldn't have done it.

 

[Adios]

planing at speed inside harbours and mooring areas is unthinkable, wash or no wash. A bit of spilt tea in the cockpit, against a possible high speed accident.

Not true in all the cases where I've wished a passing boat would have kept on the plane. Wider rivers. And planning speed isn't that fast for a light boat.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

My 6.5 planes properly at about 12 kn. Its a small/medium boat by todays standards. Whatever you might wish, I won’t be doing 12 knots + when I pass moored boats. Every single other skipper would be doing their nut, and quite right too.
It makes even less wash at 35kn, but….

 

[Caladh]

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.

We’ve been 8 weeks in S Ireland and tbh someone soon is going to be killed by a RIB. As they roar in an anchorage or moorings by they’re quite surprised if you shout at them !! Many people in the water swimming, paddle boarding etc nearby.

 

[Capt Popeye]

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.

Yes but the Harbour Limitis the max not the obligatory limit ; SO , if doing the max allowed creates too much wash , then try a lower speed that does not

After all the limit is for safety and navigational purposes , usuall large Ships just migh have to exceed the max in order to maintain steerage way ?

But in my opinion , there ought to be areas where the Ribs and Jet Ski can are encouraged to use safetly

 

[Adios]

My 6.5 planes properly at about 12 kn. Its a small/medium boat by todays standards. Whatever you might wish, I won’t be doing 12 knots + when I pass moored boats. Every single other skipper would be doing their nut, and quite right too.
It makes even less wash at 35kn, but….

I find doing 20mph in a car feels like walking pace so its weird that 12kn would seem recklessly fast but i can imagine all the shaking heads and fists so....

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I find doing 20mph in a car feels like walking pace so its weird that 12kn would seem recklessly fast but i can imagine all the shaking heads and fists so....

Having shaken my head and fist as passing RIBs myself, yes, I think you’ve got it there. Better a bit of wash than high speed. And a bit is a lot less than an 8 knot forced speed scupper washer of a wake. You either slow right down, 5kn or less, or risk wrath by wake or by speeding.

 

[westernman]

I find doing 20mph in a car feels like walking pace so its weird that 12kn would seem recklessly fast but i can imagine all the shaking heads and fists so....

You walk faster than I can.
Heck you walk faster than I can run.

 

[Adios]

You walk faster than I can.
Heck you walk faster than I can run.

"Feels like"! I've never fully understood why speed in a boat feels so much faster than the same speed in a car or even in the wind on a motorbike. The new 20mph speed limits on the road kill me though. I just wish they'd made all the 30s into 25 which somehow is much better than 20. And then less distraction looking for signs when it goes from 20 to 30 and back again every other road.

 

[Adios]

Having shaken my head and fist as passing RIBs myself, yes, I think you’ve got it there. Better a bit of wash than high speed. And a bit is a lot less than an 8 knot forced speed scupper washer of a wake. You either slow right down, 5kn or less, or risk wrath by wake or by speeding.

well i agree entirely that we can't go to having a faster limit and hoping people will be sensible within it. Hoping people will be sensible is a mugs game.

 

[creeks]

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.

Menai Bridge is very lightly overseen, there is no speed limit and the driver would have been unaware that I was aloft. There is a lot of regular wash there from motorboats largely from Conwy and Deganwy. There is an enforced speed limit at Port Dinorwic, Y Fenyllheli.

It was a truly scary moment though and I probably shouldn't have done it.

Was this the fella? Currently out of action due to "regulatory changes" according to their website.



Photo copyright: Me (taken at Menai Bridge Regatta 2019)

 

[savageseadog]

Was this the fella? Currently out of action due to "regulatory changes" according to their website.

View attachment 140533

Photo copyright: Me (taken at Menai Bridge Regatta 2019)

Interesting, could be.

I think the lesson from that incident for me was not to have assessed all the potential risks.
The lesson for the RIB driver and all if us is that there can be a lot more going on around you, on, in or above the water than you realise.

 

[Cloona]

i don't really mind too much spilt tea and being shaken up and down ... and my food getting thrown on the floor ...

what I really hate is any powered craft doing more than 3 knots through moorings or near a beach or anywhere at all where people might be swimming ...

jet skis ? motor boats ?

anything anywhere - where human activity might include people in the water ... ever taken a swim off your boat when a jet ski or even a powered up tender goes by ...

this is what happens if they run over your head ..

Singer Kirsty MacColl dies

.

 

[johnalison]

Having sat through a 40 min RIB trip each way from Jersey to Sark this year, I am at something of a loss to see why anyone should want to do this for pleasure, even though RIBs obviously make good work boats.