RIB drivers. Ignorant or inconsiderate?

[pessimist]

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.

 

[johnalison]

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.

 

[newtothis]

No, it is legal to harpoon them so long as there isn’t an R in the month.

I thought it was okay on any day with an A in it.

 

[Mister E]

On our last mooring I was tempted to make a cannon and fire frozen dog shit at them.

 

[Tamar]

Bane of my life. Them and semi displacement motor boats doing 8 knts

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

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......"

 

[westernman]

On our last mooring I was tempted to make a cannon and fire frozen dog shit at them.

Why frozen??

 

[PhillM]

Why frozen??

Cause it’s easier to keep than in the fridge ?

 

[Mister E]

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]

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.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

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.

 

[ProMariner]

I blame the parents

 

[[2574]]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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...

 

[Chiara’s slave]

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.