Several near misses!!

[nicho]

With our boat back in the water (complete with new bowthruster - brilliant by the way), we took the opportunity to have a few days on board getting her ship shape again. Whilst on the transom with sponge in hand, I was conscious of a large 42 foot motor cruiser leaving it's berth a hundred metres further down the pontoon. This magnificent, Norfolk built boat is new to a recently converted raggie, and watching his amateurish efforts to control the substantial vessel, would have any one of you believing there should be compulsory training. With engines and bowthruster roaring, he shot past us, and, failing to turn for the pontoon 'dogleg', headed straight for the stern of another large motor cruiser.

With hands darting from one throttle lever to the other, (obviously not sure of which did what), the boat finally went full astern, pulling it over to the other side of the water, and stopping just short of a brand new £350K sailing boat!!. More revs, and copious amounts of the bowthruster, retrieved that situation, but saw the boat carreering back to the other side heading straight for the transoms of several other sailing boats, "safely" tucked into their moorings. Undeterred, and with further long bursts of bowthruster, and roaring of engines, the boat, by now travelling at several knots, just, (and I mean by a couple of inches only) missed these fortunate boats. One owner who was in his cockpit, was convinced a heavy collision was about to take place. Meantime, his wife was running like a maniac from one side of the boat to the other with a single, and small fender in her hand!!! At the end of the pontoon, the boat turned towards the open lock, with the much abused (and no doubt, by now, smoking) bowthruster being used to steer the boat!!

A number of witnesses were left in a state of some shock and disbelief as to how damage was not done. Please don't ever tell me again that compulsory boat handling training is a bad idea. I had to have several large whiskies to get over the trauma!!

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[steve_cronin]

The Greeks have an expression......

"Sega, sega"

means:- slowly, slowly.

Perhaps your neighbour - can't be all bad if he used to be a "raggie" (I was a "stinkie" once too) should adopt that philosophy. However, the last "modern" twin screw motor cruiser I drove ( Bavaria 38 last year) had very twitchy throttles which made even the simplest close quarters manouvre a nerve tingling experience. I don't think that the builders take much care of this point.

I believe that Nelsons fit progressive linkages but you are of course paying for quality there.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[SlowBoat2]

There but for the grace of God ........

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[Twister_Ken]

Business opportunity

I'm surprised that Nicho Powerboat Training Services (est 2004) didn't spring into action (bound to be more successful that Nicho Yacht Delivery and Forecabin Rebuilding Services.) And I know just the person to do you a cut-price training video!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[duncan]

I am not sure that training would have avoided this - we may all know that throttles shouldn't be used in confined spaces and that in and out of gear will resolve all situations but everyone grabs a handfull of throttle once or twice in their 'career'. I also think that you are right in your assesment that having the bowthruster and a couple of engines to think about probably added to the situation.

At one point last year I got myself in such a situation that the only course of action I could see avoiding damage (to my boat) was to turn the engine off, wind up the drive and jump overboard! (we were trying to get onto a marina trailer in poor conditions) - I wholly admit that a few years earlier I would have tried anything and everything with the throttle on a wing and a prayer ; and dully damaged the drive on a rock, the bow on pier and the hull on the end of the trailer. Did I look silly to the crowd on the pier - amost certainly, did I care - nope!

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[Dave_Snelson]

Nicho - your graphic descriptions actually made me laugh out loud, inspite of the obvious consternation caused by this chap.

I'm sure this ex-raggie can't have caught "mad stink-pot disease" so early on in his MoBo career, so we'll have to put it down to sticky throttles!

But yeah - maybe training wouldn't go amiss, and as you're probably quite aware, most of PB 1&2 is done at slow speed.

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[Col]

It is interesting to note that a commonly held belief from raggies is that you simply get on a mobo, turn the key, and go....Just like a car!
Maybe this guy found out that it's not quite as simple as that??

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[milltech]

It's a lesson worth his learning that when everything goes wrong he won't get into much trouble by just stopping and getting all the fenders out, including a couple hand held, follwed by a little quiet re-evaluation. Much less trouble than using the throttles.

Also...have a plan.

I'm about to acquire a boat with a bow thruster, never used one before, it was pointed out to me that they are only properly effective when stationary which I had not appreciated.



<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[ponapay]

As a \'raggie\' I went

from skippering a 28 foot ULDB to skipper a 200 ton 3,000 hp twin screw motor boat. In the days before bow thrusters too.

I was very grateful for the good training I had and the use of very minimal throttle. My first berth was a tricky one and I had been warned by the 'chief' that I would probably take 40-50 engine movements to get berthed (there was a sweep stake on the number). The manoeuvre was completed with 22 movements.

Training is essential and should be compulsory before anyone is allowed to skipper any vessel with more than one crew member. How can you be expected to take responsibility for anyone else's life when you don't know whether you can take care of your own?

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[nicho]

Latest is, following the near misses, he got it jammed in the lock, and did some damage to the boat. The Marina staff had to sort it out, and he's now having some professional tuition.

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[nicho]

Re: Business opportunity

Ken, that's hurtful!! Mind, there could be a few quid to be made - should I put an ad in MBM?

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[Mike2822425]

Re: What a load of rollocks.

As an ex. stinkie (45ft twin detroits ect) I must protest. As a Raggie(now) in my old age (due to reduced circumstances) I speak from experience! Give me twin engines any day in a marina (confined) and I would not touch anything!!! But a long keel boat with single prop AGHHA. I have now joined an evangelical church. God is either with you or against you.

N.B. Correct, no throttles, just for and aft on the twin controls, and she will turn in just over her own length.

The Arabic for slowly slowly is "Shweue shweue" no big fists full of vava..voom



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