Speeding MOBOs

[Mariner69]

Saturday afternoon, the wind eased right down so I'm using the outboard on my Hunter Europa, 20 foot of maritime splendour, heading up to the Fambridge Yacht Haven for an overnight.

In Easter Reach, at about 1530 hours, I am making about 5 knots over the ground with the tide. Coming towards me on my starboard side I see the Crouch Commissioners craft the "WATCHET" heading downstream at about the same speed, all comfortable.

Next thing, two large motor boats (more than 25 foot ? guesstimate) come hurtling down the river racing each other at more than 20 knots, well up on the plane with the first quarter of theirs bottoms showing clear of the water. A huge wash trailing behind.

Both passed at about ten metres away. My boat was thrown in the air and a large amount of water was washed into the accommodation through the open main (and sole) hatchway. I was nearly thrown out of the cockpit. The "WATCHET" seemed to be as badly affected yet no radio calls or apparent follow ups.

I complained at the marina and was told that the speed limit, supposed to be 8 knots, did not appear to be enforced and speeding motor boats were a problem. Whilst we were talking yet another motor boat passed the place at speed generating excessive wash and making the yachts on the outer side of the visitors pontoon bounce around.

Result, one less place to visit. Lost revenue to the marina and by extension to the Crouch Commissioners.

 

[FullCircle]

Although you have my sympathy, I hardly think it fair to write off Fambridge Yacht Haven because of Mobo wash. If that were the case, then you might as well put the boat in the Chelmer canal, because everywhere is susceptible at some time to wash from powerboats. It is a fact of life, and they are everywhere.
There are a lot of poweroats in the Hullbridge / Fambridge area, but rarely do they excedd the 8 kts limit in the Fambridge fairway.
Out of the Fambridge fairway going toward Burnham is a ski area, and unrestricted.

Powerboats produce much less wash on the plane than they do at sub 10 knot speeds.

We were in Fambridge on Monday, and have been regular visitors for nearly 20 years.

 

[AliM]

Are you sure the harbourmaster did nothing?

The week before, we were sailing slowly up the Crouch, approaching Bridgemarsh island, when a mobo passed close to us, very fast. It was outside the speed restriction area. The harbourmaster's rib saw, and came over to speak to us - we said we were irritated but did not make a complaint. Nevertheless, the harbourmaster said it was inconsiderate and he'd speak to the mobo - he rushed off after it, and reappeared 10 mins later, with a cheery wave, so I assume he did so.

I suggest you send your complaint (with names if possible) to the harbour masters and ask him what you should do in future.

 

[Mariner69]

Thanks Guys, Full Circle and yourself.

Rant now over and a lot calmer in thought. I shall take it up with the Harbour Commissioners.

I was talking to the Essex Police Marine Branch the other week and they said they were going to enforce the speed limits to cure this sort of thing, starting with the Crouch. Maybe they intercepted them further downstream. Hope springs eternal.

With respect to water sking they were not towing and the boats are inappropiate for that task.

If you didn't have a sense of humour............ /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Litotes]

The absence of speed limit in that part of the river doesn't absolve the culprits from the obligation to navigate safely and with due consideration for other users of the river. That is also in the by-laws and enforceable in court and applies everywhere on the river.

From personal experience of this kind of thing on that river (much bigger boat - maybe 60 foot - being driven flat out a mile or so below Fambridge) the harbour master and commissioners, one of whom I know personally, take this kind of behaviour very seriously.

 

[jfm]

Do you have a special dispensation from the rule about using two forum IDs? Or am i mistaken, and you're not Malaprop? (in which case I apologise)

 

[[2068]]

Malaprop cut'n'pasted the above post as his own.

 

[BrendanS]

which is fairly typical of him

 

[jfm]

sorry mariner69

Oops. In which case, I apologise to you Mariner69 for painting you as the villain

(edit, this is mainly directed to Mariner 69, though I just noticed it is a "reply to" s28)

In case you're wondering what this is about, please see this post where Malaprop has taken your post as his own.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2285610/an/0/page/0#2285610

Anyway, as I say, i apologise to you Mariner69 for suggesting in my post above that you were doing something wrong. I now see you weren't, sorry

And with regard to your original post, sorry to hear that happened to you. It shouldn't have, and the mobos behaved badly. Young and inexperienced, or just ill-mannered? I don't know. It happened to me on sunday - I was approaching harbour entrance in a mobo, about 300m off, crew attaching fenders at 4 knots or so. Lots of boats forming a queue to enter. A Leopard 27 called Estel charged thru at about 20kts overtaking me and others, very much on the plane. I guess it weighed perhaps 50 tonnes, so about 2500hp worth of wake originating 50m to my port side. No reply on VHF. This awful behaviour happens, sadly, far too often.

 

[Mariner69]

Re: sorry mariner69

Gentlemen,it seems my initial rant has generated all manner of discord and for that I apologise.

I was angry at the pure bad seamanship being exhibited by the two boat owners and I was surprised in some respects to read closely the words "Sunseeker" on the passing boat.

I was not showing any cone point downwards since my sails were stowed and I was bimbling along enjoying the putt putt of a Honda outboard. Less about that; it is water under the bridge.

With respect to the cut and paste posting by Malaprop, I am grateful that I didn't have chance to read the forum until now, as I would have been even more confused than I was. Thank you, one and all, for showing the link to the other posting.

I can categorically state that I have no links with nor knowledge of Malaprop at any time. I suspect the posting was intended, and as such succeeded, to sow disquiet in the Motor Boat Forum. This was never my intention.

I saw the West Mersea Rally by the way and thank who ever tied up my loose halyard which must have been banging. I never heard a thing; good stuff the Abott Ale at the Ferryboat /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif