Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
Wake from larger boats... non issue or safety concern?
- Thread starter thecommander
- Start date
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Some of the posts have been very enlightening about the mentality, or lack of it, in some, repeat some, motorboaters. It is clear that they objectify, to borrow a feminist word, other boat users in the way that many motorists do, and this gives them permission to do what they wish.
As for a child in a Topper, there was an occasion some years ago when I borrowed a Topper and sailed it off Osea Island. As soon as I ventured outside the 8Kn limit, it was apparent that I was taking my life in my hands, with water-skiers and other powered craft buzzing me continuously. I don't regard myself as a nervous sailor, but this was probably the most alarming experience I have had on the water, far more than cruising anywhere from Ireland to Poland, and certainly not one I would introduce a child to, or even a teenager.
As for a child in a Topper, there was an occasion some years ago when I borrowed a Topper and sailed it off Osea Island. As soon as I ventured outside the 8Kn limit, it was apparent that I was taking my life in my hands, with water-skiers and other powered craft buzzing me continuously. I don't regard myself as a nervous sailor, but this was probably the most alarming experience I have had on the water, far more than cruising anywhere from Ireland to Poland, and certainly not one I would introduce a child to, or even a teenager.
dom
Well-Known Member
This thread is arguably making a mountain out of a molehill, or some nautical equivalent. But yes, there is a surprising seam of mean spiritedness creeping in here, some of it for poetic effect The good news is that I imagine this attitude is pretty rare. Seafarers are generally a considerate and friendly bunch.
onesea
Well-Known Member
I do not "have a cow" about washes, we just view motorboats with great suspicion one to many idiots. Your contributions to threads like this really do not help peoples perspective of Mobo's or Yachties as a whole....
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Mobos are like white vans. Only a small percentage of them are driven by arrogant idiots but it's enough to get them all branded that way by a lot of raggies.
Resolution
Well-Known Member
I was thinking along these lines last night as I watched a TV program about in-car cameras (mea culpa, my standards have slipped). There were some extraordinary shots from bicycle headcams, one in particular with a vigilante cyclist shouting and swearing at motorists. Please please can we avoid going down this route, let's try to stay considerate and friendly as dom suggests.
Peter
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
I suppose the open sea isn't the ideal place to teach kiddies, or any total newcomer, how to sail a dinghy.
There's plenty to learn and concentrate on, even if the water is flat and other users are considerate.
Quiet lakes and shallow upper-reaches of harbours must be best for learners at risk of being unnerved.
I've noticed how cheerfully bold the kids (fearless young ruffians) and women-singlehanders at my club, are...I guess they learned the basics somewhere relatively quiet, and discovered there's not actually much to fear...
...so now they share the view that boisterousness in open water (through wind or traffic) is part of the fun.
There's plenty to learn and concentrate on, even if the water is flat and other users are considerate.
Quiet lakes and shallow upper-reaches of harbours must be best for learners at risk of being unnerved.
I've noticed how cheerfully bold the kids (fearless young ruffians) and women-singlehanders at my club, are...I guess they learned the basics somewhere relatively quiet, and discovered there's not actually much to fear...
...so now they share the view that boisterousness in open water (through wind or traffic) is part of the fun.
Cloona
Well-Known Member
anyone want to estimate the fatalities on RIBs in the last ten years ...............
and then tell me I am wrong to nervous anytime they are anywhere near me - wash or not ....
and then tell me I am wrong to nervous anytime they are anywhere near me - wash or not ....
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
I'd guess the number is rather less than that for fatalities in the near vicinity of RIBs. Whilst still on board I'd reckon that someone would be relatively safe. Unless of course you are including those who expire on a RIB belonging to one of the rescue organisations that make such use of them
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C08
Well-Known Member
From my observations the motor boats that create the most danger and wash close to other boats are boats that only really dash around in a very geographically limited area e.g Solent, Chichester, Menai Strait/Conwy, Poole Harbour/Swanage etc.
[2068]
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There is some faulty logic here.
The assumption is that the sea is flat and inviting at all times, provided solely for the pleasure of small sailing vessels who wish not to spill their tea.
I would love to visit such a place, but the entrance to Cowes is not that place, for a variety of reasons, only some of which are due to the activities of planing motorboats.
Babylon
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your clarification and, for my part, I welcome your apology. On a general note, I'm not arguing for some kind of ludicrously artificial 'safe space' here. If anyone is out-of-order then a robust reply is perfectly fine by me, but like most forumites I enjoy this place and would prefer to stay - rather than being stung for making a contribution. I apologise for my part.
I didn't mean to imply that all - or even a majority - of motor-boaters are cretins or make any other unhelpful generalisations. My own 8ft tender can make a mess of the water if I give the 2.5hp two-stroke too much welly, and I've encountered plenty of sailing yachts down the years where lack of awareness and inconsiderate seamanship has made them a complete liability.
But the opening subject of the thread was about the effect of wash on small boats, and in some places a minority of motorboaters do easily and completely thoughtlessly use their engines to ill-effect.
Hence my litany of incidents (over 35 years on the road) to illustrate my point about awareness over complacency.
Resolution
Well-Known Member
Babylon
Peace. Friends again!
Peter
Peace. Friends again!
Peter
Triassic
Well-Known Member
I thought it was generally those that couldn't get it up that caused the problems....?
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Curious that most of this fuss this could be avoided by a simple operation involving closing the throttles when passing smaller craft,this used to be regarded as simply part of old fashioned seamanship.
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
Really?
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
I agree with you. I taught dinghy sailing years ago to kids on the Gareloch, Firth of Clyde. The Gareloch is home to submarines and that time it was Polaris boats that ploughed a deep furrow in the waters of the Graeloch; them and all the other vessels and tugs. The Gareloch is a flooded glaciated valley with no gently sloping beaches, waters edge to 30m deep in a stones throw.
Kids were always briefed on what to expect on the water and what to do about it which included what to do if the dinghy capsized. As we had safety boat cover that really amounted to holding on, entrapment and all that entails as well.
Onsea, kids are pretty good at understanding and listening, even when they are larking about, your example of a 'brief' could not be further from the realities of talking to kids and raising their awareness of the risks. I am sure you are just being gently facetious on the matter at hand. Most of the briefing stuff was done in stages, in the class rooms, in the dinghy park, at the slip, on the beach - 'chunking' I think is a modern term used to describe the method, a little at a time and often repeated.
The waves from the submarines and tugs were 6 to 10 feet high.
Wake and social manners, is that what we are really talking about? Anyone on the water should be prepared for the effects of wake, which may roll on for some time long after the vessel caused them has passed by. Recent experiences are at anchor in the Kyles of Bute and a displacement power boat safely navigates the narrows at speed within the wide, marked channel. On either side of the approaches to the channel are moorings and anchorages and his wake rolls through these some time after he has turned the corner. I assume the skipper was enjoying his day on the water, powering along in fine scenery causing no hassle to anyone. A quick shout below 'wake coming' deals with any cups of tea on the saloon table. I would not think the power boat owner is rude or inconsiderate in these circumstances. If he went through the even narrower west passage, which is not so well marked, a full whack, I would consider him full hardy, inconsiderate and possibly dangerous, should I be anchored in the bay right next to the narrows. So, I guess it is horses for courses, situational awareness, consideration for fellow water users. At the end of the day it is my responsibility on the boat to be aware of wake that may effect me and my boat.
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Hear, hear
awol
Well-Known Member
The http://peelports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Clyde-Leisure-Navigation-Guide-5th-Edition.pdf advises that any vessel creating any wash in the "No-wash Zone" between Rhubodach and Buttock Point should be reported to the Police, HM Coastguard or Peel Ports.
You will need to use VHF Ch 16 or 12 'cos mobile signals are crap.
RichardS
N/A
Shouldn't the Peel Ports Authority be referring to "wake" rather than "wash" as surely it's the wake which causes the problem?
Richard