Cap'n Manners
Smart Boater
by Michael Verdon
July 1, 2007
The phrase "boating etiquette" is quaint and charming. One can imagine long-winded discussions
between Mr. Rat and Mr. Toad in
The Wind in the Willows on how to fly the club burgee, obtuse situations when a sailboat
is considered a powerboat, and reciprocal rights for berthing spaces between yacht clubs.
The book
Chapman Boating Etiquette by Queene Hooper and Pat Piper - the authorities on the subject
- takes a similar aristocratic tone, with chapters devoted to subjects like "Manners on
the Racecourse" (a sailboat racecourse, that is) and "Dressing the Ship" (a sailboat) with signal
flags. "Good manners in crowded waters are a true mark of good seamanship and deserve the highest
level of respect from all mariners," according to
Chapman.
True, but the language is more colorful when you ask a group of powerboaters their opinions
of other boaters' manners. A group of Crownline owners on the Crownline website gave
Boating World quite an earful on pet peeves regarding other boaters behaving badly.
Breach Of Boating Etiquette #1: Throwing A Big Wake
"I'm constantly amazed at the disregard so many boaters have for how their wake is
impacting others," says Steve Guyer of Holland, Mich. "I was towing a broken-down boat into a
channel from Lake Michigan and was violently rocked by all types of boats coming off/on plane.
Don't they realize they make their biggest wake when plowing just before they plane?"
"I'll add my
vote for the inconsiderate boaters who don't pay attention to no-wake zones or lower speed limits,
especially when there are boats at anchor or rafted up," adds John Capuano of Pasadena, Md. "And I
can't count the number of times I've had other boats zoom up behind us while we have skiers or
tubers up. It's not only rude, but it's also just plain dangerous to zoom by another vessel closer
than 100 feet."
It can also be expensive. According to
Chapman, "You are responsible for any damage caused by your wake. Wakes are not mentioned
in the
Rules of the Road, but a safe speed at all times is an important part of the rules, and
wakes are a function of speed." That means you could be liable for damages caused by your wake to
other boats, shoreline property, marinas, etc. Running too fast through a no-wake zone can also
mean a hefty fine and, in some jurisdictions, possible jail time for endangering the lives of
swimmers if it's a protected anchorage or swimming area.
A number of "Crownies" complained about PWC riders jumping their wakes way too
close to their cockpits. Tom Gilsdorf ranked it as his No. 1 complaint. "Some run so close that
they spray water in my cockpit or so near the bow that I lose sight of them," he says.
Cap'n Manners says:
The bottom line is to slow way down, below 5 mph, in marked no-wake zones and in any situation
where you might annoy or cause damage to a fellow boater. That means the wake is virtually
non-existent. "'Partial/ Reduced Wake' doesn't mean 'No Wake,'" notes Justin Henderson, who runs a
Crownline 266.
Breach Of Boating Etiquette #2: Taking Your Sweet Time At The Launch Ramp
"My gripe ranges from boaters not having the lines ready and boat loaded before they back it
down the ramp to guys butting in front of you to take their boat out first, even though you were
next in line," says Tony Campitelli of Westminster, Md. Virtually every Crownie trailering a boat
has similar complaints about slackers not having fenders ready or unloading coolers while other
boaters are waiting.
"It amazes me how many people have $70,000 boats but don't have fenders or ropes, and still
pull up to the launch ramp like you owe them something," says Kent Anderson of Lake Dallas, Texas.
Cap'n Manners says:
You know the person in the long grocery line who gets to the counter and never has their money
ready to pay? In order to get a respectful nod from those waiting at the launch ramp, have your
boat fully loaded with gear, fenders and lines before you back down the ramp, preferably with a
boat driver on board. Back the boat in, and have the driver pull it out of the way immediately
while you park the truck. The goal is to leave both the ramp and the adjoining dock as quickly as
possible. It's the same routine loading your boat - drop off the vehicle driver at the dock, get in
the line of boats waiting to use the ramp, quickly trailer it, and get out ASAP.
Breach of Boating Etiquette #3: Ripping Up The Anchorage
The third breach in manners is at anchor. "You're anchored in a shallow cove away from
others, minding your own business, when a boat pulls up and drops his anchor so close that his
outdrive is almost tangled with your anchor line," says Campitelli. "Then you spend the rest of the
afternoon wondering if he'll be banging up against you."
Besides anchoring so
closely that other boats don't have swing room, other anchoring no-no's include running too fast
through anchorages, dropping the hook in the middle of channels, and tying off to channel markers
to fish. There's also a question of limiting noise pollution - after all, most boaters want to get
away from it all on the water.
Cap'n Manners says: Treat an anchorage as a sanctuary, recognizing that others
often want space, peace and quiet, and some empty water. But it's also a question of first-come,
first-serve. If you and your friends are rafting up for a big party, it's only fair to ask other
boaters already in the anchorage if it'll bother them. If so, take it elsewhere. If your party is
the only one around, and another boater arrives and insists you pipe down, that's another story. It
depends on how much noise you're making (boating is a fun activity, after all, not a meditation
retreat) and whether the cove is used for fishing or other "quiet" activities. Use common
sense.
Breach of Boating Etiquette #4: Not Knowing The
Rules Of The Road
The fourth breach of etiquette has to do with knowing the
Rules of the Road - which most states now require for boating safety certificates,
but according to the Crownies, are too often ignored. "We've seen many cases of people coming
toward us on our port side thinking they have the right of
way when
they're the give-way vessel," say Dennis and Pat Kromer of Bethlehem, Pa. "More than once, we've
had to throttle back so they could shoot past our bow - and they gave us the dirty look."
Cap'n Manners says: Learn the Rules of the Road. It's the law. Specifically,
learn what the stand-on (maintain course) and give-way (alter course) vessels are in any given
crossing situation. There's also a pecking order to determine which types of vessels are always the
give-way and stand-on vessels. It's imperative to know these in order to avoid an accident. You
should also learn the appropriate sound signals for different crossing situations.
Breach of Boating Etiquette #5: Losing Control
"I see wake and ramp problems as more of a nuisance than anything," says Jim Canary of
Louisville, Ky. "What really bothers me is the total lack of attention that some people have
driving a boat. They wouldn't drive cars as recklessly as they do their boats. If they don't even
notice other boats, how are they going to see a downed skier?"
Cap'n
Manners says: Pay attention, folks. You can be fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for
negligent operation, and are legally liable if you cause an accident. It almost goes without saying
that you need to keep alcohol under control. State BUI laws are getting tougher every year. It
sounds melodramatic, but a foolish maneuver because of one drink too many or not paying attention
could ruin your life - or that of another boater - in a heartbeat.