Maybe RI does need to issue skippers Lic
 

Over the years I have heard rumors about making folks get a skippers lic in order to operatate a vessel in the water. It seems on the weekend around Narragansett Bay you have a lot of folks that have no clue what the rules of the road are. I decided to do a survey last Saturday as I piloted Restless to Potters Cove from Newport and count how many violations I came across. By the way I was piloting my own boat a Wellcraft Coastal 33. A 16 ton sea going tank.

1. As I was entering the channel from the mooring field I sounded my horn as required a guy in a sailboat actully gunned his engine to cut my off.

2. A power boat came roaring on at about 24 knots at the tip of Goat Island on my starboard side. He was out of the channel skipping over the boulder field at the tip of Goat. He was going at least 20 knots over the speed limit on the wrong side of the channel.

3. There was a small sailboat 14 foot or so, making way out of the harbor under sail, he was to my port side. He tacked in front of a 60 foot yacht, which had to do an emergency stop, this while 9 more boats where enterting from the Bay side.

4. A RIB crash boat from a weekend regata came in on the wrong side of the channel while taking pics of the racers.

Okay that was just in the 10 minutes it took to leave Newport Harbor.

5. When I was entering Potters Cove a 50 foot Catamaran under power cross over the channel right in front of me with no warning no horn , no whislte no radio call. She was on my Port side and had no rights. I had to stop my boat to let her pass.

6. As I passed into the channel and got to the last nun marking the cove, 4 small boats in a row. A floatilla of morons. Entered the Channeld from my starboard side with no horn, crossing my bow and forcing me to kick her into reverse.

7. On the way home a yahoo in a 45 foor cruiser was screaming up the bay past Sandy Point on the wrong side of the channel. I signaled by horn that I would pass him to my starboard. I turned to starboard so far that I was heading for the light house on the point and the moron was hard to Port trying to pass me on his port side. I had to crash turn to port to avoid a possbile collsion. He gave me a big wave , I just shook my head.

Lets not mention the countless jackasses that speed by smaller boats that are fishing putting up huge wakes or speed through the pass under the Newport bridge by the War College and go thru the wrong opening. I saw a cruiser have his prop ripped out and start to sink. The CG and Sea Tow saved that fools ass.

Its not bumper cars out there but sometimes I wonder. If we drove cars like people drove boats it would be mayhem and thats what it can be on the bay.

For the most part, people do. They operate with complete disregard of anyone outside of their "bubble". Even with lines on the road and signs everywhere telling you where you do and don't belong, think of how often people drive in the wrong lane or into oncoming traffic. Now, take the lines and signs away and you get the dangerous free-for-all that's witnessed on a daily basis.

Then there's also that there's significantly less chance of catching a ticket on the water than on land.

You like that horn :)
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:wall:D

THat was you blowin that F$%^& horn ???

No one else even has one .

I went to the entrance Of Potters , Sunday evening & a small pontoon boat came flying by us .
Which is no big deal .. especially there .. The thing was , that a adult was driving it & the kids were sitting on the sides . Every single bump >>> they were airborn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> No life jackets on anyone . I know its all in fun , But use just a little common sense ><><<<><

I saw the boat they were hanging in a private mooring that my dads buddy owns. big letters that said private on it. I decided not to get involved. I do sound my horn on passing situations. 1 beep for staboard 2 for port as the USCG states. I figure I will look better in court. lol

Your first problem was going on the weekend. Your second problem was going to Newport. Your third problem was thinking there would be more sane folks than insane folks.
My boat doesn't go on the water on weekends except in April and Oct.

Darwin watches.

He usually polices the waterways for us.

It is a handful on the weekends. Newport is my home port. Not what it use to be when I was a kid.

Clammer clued me in many years ago. If you are gonna run on weekends. Get back in your slip by 8:00 AM

Duke:
Learn to expect the unexpted. thats what I learned driving a giant steel box around that harbor...

Which boat are you driving?

Viking Queen
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Cool. I went on a booze cruise on her in 1983. Woke up on the ground under the ticket counter over on Goat Island. Total Black out. lol

FWIW, per Inland rules:

There is no requirement that sound signals be used at each and every instance of passing or overtaking. The device is not even required on vessels under 12 meters. Sounding the horn in such instances on a busy day is just a nuisance.

There is no designated sound signal for simply entering a channel.

Channels can be entered from either side. There is no correct side to enter or exit.

Except for narrow channels, there is no "wrong side of the channel."

I had my boat in Newport about 15 years out of the 23 I had it. It can be a real mess out there.

Sounds to me like there is some confusion about the rules of the road or I simply don't understand some of the descriptions of the reported mishaps.

Anyway , just like on the road , drive defensively.

Excessive speed is the single most dangerous thing out there. The guy bouncing his kids on the inflateable while going at excessive speed that Clammer mentioned is more dangerous to human safety than all the other rules of the road issues brought up.

Wait till this weekend! I cant belive someone hasnt been chopped in a prop on festival weekend

Weekend?
Try the entire week.
It was NYYC race week last week.

IMO, the harbor is pretty tame compared to the 80's and 90's... Back then it could be a battle zone.
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It hasn't changed much... during downswings in the economy, less idiots in 45ft sea rays... otherwise, same issues, same morons with boats...

Duke, before my time on the VQ... but driving that around the harbor, particularly through Brenton Cove Moorings, I'd put my 'close quarters combat' boat handling up with anyone. I was frequently the one cut off by the little sailboats as you describe...

The small 14' - 17' sailboats in the harbor are brutal. They just boot in and out the main channel with no regards for anyone else.

When my parents owned a 60 foot steel ketch, we would tear through Newport harbor under full sail. So much fun..it was best when the wind was out of the west
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+1. It seems that lots of blowboaters do not seem to realize that their status as stand-on vessel over most motorboats does not apply to when they are entering a channel.

Still, even with all the potential craziness, I'd rather be on the water than driving in a car.

agreed

Then let me retroactively say #^&#^&#^&#^& you.... :love:
along with your small boat racing days....

FYI. we need to get coffee or a beer soon. been a while since I saw your cuddly mug....

LOL!! I knew that would get you fired up! I've been trying to rondevous with Paul.. Maybe all 3 of us can meet up.
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[QUOTE=Roger;950152]FWIW, per Inland rules:

There is no requirement that sound signals be used at each and every instance of passing or overtaking. The device is not even required on vessels under 12 meters. Sounding the horn in such instances on a busy day is just a nuisance.


You are correct. My point was that I had to use my horn because I had head- on traffic.

-INLAND-
Steering and Sailing Rules
RULE 10
Traffic Separation Schemes
(a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes and does not
relieve any vessel of her obligation under any other Rule.
(b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:
(i) proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general
direction of traffic flow for that lane;
(ii) so far as practicable keep clear of a traffic separation
line or separation zone;
(iii) normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination
of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so
at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flo

Duke:
In a dessignated spereation scheme.
That applies south of the Bay, but Newport Harbor is not a designated seperation scheme....

Yup, rather be on the water than pretty much doing anything else. I cant wait for the Folk Festival. Bring on the craziness!

I am mounting water cannons and raising the skull and cross bones ..argggggggghhh.