Fun Boating Quiz.
 

Last fall we had a little boating quiz going on another post. I thought that it would be fun to start it over again. If you have an answer to a question give it! If you have a cool question, ask it!

I'll start with a tour of the Lake. Let's start at the Weirs and go from light #1 to light #2 through light #28 in order. (Skip light #15, it is a curve ball). It is a neet trip!

Question: What is special about light #20? How can you tell that it is special at night?

Misty Blue

Light # 20
 

Hmmmmmm ...............

I know light # 20 is on the Southern "Broads" side of Parker Island .........

I know light # 20 is NOT a Floating Light ........

I believe (without checking) light # 20 is a "Double Flasher" (special?) at night ...........

Is there more ?



p.s. .................. love this kind of trivia ..... irt helps teach more interesting aspects of the lake as a boater !! :look:

There are at least five other double flashers. FL16 at Middle ground, FL78 at Moose, FL71 at the Witches, FL7 at Six Mile and of course FL1 in Weirs bay. There may be more.

Following the lights in order sounds like fun, but I would do 1-14 then 17,18,16,19,15 then 20-28. While your at it why not 29,30 that's a nice spot. After that you're pretty much repeating, other than a run down Paugus. Rumor has it that 31-38 are the Weirs channel markers and 39 is off Big.

Funny, there are no flashing lights in Meredith Bay.

Boating Quiz:
 

Cool beans!

Niw try this one...

Why is the helm on the Starboard side of most small power boats?
Hint: 'Same reason as why every small outboard has it's tiller on the port side.

torque offset
 

I was led to believe it was to offset the small amount of sideways torque induced by the turning propellor? :confused:

The helm is on the Starboard side so that you can easily see the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation at night.

Correctamundo!
 

Skip and Airwaves, you are both right!

Skip: Remember the emergency procedure for a "hot run" in the torpedo room on the boats? All ahead flank and hard to Port. The torque of the shaft would help the boat to lean to port and make a sharper, faster turn.

Airwaves: A Starboard helm allows the helmsman to see the entire "danger zone", 112.5 degrees from the bow to just behind the starboard beam. Note that this is where your green light shines and tells vessels that can see it that you are the give way vessel.

Next question: What is "Scope"? How much of it do youd need? I have a eight foot chain between my mooring hawser and my anchor. Why?

Misty Blue.

If I recall, scope is the length of anchor rode between the anchor and boat, I used to have a 3 to 1 scope on my mooring anchor when I moored my boat but I believe the recommendation is 10to 1.

You wisely use the chain on your anchor to keep it lying down and digging into the lake bottom while the anchor rode makes its way to your boat.

I think I'll throw one out there. :D

What is the only ROPE on a powerboat?
(Hint, usually only found on boats over 39'.)

Avast ye maties, prepare the boardin parties
 

Well I'm not gonna ring my own bell ;) so I'll leave this one unanswered for the moment. I agree that starboard-side helm stations make sense for the reasons stated but it wasn't always this way. I recall one reason I've heard was that it was proper etiquette to board people on the starboard side, so to make docking easier the helm was to starboard. However here's a few boats from the Winni photo vault that say not everyone agreed .... (enjoy)

An ole Chris Chraft (port)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...o=8389&cat=502

Another ole "laker" (port)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=6972

Older yet (starboard)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=7406

Newer '74 (port)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=7432

Even newer I think (port)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=4683

Hmmm, is this one is "bi" ??? :)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=2578

Lastly, this one is ... I dunno, you tell me :)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=3493

Lets stick with the Lake -
 

Let's stick with the Lake for the time being --


Everyone does it at one time or another (after they become somewhat familiar with any body of water) - especially when our/your boat is not configured with the latest & greatest electronics-- they use land/fixed aids to navigate.

Question:

At night, when departing the Post Office NWZ, heading towards Wiers, what sure fired Aid can you initially depend on (nite or day) to place you on the "roughly" the correct course (and I mean roughly, as you always need to be watching) to line up and pass (visually) FL#3.

I use the Aircraft Collision Avoidance Lights mounted on Gunstock.... well actually I think its located on Mount Rowe.

Woodsy

BINGO !!

Give Woodsy the prize ...................:laugh:

I actually use those to determine my bearings quite a bit. They are pretty handy nav aids!

This year will be even better once I get that GPS installed...

Woodsy

Guess you've never experienced fog on the Lake, when seeing a few hunderd feet beyond the bow is doing well - on top of Mt Rowe, you say? ;)

I don't usually go out when the visibility is reduced by fog... no need to run those risks!

Woodsy

Scope is the ratio of the length of rode to the height of the bitter end (where the rode is tied) of the rode above the sea floor. 7:1 is a good starting point from which you can go up or down a few points depending on the weather, the amount of room you have to swing and the security you need.

The chain on your mooring is there to resist the chafing that would otherwise part your hawser. Mooring anchors don't need the chain for holding power.

MEE-N-MAC gets to ring the bell! :cheers: The only ROPE on a powerboat is the bell rope, the rope tied to the clapper! There are a couple of other ROPES on sailing vessels that's why I asked about powerboats!

Yes, 7 to 1 ratio sounds right. Like I said I used a 3 to 1 ratio on my mooring but I was in protected waters with the current running in one direction (not tidal)

I assumed when Misty Blue was talking about his 8 foot anchor chain we was talking about his boat anchor, not his mooring anchor! :D

(sorry for the delay in posting my response, I worked a different shift today and couldn't access the website easily:rolleye2:

I was thinking about those on Islands and Friday night runs out to the Island and Sunday night runs to the mainland. Perhaps a bridge would make the Bear Island girlie-men feel safer - can't legislate fog?!?!? :rolleye2: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Okay, then what about the anti-torque trim tab on outboards and sterndrives?

Is that not their purpose?

anti-torque tabs....
 

Hi GWC....

I dug into it a little deeper, and according to a number of sites this is the story....

In the earlier days of motorboating, most (and still) motors spun the prop clockwise. The torque induced by this spin, while curving a boat gently to the left, also caused a pronounced uplifting of a small boat on the starboard side. The additional weight of the occupant, being placed on the starboard side, was supposed to counteract this minor lifting.

The additional benefits with visibility were covered in previous posts.

Anyway, there's a lot of different versions of this one effect on numerous sites....I guess in a small boat many years ago I could visualize this theory....of course now-a-days with tabs and modern steering and the overall greater weight and size of boats, it would not be a noticable effect.

Anyway, it made for some interesting research! :)

Skip....

Don't forget that boats were narrower in the past, this increased the influence of the prop torque leaning the boat over. So, the steering wheel is on the right to allow the driver to sit on the high side so as to maximize his visibility.

Those little tabs...
 

GWC:

If you are thinking obout the small tab, grey/silver in color, behind the prop. it is not to reduce the torque on the boat is to even out the steering.

Typical boats propellers (screws) turn clockwise when in forward and counter clockwise when in reverse ( a whole new post). Picture your screw as a big water wheel turning clockwise as you go forward. It would pull your stern to the right thus turning your boat to port. To compensate for this in small craft tabs are placed behind the screw to add a steering effect to the lower unit.

Your tab should be adjusted (it takes a 5/16" allen wrench on a Mercruiser) a little bit to starboard. When properly set you can be on plane and let go of the wheel and she should run straight on course.

The added benefit is that they are also sacrificial annodes. That is they give up their mass through electron flow saving your outdrive from corrosion. Remember, in fresh water like our beautiful Lake, use magnisium annodes. Zinc annodes are for salt water.

'Hope this helps.

60 days till ice out?

Misty Blue.

Boating quiz
 

An answer to Dave R: the chain between the lower end of the mooring line and the mooring device (cement block, mushroom ancor, etc) ALSO serves as a shock absorber to the mooring effort. Usually, the weight of the chain will cause a "slack situation" to occur in the mooring system, and, when the wind or wave action exerts pressure on the vessel, away from the mooring device, this "slack situation" will become stretched out and in the process absorb the shock of the vessel against the mooring device. For this reason, it is a good idea to use a heavy chain maybe 10' in length (depending on the water depth and surrounding boats).

Thanks! I understand the idea from anchor rode concepts, but hadn't really thought about it with moorings. I always figured they were kinda tight. Learn something new every day.

Righty-Oh Camp Guy!
 

At sea I read the entire Hornblower (by C.S. Forester) series over and over. The guys had to take me down to the bilge for a little bit of "deprograming".

Any way, Horatio used a trick when anchoring in a storm. He tied a gun barrel to the anchor rhode some distanse from the anchor to keep the line draging the bottom for a better anchr grip.

To demonstrate how this works take a piece of velcro and pull the fuzzy side UP from the rough side. It pulls out. Now try pulling not UP but sideways. Wow! That is what makes a plow or a danforth work!

New Question: As we all know a sailboat has the "right of way" (I hate that term) over a power boat. But when two sailboats are aproaching each other with a risk of collision who is the "stand on" vessel?

Sailboat right of way
 

A. The sailboat on a starboard tack (wind coming from it's starboard) has the right of way and is the stand-on vessel.


Q. What is the reference point for Five and Six mile Islands and what is the origin of the name of that reference point?

Probably wrong, but always thought that was their distance from Center Harbor.

How about a follow up question, can you name one instance in which a powerboat has the right of way over a sailboat?

When it (blow-boat) is under power (steaming) and the other boat (gf-bl) is crossing it's starboard bow. :D :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

That's one!

Stand on vesses:
 

The power boat is the stand on vessel if it is being overtaken by a sailboat. For example, if you are at headway speed and being oventaken by a Hobie Cat, you are the stand on vessel. Note, this is in the NavRules but may not apply in NH. We like to make up our own rules because we are special or something.

Real good queston Waves!

New question for all of you coffee table navigators out there: We are talking distance here...

What is the difference between any given degree of LATITUDE and any given degree of LONGITUDE?

Extra credit: What is a RHUMB LINE? If you sail one northward where will you end up. Hint: Loxodrome. It's OK to use your CHAPMAN'S!

Misty Blue

RSA 270-D:2 (our rules of the road)
 

We do have an RSA that touches upon this subject, and of course it does open this topic up for debate (we wouldn't be NH if it didn't, aptly pointed out by Misty)....the operative legalese in the red highlighted passage (section IX) being the word shall , which leaves little wiggle room for interpretation!

TITLE XXII
NAVIGATION; HARBORS; COAST SURVEY
CHAPTER 270-D
BOATING AND WATER SAFETY ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC WATERS
Section 270-D:2
270-D:2 General Rules for Vessels Operating on Water. –
I. Vessels shall be operated at headway speed only, while passing under all bridges.
II. (a) It shall be the duty of each vessel to keep to the right when vessels are approaching each other head on.
(b) When the courses of vessels are so far to the starboard of each other as not to be considered as approaching head on, they shall keep to the left.
III. When vessels are crossing courses or approaching each other in an oblique direction which may involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on its starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other, allowing the latter vessel to keep its course and speed.
IV. When vessels are running in the same direction and the vessel which is astern desires to pass the other, it shall do so only when sufficient distance between the vessels is available to avoid danger of collision, and at such a speed that its wake will not endanger the boat being passed or its occupants. No person operating a vessel shall abruptly change its course without first determining that it can safely be done without crossing immediately ahead of another vessel.
V. If, when vessels are approaching each other, either vessel fails to understand the course or intention of the other from any cause, such vessel or vessels shall immediately slow to a speed barely sufficient for steerage until the vessels have safely passed each other. If it appears the danger of collision is imminent both vessels shall stop or reverse and not proceed until such danger has been averted.
VI. (a) To provide full visibility and control and to prevent their wake from being thrown into or causing excessive rocking to other boats, barges, water skiers, aquaplanes or other boats, rafts or floats, all vessels shall maintain headway speed when within 150 feet from:
(1) Rafts, floats, swimmers.
(2) Permitted swimming areas.
(3) Shore.
(4) Docks.
(5) Mooring fields.
(6) Other vessels.
(b) These requirements shall not apply when:
(1) Starting skiers from shore, docks or floats, as long as neither the boat nor the skier is endangering the life or safety of any person.
(2) A vessel is in the federal deepwater shipping channel of the Piscataqua River between navigation buoys R2, Wood Island at the mouth of the river and R12, opposite the Sprague Terminal.
(c) The operator of a towing boat shall be responsible for compliance with this paragraph.
(d) The requirements of RSA 270-D:2, VI(a)(3) shall not apply to a vessel in the waters of the Androscoggin River from the Errol Dam to Umbagog Lake or in the waters of the Magalloway River within the state of New Hampshire.
VI-a. [Repealed.]
VII. When a vessel is given the right-of-way, such vessel shall hold its course and maintain such speed as the circumstances prudently permit.
VIII. When a vessel is required to keep out of the way of another, it shall, if necessary, slacken its speed, stop, or reverse, and avoid crossing ahead of any other vessel.
IX. Canoes, rowboats and sailboats shall be given the right-of-way. This requirement shall not be construed to allow deliberate impediment of motorboats by canoes, rowboats or sailboats.

Senter Harbor
 

You would be correct. The second part of the question regarding the name has a twofold source:

"Center Harbor gets its name from two sources: from its location, centered between Meredith and Moultonborough Harbors, and also for the Senter family, who were owners of a large amount of property in the area."

Distance you say
 

I was trying to figure out which of several answers would be the one you're looking for and then reread the "talking distance here" so I'll answer that traversing a degree of latitude (keeping longitude the same) is the (roughly) same distance anywhere on the Earth given that it's (roughly) a sphere. Traversing a degree of longitude (keeping latitude the same) results in a different distance depending on whether you're close to the equator (long distance) or closer to a pole (short distance). I had to look up rhumb line so I won't give that one away since I didn't know the answer. Hint : constant bearing ... :coolsm:

ps - I'll say you'd end up ashore ;)

New Question:
 

Hey...We are having some fun here! Try these:

What type of line would you use to tie up your boat to a dock...and why?

What type of line would you use to anchor your boat...and why?

What type of line would you use for standing and running rigging on your sailboat...and why?

What type of line would you use for water skiing and life rings...and why?

What type of line would you use to pick up a "dollie" at the Bad Moose....And Why???

Misty Blue

I'll take the first....
 

Nylon.....superior strength and elasticity???

I'd take a stab at the last question, but my wife is in the next room....never know when she's going to pop in and check on me!


Skip

Well tie me up and ...
 

Double braided nylon - strong and easy on the hands, holds a knot.


Triple strand nylon - it stretches so as to reduce shock loads.


Hmmm, not sure.


Polypropylene - it floats and so can be seen, less likely to get into the prop.


"Here's $50. Drink until I am really good looking, then come to talk to me." - because if I'm going to get laughed at, it might as well be because I said something funny.

{runner-up - "Hey that's a nice shirt ! Can I talk you out of it ?"} ;)

@#$%& bachelor!
 

Yep, we know who hasn't "tied the knot" yet....:laugh:

Hello Dollie
 

Yup, good thing "Mee" has a well developed sense of humor, in addition to being intelligent and beautiful and ... oh crap .... Hey UTS, can I borrow that spare blanket ? ;)

ps - "Mee" would smirk and say "$50, you better go back to the ATM !"

Most days I feel like Rodney Dangerfield ... :D