Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave R
"...This is an overhead diagram of what I am trying to describe..."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave R
"...If you speed up or turn away from the boat, just a little, you will open the gap and create a safer crossing situation..."
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1) Your diagram has the "other" boat leaving a shoreline. That would indicate that he could still be accelerating, and that he could be accelerating while towing a tube.
While the tip is good for waters with a low population of vacationers, the diagram does not take into account that tubers could be hidden from one's view for several seconds. When you think about it, the boat in the diagram should be considered 24' long—plus another 70' for the towed persons—or, nearly 100' long!
2) Fine-tuning the 150' rule like this, does not consider the fallen skier or tuber: He (or they) could be another
300' behind that boat before the skipper is alerted to a "fall".
Another consideration for this diagram is that very few boats carry a straight course for very long.
3) Gazing above my computer screen, I'm watching a MS-registered RIB towing a snorkler 400' off shore—in reverse! Oops...make that
two kiddie-snorklers.
Visibility is less than 20', and they're in 30' of water.
Did I mention I love weekends?
3) My cautionary statement for a "thundery" weekend afternoon like this one, is to
watch for building clouds—
listen for thunder when stopped—then
don't raft your powerboat next to a sailboat!
