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Originally Posted by SteveA
When we got to Mink.. Sitting with our friends I was amazed to sit and watch the Jet Skiers and power boats towing tubes ignoring not only 150", but simple common sense.
Too close to shore, too close to markers, too close to other boats... it was bedlam out there. One guy flipped his "towies" and didn't see them in the water for a solid 2 mins. They almost got hit by a jet skiers on full throttle even tho the jetski was well within the 150' to the tow boat.
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The 150' rule does NOT apply to MARKERS or ROCKS. You can go as close to them as you would like without slowing to headway. They are not covered by the 150' rule. If the marker is less than 150' from shore of course you have to keep 150' from the shore (but not the marker). The fact that it is a marker or navigation aid is not a reason to slow to headway. There are exceptions like mooring field markers which are included in the 150' rule. It might be good advice for new boaters to drop to headway within 150' of anything, but it's not in the rules that way (regardless of what it says on the Duncan Press web site).
Best example: I pass by Flashing Light 46 up on plane. I can be 20 feet from it or whatever distance I choose. The Flashing light (marker) sits on an exposed rock by Round Island.
Also, under the right circumstances, water ski tow boats can start closer than 150' from shore. Just another perceived Bonehead move that can be legal and appropriate.
I agree with you and Silver (and others). Everyone can make a mistake but there are too many boaters who just don't understand what's going on. Weekends seem to bring out even more Capt Boneheads.
BTW, where were the observers on the boat that flipped the towies? Did they have them?