Safety Thread

VtSteve · 08-05-2009, 12:47 PM

In Vermont, it's 200' . I'm luck if I can maintain 100' or even a little less on weekends. My guess is that 75% of boaters couldn't guess what 150' is if they were given a laser rangefinder. Happens on the golf course all the time, and the lake is even harder to guesstimate. I just try to steer away from traffic or go around it best I can to avoid potential problems. Sometimes the tracks on my GPS look like I'm running away from a gang of angry bees

I don't know what the safe distance really is, but I do know many boaters seem to have a different opinion. I prefer to be really far away from oncoming boats, tubers, and especially immovable objects. After 45 years of boating, the only time I would call a close call is at night, when another boat was sitting in the middle of the lake, NO LIGHTS. Amazingly, they did this on purpose. I was already on a focused lookout, because I knew a boat was way up ahead, then I lost track of their lights. Amazingly, they were amazed at my amazement.

Paugus Bay Resident · 08-05-2009, 04:29 PM

I have radar on my boat and my 1st range ring is set to 356 feet. So, give or take, anyone within the ring is within 150 feet. It is amazing when I'm cruising (headway speed) how many boats pass well inside the ring. At least most of them wave

. Last weekend, closet guy was less than 50 feet running around 30 mph. I bet if most of them were asked how far off they were, they'd all say 150 feet.

I don't know if its the weather or what, but this year 150 foot rule violations seem pretty high. IMHO that and general seamanship (education) is where the focus needs to be. And don't get me started about kids hanging over bow rails.

And the most serious issue of all - BWI

http://wtopnews.com/?nid=598&sid=1733361

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,7677237.story

08-05-2009, 12:47 PM	#1
VtSteve Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,320 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 230 Thanked 361 Times in 169 Posts	In Vermont, it's 200' . I'm luck if I can maintain 100' or even a little less on weekends. My guess is that 75% of boaters couldn't guess what 150' is if they were given a laser rangefinder. Happens on the golf course all the time, and the lake is even harder to guesstimate. I just try to steer away from traffic or go around it best I can to avoid potential problems. Sometimes the tracks on my GPS look like I'm running away from a gang of angry bees I don't know what the safe distance really is, but I do know many boaters seem to have a different opinion. I prefer to be really far away from oncoming boats, tubers, and especially immovable objects. After 45 years of boating, the only time I would call a close call is at night, when another boat was sitting in the middle of the lake, NO LIGHTS. Amazingly, they did this on purpose. I was already on a focused lookout, because I knew a boat was way up ahead, then I lost track of their lights. Amazingly, they were amazed at my amazement.

08-05-2009, 04:29 PM	#2
Paugus Bay Resident Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 754 Thanks: 136 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	I have radar on my boat and my 1st range ring is set to 356 feet. So, give or take, anyone within the ring is within 150 feet. It is amazing when I'm cruising (headway speed) how many boats pass well inside the ring. At least most of them wave . Last weekend, closet guy was less than 50 feet running around 30 mph. I bet if most of them were asked how far off they were, they'd all say 150 feet. I don't know if its the weather or what, but this year 150 foot rule violations seem pretty high. IMHO that and general seamanship (education) is where the focus needs to be. And don't get me started about kids hanging over bow rails. And the most serious issue of all - BWI http://wtopnews.com/?nid=598&sid=1733361 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,7677237.story