By BIFF MATTHEWS, Pamlico Sail and Power Squadron

For the Daily News

 

Not following boating’s Rules of the Road and common boating courtesy can result in a fine or possibly jail. In a BOAT US claim, a boat’s wake capsized a fishing boat causing one person to drown. The captain paid a large fine plus spent three years in jail.

Recently a wake board boat passed too closely at high speed to the NC Estuarium River Rover pontoon boat. The passing wake could have easily dumped a non-swimmer in the water. The Estuarium requires the wearing of life jackets by people on its boat. Still, that wake could have injured someone.

Accidents on the water with injury or damage require reporting to law enforcement and the United States Coast Guard. Therefore, the boat’s captain would face very serious consequences had he caused injury.

Rule of the road: Captains are responsible for their wake. Boats approaching in the opposite direction in close quarters must reduce their wake by reducing speed. Also in close quarters, a boat overtaking another shall reduce speed to reduce their wake yet continue passing. In open waters, increase the distance between boats to lessen the wake’s effect.

Rule of the road: Boats approaching each other should pass port to port, as on US highways.

Rule of the road: A boat passing another from the stern shall signal the desired passing side. The passing boat sounds two short horn blasts for port and one horn blast for starboard. The overtaken boat responds with the same blast sequenced if understood and agreed. Again, similar to US highway rules, sound you horn when passing.

Also, three medium-length horn blasts signal backing or movement in reverse. Five short blasts signal danger. The Unites States Power Squadron, Coast Guard Auxiliary or other safe boating courses teach additional horn signals along with all the rules of the road. Educated boaters are also safer drivers because they have a better understanding boating’s rules of the road. This country adopted highway rules of the road based on our first highways, waterways, creeks and rivers.

Rules of the road apply to ALL boats: cruiser, sailboat, bass boat, Jet Ski, tug or tanker. Some boating rules in maritime law differ for a sailboat versus powerboat, small versus large boat, recreation versus commercial boats.

Jet skiers: don’t buzz skiers, tubers, swimmers or boats in an anchorage. An anchored boater became very frustrated with a jet skier rocking his boat. So, he shot her off her jet ski with a paint ball gun. Local water police fined both parties.

As a boat’s captain, you and I have ultimate responsibility. Take that responsibility seriously. Our boating decisions affect our lives and the lives of others.

Boating is meant to be safe and enjoyable for everyone. Please continue that great tradition by leading by example when boating.  Your children will learn respect and responsibility while your friends will lean rules of the road and boat etiquette. Other boaters who don’t know better will also benefit from seeing repeated positive examples.

For more boating safety and education opportunities, visit your local Power Squadron web site at http://www.pamlicosailandpowersquadron.org.  A Marine Electronics course will begin September 24th.  Contact Tom at 252-946-7632 or pspsed@gmail.com for more information or to register for any other boating class or seminar.