Near Miss-- Boat Collision

Jighead · 03-20-2010, 08:54 PM

I was fishing a bass tournamenttoday andsaw a near missbetween two boats. breif summary then question...

Boats were running inthesame direction.The boat in front was running about 50mph and the2nd boat was overtaking him on the left side runningclose to 70mph.The boat in front cuthardleftinto the path of the 2ndboat. The 2nd boat swerved left barely missing the 1st boat. It was so close thesecond boat was soaked bythe rooster tail of the passing boat.I wasa few hundred yards away and it scared the crap outme. Ithought I was about to have dead people in my boat.

My question... Had they hit,who would have been at fault?I don't know the law/rule and it was a reminder to me to look behind me before I make sharpe turns andto make sure when overtakinganother boat to stay wide enough to react if they cut hard.

Gump · 03-20-2010, 09:02 PM

The overtaken vessel has the right of way. Always. It is the responsibility of the overtaking vessel to stay clear.

RULE 13

OVERTAKING

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules [of Part B, Sections I and II / 4 through 18], any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

(b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with a another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.

(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.

(d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.

wld1985 · 03-20-2010, 09:16 PM

When Im on the water, I try to look behind me every few mins to make sure a boat is'nt creeping up on me.. If one is I usually slow a few rpms down to let him pass then I will pick back up.. I also try and give them room..

Nilram · 03-20-2010, 09:26 PM

Also isn't it true that the vessel on the right has right of way. In this case it would have been the boat that was being overtaken that made the sharp left. Thankfully they didn't end up in the news.

Gump · 03-20-2010, 09:28 PM

Not true: The vessel being overtaken has the right of way period.

Refer to above posted rule from COLREGS.

Buckyt · 03-20-2010, 09:29 PM

I live on the Coosa River where it starts to form Lake Weiss and this situation happens a lot.(our river is pretty narrow at that point)When I am passing a slower boat, I try to pick a spot where the boat doesn't have a creek or cove to turn into, but you just can't predict what another boater may do. The biggest problem I have is predicting what a jet skier may do so I just try not to pass them. I'm glad to read what the rule actually is, but only 1% of the boaters know this.

Be careful out there!

Gump · 03-20-2010, 09:32 PM

Buckyt : I agree that a majority of boaters do not know the rules, but if it ever came to court the USCG rules will apply.

bassn8ed · 03-20-2010, 09:43 PM

I drive a small boat with a 25 HP. I love to fish tournaments too, It does me good to compete with $20,000 boats. The last tournament I fished, The bad ass boat passing me was in a canal about 10 feet wide, he came so close and his bow was so high in the water he had his partner lay down to be able to see me. I got soaked as he scared the sh--t out of me. I came in 22nd- he came in with zero fish. I can not remember the last time I passed someone, unless they were sitting still fishing and I came to an idle speed to pass and wave.

pappastratos · 03-20-2010, 09:54 PM

Sorry, I think I would have ran him down,,,I know my 6'4" 270 pound son would have. If the back talked him, he would jump in their boat & thow them out,,,.

I met a guy who keeps a 14" silver salt water lure on a rod. When the skiiers & jet skiiers get too close, he throws it in their path,,,

user5505 · 03-20-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Gump (3/20/2010)The overtaken vessel has the right of way. Always. It is the responsibility of the overtaking vessel to stay clear.

RULE 13
OVERTAKING

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules [of Part B, Sections I and II / 4 through 18], any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

(b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with a another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.

(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.

(d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.

Gump,

I wish you were at my case. I had the old bald guy from the local maritime school, prepared to tell me I was at fault for my accident.

Thats the keel marks of their vessel on mine.

03-20-2010, 08:54 PM	#1
Jighead Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Springville, AL Posts: 1,099	Near Miss-- Boat Collision I was fishing a bass tournamenttoday andsaw a near missbetween two boats. breif summary then question... Boats were running inthesame direction.The boat in front was running about 50mph and the2nd boat was overtaking him on the left side runningclose to 70mph.The boat in front cuthardleftinto the path of the 2ndboat. The 2nd boat swerved left barely missing the 1st boat. It was so close thesecond boat was soaked bythe rooster tail of the passing boat.I wasa few hundred yards away and it scared the crap outme. Ithought I was about to have dead people in my boat. My question... Had they hit,who would have been at fault?I don't know the law/rule and it was a reminder to me to look behind me before I make sharpe turns andto make sure when overtakinganother boat to stay wide enough to react if they cut hard.

03-20-2010, 09:02 PM	#2
Gump Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 577	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision The overtaken vessel has the right of way. Always. It is the responsibility of the overtaking vessel to stay clear. RULE 13 OVERTAKING (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules [of Part B, Sections I and II / 4 through 18], any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. (b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with a another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights. (c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly. (d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.

03-20-2010, 09:16 PM	#3
wld1985 Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Posts: 3,587	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision When Im on the water, I try to look behind me every few mins to make sure a boat is'nt creeping up on me.. If one is I usually slow a few rpms down to let him pass then I will pick back up.. I also try and give them room..

03-20-2010, 09:26 PM	#4
Nilram Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 57	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision Also isn't it true that the vessel on the right has right of way. In this case it would have been the boat that was being overtaken that made the sharp left. Thankfully they didn't end up in the news.

03-20-2010, 09:28 PM	#5
Gump Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 577	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision Not true: The vessel being overtaken has the right of way period. Refer to above posted rule from COLREGS.

03-20-2010, 09:29 PM	#6
Buckyt Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 774	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision I live on the Coosa River where it starts to form Lake Weiss and this situation happens a lot.(our river is pretty narrow at that point)When I am passing a slower boat, I try to pick a spot where the boat doesn't have a creek or cove to turn into, but you just can't predict what another boater may do. The biggest problem I have is predicting what a jet skier may do so I just try not to pass them. I'm glad to read what the rule actually is, but only 1% of the boaters know this. Be careful out there!

03-20-2010, 09:32 PM	#7
Gump Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 577	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision Buckyt : I agree that a majority of boaters do not know the rules, but if it ever came to court the USCG rules will apply.

03-20-2010, 09:43 PM	#8
bassn8ed Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 92	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision I drive a small boat with a 25 HP. I love to fish tournaments too, It does me good to compete with $20,000 boats. The last tournament I fished, The bad ass boat passing me was in a canal about 10 feet wide, he came so close and his bow was so high in the water he had his partner lay down to be able to see me. I got soaked as he scared the sh--t out of me. I came in 22nd- he came in with zero fish. I can not remember the last time I passed someone, unless they were sitting still fishing and I came to an idle speed to pass and wave.

03-20-2010, 09:54 PM	#9
pappastratos Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Magnolia Springs, on weekends Posts: 559	RE: Near Miss-- Boat Collision Sorry, I think I would have ran him down,,,I know my 6'4" 270 pound son would have. If the back talked him, he would jump in their boat & thow them out,,,. I met a guy who keeps a 14" silver salt water lure on a rod. When the skiiers & jet skiiers get too close, he throws it in their path,,,

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