You could'nt manufacture a better name of boat for a news story....Pretty sure he had an old cassette tape of "Asleep at the wheel" playin route 66...ha
Registered: 03/06/01
Posts: 1184
Loc: Gig Harbor, WA
I know that guy, can't wait to ask WTF he was doing, or maybe he was getting done!
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"Laugh if you want to, it really is kinda funny, cuz the world is a car and you're the crash test dummy" All Hail, The Devil Makes Three
Registered: 10/26/10
Posts: 7204
Loc: Snohomish, WA
Damn - what an idiot. Glad he's ok to carry on with his life as an idiot.
So what are the laws on both sides here? I can't possibly imagine that the Ferry Captain would be in trouble if the guy really had it on auto pilot whilst shatting?
Lastly, just how manueverable COULD a ferry actually be? Serious question. What is the protocol for the Ferry Captain in this case? Just run a sport boat over OR a hard wheel crank and slam it in reverse? What about the people and cars onboard?
If it were me, I'd just run em' over. It thins the herd and doesn't spill my passengers drinks.
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“If the military were fighting for our freedom, they would be storming Capitol Hill”. – FleaFlickr02
Seems reasonable the little guy needs to get out of the way of the larger, less maneuverable boat. But then, common sense is not always evident in laws.
May well be the yachts mistake....but you'd think the ferry would have seen this guy 2 miles out from the wheelhouse, and with dual radar, and 3 in the wheelhouse. We all yield at some time, regardless of who's legally correct. That, plus I'm just pissed at the WSF arrogance and ripping off my tax money in OT, and the 28% raise they get this year (if legislation approves it.)
(a) When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.
Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.
Rule 17- Action by Stand-on Vessel
(a) (i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed. (ii) The latter vessel may, however, take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.
(b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.
(c) A power-driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situation in accordance with Rule 17(a)(ii) to avoid collision with another power-driven vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, not alter course to port for a vessel on her own port side.
(d) This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way
To Todd's point about violations, believe the yacht broke two. Failure to maintain lookout and violation of 33 cfr 165.1317 (violation of security zones established for passenger ferries). The ferry skipper will likely be held accountable as well for not taking proper actions to avoid collision. The ferries can fall under the "restricted in their ability to maneuver" category if they are in a narrow channel giving them the right of way. This does not appear to be the case in this incident. Be interesting to know how it plays out. Glad no one was hurt.
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 27837
Loc: Seattle, Washington USA
That full reverse looked like it was either right at or right after the moment of impact...a few degrees course change to the starboard and that yacht would have cruised right off the bow and no collision.
Plenty of fault to go around here, I think...but really, no matter how it works out legally, the yacht skipper really screwed the pooch on this one, and is lucky his boat didn't sink and he didn't drown.