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"Everybody" should get this one, but it should be mentioned since not "everybody" has decades of on-water experience...

In open water, while operating you 30 ft center console fishing machine, in daytime clear weather, you approach a slower lugger type motor powered recreational vessel on the same track. There are no channels, no other traffic, no marks. It is your desire to pass this slower vessel.
 
This is getting "interesting"...

Anyone want to discuss this one?
 
I would have said both 3 and 4 are fine but the Captain we had instruct us (while it was only 4 days worth) said you should always attempt to make contact before overtaking any vessel. Your statement indicates open water so I do not see what side you overtake on would necessarilly matter. And I can not see where the last answer would ever be right. Oh, and isn't 5 short blast for danger?

Easy on me as I am still a newbie and learning this stuff.
 
It would not be a "proper multiple guess" test unless you had at least one obviously wrong answer... Clearly, not all of the above answers are correct. ;)
 
As long as you maintain a wide berth from the "lugger" and do not present a hazzard due to your wake, you can pass the vessel on either side. Radio contact is not necessary, but it is not unacceptable either. Therefore, I would say "Both 3 and 4 should be acceptable"
 
If I am not mistaken, overtaking is a process of negotiation. Failing that, all h3ll breaks loose and collisions occur.
 
I m leaning towards 3 & 4 are acceptable but in open waters you really should not be approaching a slower vessel so close that you have to make passing arrangements

Generally if some yahoo is coming up that close he doesnt know the rules or how to use amVHF... :)
 
I'll chime in on my reasoning etc in a few hours. Give everyone time to "flame the poster". The discussion is important, and I would hate to keep everyone from having the opportunity to choose the truly worst option! :)
 
#3 for the reason Pascal said. no need to be close no need to call
 
there is nothing in the rules stating which side you should pass a slower vessel... only in a head on situation should you alter course to starboard and cross port to port. That said, in an overtaking situation i'd probably prefere passing on the trawler's port side
 
quote:
Originally posted by knomad

As long as you maintain a wide berth from the "lugger" and do not present a hazzard due to your wake, you can pass the vessel on either side. Radio contact is not necessary, but it is not unacceptable either. Therefore, I would say "Both 3 and 4 should be acceptable"

Click to expand...


I agree. I have a relatively fast boat that will make little wake while on plane. I will pass several hundred yards to either side with no contact unless I just want to chat.

George
 
Only problem I see with #4 is the word "should". In open water, and giving wide berth, I do not see "should contact" as being required. Certainly acceptable, but not required
 
going by the book, "when in sight of one another" you are required to sound signals or make arrangement via VHF. under international rules (offshore) there are no maximum distance... inland this applies within 1/2 miles.

obviously, out there in the real world, you're not going to sound signals or call the other guy if you are going to stay clear and pass at a reasonable distance.
 
On certain open waterways, if you called everyone in sight whom you passed, you would never get off the radio.
 
I believe 2 is the correct answer, or most correct answer, since rule 17 says if you need to alter course do not turn to port. By passing on the port side if there is any confusion (like somebody not keeping a correct watch and being startled by seeing a vessel in close proximity) the turn would (or should) be to starboard.

The problem with this logic is you shouldn't get into this situation if all parties are following the rules and if they aren't following the rules to begin with and you get into a situation why would you expect them to start following the rules and not turn to port.
 
Open water or not....fuel is fuel, comms are comms. If each captain knows the intent of the other things seem to go a bit better. BTDT Cold War Nevrotisk Pacific Ops hugging the coast just outside national waters. 12 more hours AND ALOHA Hawaii......Damn those fast Frigates!
 
Well, let me give you what I had in mind as I formed the poll:

Two Captains both, separately plan a trip from the same marina to a new, same marina. This results in using the same track. ( Notice the "Same track" phrase in the question. )

It is almost always possible to avoid a decision given enough advance notice. I tried to avoid this with the simple phrase "your desire to pass". Thuis at whatever this distance is, you have determined that your action would be considered a "pass" rather than a distant event.

The "open waters" section is an attempt to avoid getting into Inland waters, Western rivers stuff. The question is straight up about passing, under "every day, normal, at sea passing".

The answers were intended to offer "3 and 4 are correct" as the most correct. However, I am not perfect, and now lean toward NC's "2 & 4 answer.

Of course, I worded 4 badly. For most recreational boaters, in common situations, unless there are additional things happening, VHF contact is usually not required. ie: no other traffic, no "common" turning points etc. In which case, a pass on the "simplest side" would be most appropriate.

Of course, if there is any doubt that this might be confusing or a problem for the lead vessel, then VHF contact should be made ( VHF ).

I might be wrong in my assessment of my own "test question". Which is, of course why we discuss these things. I do like the responses of both PascalG and NC the most.

---

Regarding the "distractors":

"Keep following" is essentially a space waster. Most folks noticed this.

"Sound horn with 5 rapid short toots, and pass rapidly on his port side." While there are horn signals that may be used to communicate the intent of the passing vessel and agreement of the vessel to be passed, "5 rapid toots" is definitely incorrect.

"Fire a white aerial flare then pass on his starboard side." Though incorrect, it is likely more correct than most believe. A white aerial flare may be used to imitate communications. In this instance, such a use would be rather extreme and rare, but it is not necessarily wrong. It is quite unconventional and would likely confuse the issue, but it might still be considered acceptable within the Rules.

I hope we all had the opportunity to learn a bit from the discussion.
 
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