Near collision

[J Hooked]

After reading a post about the maritime and jet skiers I thought I’d ask this question and share with you all what almost happened to me while being out on the water.

How many people overlook the functionality of their safety equipment and their (air) horns?

I carry a box with “V” sheet, torch spare fuses and flares etc. (like most other people do), and I saw my air horn in the bottom so I thought I’d test it. I should have known it didn’t work, I had it for a while. All the air had leaked out. Having everything in one box had made me slack to check it. So off I went to buy another air canister and thought, wouldn’t an electric horn be better? So I walked out of the shop with one air canister in one hand and an electric trumpet in the other and a huge smile. I wonder how loud this will be? I thought. (I’m not saying that an electric is better. I still bought the air canister for a back up)

I was lucky to have checked my little safety box. I was out fishing with my son aged 13 one day a few months back. We were anchored on the Georges and noticed a 4m vessel approaching us straight on. The vessel was getting closer and wasn’t diverting course. Alarm bells started to ring in my head, adrenalin started pumping into my veins. Lucky I had installed my electric trumpet horn, lucky I had checked the safety equipment, because what happened in the next few seconds would have been catastrophic if I didn’t have a workable horn. I let out several continuous blasts until the person in the other vessel heard and diverted their course. He was so close that I could see the whites in his wide-open eyes and not to mention his daughters as well. His wash hit us and rocked us side to side. I looked around to see where he had gone so I could give him a piece of my mind but he hadn’t stopped. He was heading for Tom Ugly’s bridge like a bat out of hell. He didn’t know if we were all right. Terrific! Thank you for caring I thought! We were very lucky to say the least on that day.

For our own safety and the safety of who ever we have on board our boats don’t neglect to check the safety equipment every time you go out. Especially after winterising if you don’t go out during the colder months.

Let's be safe on the water.

J Hooked

(Jim)

Edited May 6, 2012 by J Hooked

[Dusky]

& dont forget to mention

Keep alert when on the water. Lucky you were but the skipper of the other boat needs to re think his attitude while being in charge of a vessel

[The Incredible Hull]

Thanks for the story, will make everyone think twice about wearing their life jackets too.

[Juggs]

The sounding device has to be within reach of the helm

Having it in a box is worthy of a fine from waterways

I have a loud whistle tied to rope and looped over my compass and a airhorn on the dash

[Fisherman36]

Thanks for the tips. I also have mine in a box with a V sheet etc. now I'll be finding a better place for the air horn so it's within reach.

Cheers

[defyet]

Nothing annoys me more then seeing a boat flying along the water in the dark, or even worse with no lights on, how the hell can they tell what is ahead and stop / steer away in time, sometimes other boat lights can only be visible from a few metres. At night i usually cruise at about 8 knots max and always have another set of eyes looking out as well.

One night i was out at the Hawkesbury and travelling between the F3 Bridge and the Railway bridge when this f$#^%$# goose was anchored dead center of the channel with NO lights on at all in pitch black darkness. I was cruising about 8 knots and there was no moon out or shadows to see land, when i all of a sudden hear someones anchor chain getting pulled up like mad, i shit myself because i knew they we're very close and i hit the high power spotlight instantly and there's a bloody boat 5 metres in front of me, luckily i steered away just in time. I'f i was hooning like some other boats i had seen on the water that night i would have cleaned them up.

Thankfully i was only going slow and i also had enough time to regain my breathe and give it to this idiot as i went past. After that incident i haven't been out at night since because its other people i don't trust on the water.

[J Hooked]

The water is a fun place and dangerous place at times. As we drive defensively on the road we have to do the same on the water, as we don't know what experience the other boater has. Have they got a license? Do they know the rules? Or have they forgotten some rules. Lucky for me I was looking around and I had installed the electric horn and it was in easy reach to activate it, or else the outcome could have been different.

It amazes me also how many people anchor in channels without lights on!

On one other account I nearly bumped into a Yak under Capt. Cooks bridge at night because there were no lights on. How did he expect people to see him with no lights? Lucky I was adhering to the rules and going slow under the bridge.

Some smart people on yaks place a bike light on their hats. They know what they are doing!

Thanks for all that replied and others that read this post. I hope it has made people think about their, and others safety. Lets have fun on the water without mishaps.

Id like to quote the maritime "You are the skipper you are responsible"

Yes, we sure are!

J

Edited May 19, 2012 by J Hooked

[Juggs]

I’d like to quote the maritime "You are the skipper you are responsible"

Yes, we sure are!

something to remember, even if they have no lights on and you hit them some blame may be apointed to you

in a accident speak to a lawyer before you give waterways a written statement on any accident you personally are in

i just fitted a rocket launcher to get my nav light higher

but technically this isnt legal either as it has to be 1m higher then any part of the boat

[Penguin]

something to remember, even if they have no lights on and you hit them some blame may be apointed to you

in a accident speak to a lawyer before you give waterways a written statement on any accident you personally are in

i just fitted a rocket launcher to get my nav light higher

but technically this isnt legal either as it has to be 1m higher then any part of the boat

Water police told me 1mtr higher that my side red/green nav lights.

cheers

[Twinfisher 4.9]

yes I understand that to be correct - 1m higher that your red/green but clearly visible from 360 degrees. So having rods in your rocket launcher at night actually contravenes this rule as it could block the view from certain angles. I would like to think that common sense would prevail, but sadly no!

[Juggs]

with a front screen and bimini i had to chuck up there to be close to legal, i use to have one of those rear corner mounted lights on a pole

just reread the rule book and you guys are correct