[macojoe]

Warning Signs of a Bad Boat Captain
From Jim Shepard,
Your Guide to Powerboating.
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Ten Ways to Aggravate Other Boaters
As a guy who’s been around the water longer than he likes to admit, both as a boater and as a marina owner, I've formulated a list of things to look for when observing the operator of any boat in my area. The following are ten (10) danger signs that will give you a good idea of those skippers from which you'll need to steer clear. This list is in no particular order and might be considered, by some, to just be grumblings from a crusty old seadog. So, read them over and let me know what your own pet peeves are.

1. Look out when a boat with twin engines is within 100 yards of the dock and the captain is still trying to steer the boat with the wheel instead of his engines. Prepare for a "loud" landing.

2. If the skipper is motoring across the harbor with fenders and lines dangling in the water, it's a very good indicator that the skipper is NOT "on the ball."

3. Here's one that may surprise some of you. Flying your Ensign (either country of origin or yacht ensign) on the bow staff is totally incorrect and an act of disrespect for your country's flag. The only place to properly fly the ensign is at or near the stern of your boat. I'm convinced that most skippers who fly the ensign on the bow pole simply don't know any better. Which makes my point: An ensign on the bow pole equals land lubber.

4. Beware of the skipper who doesn't keep his head on a swivel. If he or she is steering, facing straight ahead without looking astern, watch out. That skipper has no idea of what is behind him and is liable to make a sudden maneuver without any warning.

If you are overtaking this type of skipper, then I consider it mandatory to use proper horn signals.

One short blast means you intend to pass him on your port (left) side.

Two short horn blasts, indicate that you intend to pass him on your starboard (right) side.

These horn signals should get his attention.

5. The jerk (I usually have some other pet names for him) who approaches a marina at full tilt boogie and then chops the throttles 100 yards short of the docks and lets his 3 foot stern wave bounce on through the entire marina at 20 mph! We should still be allowed to hang these "skippers" from the nearest yardarm.

6. The skipper who sees a busy channel or inlet as an obstacle course that must be run at the highest speed possible, with little or no worry about the trouble he is causing all the other boat traffic.

7. Speaking of busy channels and inlets, how come so many fishermen think that trolling in a navigation channel, with out riggers deployed, is a good idea? It's not only a bad idea, it's against the law!

8. Watching a boat zooming over the water with people sitting on the bow with their legs dangling over the side is a terrifying sight. One large wave will send them flying into the water in front of the boat. The boat will then run over them before the skipper can even think about stopping. The results of this stupidity are too horrible to even contemplate.

9. A skipper who allows his crew to stick out their arms and legs to help him "fend off" the dock he is approaching deserves the contempt of the entire marina. Boats and docks can be replaced; not so with human limbs.

10. Using the VHF marine radio for inane chit-chat is a sure sign that the skipper is a "greenhorn" or simply has never bothered to look at the F.C.C. rules governing the use of his radio. Cluttering up the radio waves with a bunch of nonsense is, someday, going to keep a boater with a real emergency from getting through.

Well, I could go on and on and really get you aggravated or, perhaps, just plain thinking I'm a crank. But remember, boating is a lot more fun if you and your crew put safety first and are considerate of your fellow boaters. Enjoy!

If you have a pet peeve you'd like to share, send it to me and maybe together we'll be able to enlighten some of our unaware boater friends about their aggravating actions on the water.