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Originally Posted by SIKSUKR
Dave,I understand why we have stand on vessels and give way vessels.When two vessels are approaching each other we need a system to avoid collision or conflict.However.try crossing from Glendale to Timber on a busy Saturday with big boats coming at you from both sides at full speed in a little PWC,knowing how so many people feel about PWC's and how often boating rules are ignored and see if you feel comfortable maintaining your speed and course.When boats are coming from port and starboard I have to yield to the starboard vessel anyway.It's a little scary trying to thread the needle between intersecting craft and hope they see you or will abide by rules of navigation when your on a 10ft boat.When I yield,I am 1000 ft or more from any of these scenarios.I am not altering their course at all.In fact,I'm pretty sure I have not even become part of the other vessels equation.What is so wrong with me slowing down and yielding to other boats?Why would this "drive you so nuts" and why would you be "so aggravatted and screwed up"?You don't have to avoid me cuz I'm staying way out of the conflict.I want to stay as far away from "aggravated screwed up people who are driven nuts" as I can which is precisely my point.Sorry, I'll always err on the side of caution.
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This is a vastly different scenario than stated on your original post on the subject. My aggravation is with folks 200 feet off my bow who suddenly slow while they are right in my intended path that I just altered to pass safely behind them had they maintained speed and course. My observsations are that PWCs are the worst offenders in this regard. They force me to either alter course more severely to pass behind them or alter course to "cut them off", so to speak. Happens all the time. I have even tried to alter course way ahead of time and found that the PWCs are suddenly doing doughnuts, U- turns, or are idling motionlessly waiting for me to pass so they can jump my wake. I find that it's easiest just ignore them until I am quite near because it's impossible to predict what they'll do next. I think this is where you and I suffer a disconnect. I can FULLY understand why you do what you do. I bet most boat operators have the same problems and solutions with PWC operators who also have developed their own solutions for the problem of boaters who are ignoring them.
If you are trying to cross from Glendale to Timber Island during busy times, you have my sympathy. My recommendation would be to merge with traffic going 90 degrees from your intended course and tack once to get where you are going as safely as possible. This is what cross traffic has to do in busy, foggy places like the English Channel and it works very well.