MacGregorSailors.com

...and the ounce of prevention (conditions permitting) would be to pull up your CB or DB before anchoring, of course..

Rick Westlake wrote: I missed the fireworks this year, but I didn't miss them much. My current marina is just east of Baltimore, and it gets crazy on the water during a normal summer weekend. (I may move back south next year....)

Rick,
We were anchored in that same cove just off the Rhode River where were met up with Chinook last Sept. Hardly any boats in the area and plenty of space to swing about the hook. There were fire works going off all around us and we could see most of them above the trees.

Sure do wish I’d noticed that blown fuse on my solar charger before running the anchor light all night though

Here is a link to the latest accident in BC involving a houseboat and a powerboat at a fireworks show. The powerboat was completly imbedded inside the houseboat -
click here for the story and pictures

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... ml?ref=rss


You need to be luck to survive these excursions with all the drunks at the wheel.

Here is a link to the latest accident in BC involving a houseboat and a powerboat at a fireworks show. The powerboat was completly imbedded inside the houseboat -
click here for the story and pictures

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... ml?ref=rss


You need to be luck to survive these excursions with all the drunks at the wheel.

WOW That's all I can say is, WOW Maybe we should armor our boats Rob

Unlucky and VERY lucky all at the same time... pleased that no-one was hurt (especially after you found a knife!!)

I'm reminded of the tragic case of Bismark Dinius, who had temporarily taken over the helm of a 27 foot O'Day sailboat on Clear Lake in Northern California. At about 9:30 P.M. on April 29, 2006 the sailboat was struck from the rear by a 385 H.P., 24 foot Baja Outlaw that was going about 55 MPH. The powerboat was driven by a deputy sheriff and it ran up over the top of the sailboat and killed a female passenger on the O'Day.

Dinius was immediately given a breath alcohol test which was recorded at 0.12 %. The deputy was NOT given a breath test, but was later subjected to a blood test which came back "clean", although he admitted having consumed some beer earlier.

Dinius was immediately charged with Involuntary Manslaughter. That charge was later dropped, but was then charged with Felony Boating UnderThe Influence. The deputy swore that the sailboat did not have its running lights illuminated. The deputy was not charged with any crime.

The case finally came to trial in July, 2009. Many irregularities in the People's case were brought out during the trial, such as eyewitness testimony that the sailboat's running lights were actually on at the time of the collision. As the trial progressed it seemed to many that Dinius was being railroaded and that the deputy was being protected by the district attorney and the sheriff's department. Much of the deputy's testimony was shown to be false.

After a very lengthy trial, the jury quickly found Dinius not guilty of all charges. I don't think the deputy was ever charged.

dennisneal wrote:After a very lengthy trial, the jury quickly found Dinius not guilty of all charges. I don't think the deputy was ever charged.

I remember that story in Boat US.
It really seems like a case of the deputy in the Outlaw boat (funny name) was being protected by his department.

I agree with the statement made above that high speed (planing) is too dangerous at night. Legislation is not likely. Our own (and only) state representative was involved in a [url=http://missoulian.com/news/local/articl ... 03286.html]high speed boating accident and I have not heard him calling for more boating regulations.

dennisneal wrote:After a very lengthy trial, the jury quickly found Dinius not guilty of all charges. I don't think the deputy was ever charged.

I remember that story in Boat US.
It really seems like a case of the deputy in the Outlaw boat (funny name) was being protected by his department.

I agree with the statement made above that high speed (planing) is too dangerous at night. Legislation is not likely. Our own (and only) state representative was involved in a high speed boating accident and I have not heard him calling for more boating regulations.

traderdave wrote:Here is a link to the latest accident in BC involving a houseboat and a powerboat at a fireworks show. The powerboat was completly imbedded inside the houseboat -
click here for the story and pictures

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... ml?ref=rss


You need to be luck to survive these excursions with all the drunks at the wheel.

OH - MY - GOD !!!

I hope the operator of that runabout survives well enough to really regret his idiot behavior, by spending maybe twenty years or so in prison for the death of the skipper of the houseboat.

There is only one reasonably-failproof way to keep safe from such jackasses, and that is not to be on the water those weekends when the jerks will be out with a sixth (or sixteenth) beer in the one hand and the helm in the other.

In NY state its 25 mph from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunset....of course, 5 mph limit within 200 feet of dock, mooring, anchored boats ....

In NY state its 25 mph from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunset....of course, 5 mph limit within 200 feet of dock, mooring, anchored boats ....

I have YET to see that ever enforced here on the Great South Bay of Long Island.

Never enough resources, even helping local and Federal law enforcement with our CG Auxiliary patrols out on the weekends we can hardly catch up on just all the underage PFD offenders. You can literally walk from illegally anchored boat to illegally anchored boat in the channels of Moriches Bay on a weekend.

Last year’s Oct 4th accident over by Jones Beach, in the channel, sunset was about 18:34 local. Supposedly had 25+ years of local boating knowledge.

The 64-year-old boat driver, who also owned the vessel, was ejected from the 40-foot boat and died at the scene. A man and a woman died at the hospital. The accident happened at 7:20 Sunday night, with three women and four men aboard. It appears speed may have been a factor, with reports of the boat tearing across the water. Investigators say the boat was going so fast it flew about 150 feet into the marshes before coming to a stop.
Nassau County Police say all the occupants were ejected from the boat. There were two couples from Massaqequa, one couple from Copiague and one man from Farmingdale. All the people on board are said to be over the age of 45.

FWIW, and go ahead and laugh, LAIKA is a dry boat. Drinks allowed only after return to the dock. Guest are welcome to boat elsewhere. I've seen too much in 17+ years of recreational boating.

"Sub" Ed Tordahl
S/V LAIKA
USCG Auxiliary
Qualified Crew
Qualified Aids (Nav) Verifier
Qualified Instructor
NYS Qualified Instructor

When Im at sea, its all I can do to stay hydrated chugging water - I cant imagine alcohol under wind/sun/spray.

Once Im at anchor, a bottle of wine is the most that I might be caught with...

Ed said:

FWIW, and go ahead and laugh, LAIKA is a dry boat. Drinks allowed only after return to the dock. Guest are welcome to boat elsewhere. I've seen too much in 17+ years of recreational boating.

I simply do not allow any on the boat at all. Not underway, or at the slip. No one has ever protested.


Ray

Unfortunately tragic accidents are sometimes caused by the Coast Guard.

I usually avoid taking my boat out on holiday weekends like July 4th, Memorial Day, etc. In San Diego Bay, at Christmas time, they have an annual boat parade of lights. We decided to watch the parade from shore last December 20th. There's the usual crazies out in their boats for an event like this, with a lot of drinking going on, just like on July 4th.

We heard a lot of sirens, but couldn't see where the problem was. Because we were at Sea Port Village, next to all the high rise buildings of downtown, it sounded like the sirens were coming from shore, because of echo. But unfortunately, the emergency was on the water.

A 33 foot Coast Guard boat running at a dangerously high rate of speed, apparently weaving between anchored boats, hit a 24 foot Sea Ray, with three family's aboard. An eight year old boy was killed, and five others seriously injured.

From the sound of it, the four Coast Guard crew were out for a good time, as all four are charged with dereliction of duty. Other charges are; manslaughter, aggravated assault, and negligently hazarding a vessel.

It's unfortunate events like this bring out all the nut jobs, making it dangerous for responsible boaters to have a good time on their boats with their families.

Here's a recent article if you're interested:
http://www.10news.com/news/24114948/detail.html