There was a jetski accident about 12:30 pm on the Navesink river today. Two women were running their jetski in Airforce Cove, lost control and hit a tree.... They were both critically injured.... I believe the app reported on this....

the people on the dock were yelling at the sailboater to stop.....

They mention the Stamford Harbor in the article...I'm in that harbor all the time. Not usually out there at night but have left there as the sun is going down...guess it wouldn't hurt to exercise a little more caution.

And that my friends says it all.

Most modern day "sailers" spend most of their cruising time under power, while simultaneously ranting about "stink pots". They have to use engines because many times there is not enough wind for them to make any headway at all without "assistance".

I believe that a sail boat while using an "auxiliary" ( read primary) engine....is at that point a de facto powerboat and subject to all of the rules of right of way that other powerboaters are subject to.

The hypocrisy here is palpable.

T2x

Absolutely

"Real Rules
Sailboat vs. Powerboat
A sailboat under sail has the right of way over a powerboat. A sailboat under power becomes a powerboat — see below.

Powerboat vs. Powerboat
Powerboats include a sailboat under power, even if the sails are still up: the boat on the starboard (right) side has the right of way.

Overtaking Boats
A boat overtaken by another boat has the right of way. The boat being overtaken should stay the course."


Overtaking includes a sailboat overtaking a slower powerboat.

I started a thread with a link to the USCG's stats from 2007 and prior. I do believe we should review the stats to become proactive to corrective actions. When flying a small plane at night, you do not notice the green/red lights, you notice the strobe first. What if an improvement like that was pushed for night boating, starting with Dave and the guys in NJ, and then pushed state to state? Also, what is a reasonable minimum plane speed for most of the boats in question? It looks like the Bay goes for about 50 miles, at 10mph that would be unreasonable so people would ignore the rule. At 25 to 30mph would it be reasonable? My BT actually planes at a lower speed than the Scorpion. Would a requirement for night vision goggles make any sense? And of course a way to improve the DUI enforcement on the water. I have boated at night many times. I have had a couple of close calls. Once a PWC with no lights, once a paddle boat with no lights, and once a cruiser on autopilot. None had anything to do with too fast or lack of attention by me.

Pretty much my experience as well. The speed issues pop up all the time on rivers, where you can indeed see some GF boats well into the trees. But most of the real danger every day occurs from the Tubers, boaters that won't deviate from their plotted course, no lights or dim lights at night, way too fast on dark nights or for the conditions in general.

I really get sick of boneheads tubing in between boats at anchor, in a friggin beach area Happens every weekend. Speed can be an issue, and is in certain circumstances. But by and large, it's the average Captain Boneheads on weekends that you have to be careful of. They've practically ruined boating. Once you've encountered a glimpse of a something just up ahead at night, slowed down, only to find out it's some jerk sitting in the middle of the lake with no lights on, that will certainly send a shiver down your legs.

I almost hit a pontoon at night, he had no lights,I saw someones cigarette glow brighter as he puffed on it ,liked to sh*t my pants.

Has there been any comments or reports released by the survivors on the Whaler yet?

any updates...