Inlet Etiquette?
 

Do many of you traverse inlets often? What is the proper etiquette or rules as far as size of craft and wave runners?

I have been boating in and out of most of South Florida's inlets for about 10 years and was put in a predicament last weekend. I live near Boynton Inlet which is probably 40 feet wide. Strong currents and usually pretty rough at the mouth. Wave runners are one thing, sometimes they jump wakes in there... senseless! But am I at fault if they fall off and hit one of them? Is this allowed?

I usually wait till I see boats leaving when going out but on the way in, it is curved so once you commit you are in there... no turning back. Then, here is the big one from last weekend... I came back in and a guy is coming in at all of 5-8MPH in a 15 foot Whaler with a 25 HP outboard against the current. I slowed down and passed him because the current is at a 45 degree angle and its hard enough to control the boat at moderate to slow speed let alone idle (and its an inlet too, why stop???). I passed him as far to the left as I could as he still drove down the middle. Of course, I was the A-Hole in a speed boat, but who is really at fault here... If it were me, I wouldnt be near an inlet in a 15 foot Skiff/Whaler. What are the rules for underpowered craft? What about size? I actually felt bad but he brought a knife to a gun fight....

What are the rules?

We had the same issue trying to get out Inlet at Orange Beach, its a little wider but its rough and boats are running through the slop.

Well, they had a lil 15ft bass skeeter or something trying to get out. They had a large Exp Cruiser coming in as he was attempting to not sink in front of me. I passed on his left to shield him from his own stupidity and swells form the EC and informed him, he needs to get the back in the channel before he has to swim back.

You cant help them with their stupidity, just somewhat attempt not to sink them as hopefully figure out there dumbasses!

Are their even simple rules for the size of craft in an inlet?

I've always heard that the same rules of the water still apply but simply remember to ignore them and adopt the biggest boat owns the navigable channel mindset.
This is probably all wrong but in our cuts, slews, and channels to the Gulf we live by it.
I've been on both sides of this out with the kids on skis and on board large sportfishers.
Some of the best memories I have are from Grandad and the late FIL were moments like these when they would give those guys some severe tongue lashing and some more way out offshore at the Flower Gardens where these yahoos would pilot a sub 20 footer w/single OB some 100 miles from the coast
We had some uneasy moments once or twice in a 40+ with 5' of draft
Sure wouldn't want to be aboard a dinghy like that in the Gulf with bad weather on the horizon to the north.
See ya,
Kelly

The bigger boat always has the right of way. Unless it's a sailboat ( under sail power only) maritime law. And jet skis are 5 points if you hit them. Ten points if it sinks. I really shouldn't say that because my wife has a jet ski.

LMAO!!!
Thankfully we were never scored against
Sometimes I'll still have to holler at the twins (25yrs old)
"Move your dumb asses towards the shoreline"
Thanks for the good laugh

See ya,
Kelly

I swear jet skis are like gnats. And they think boats have brakes. By me you can't even run a ski without taking a two day coarse . It didn't help. But then again there are a ton of stupid boat owner with a ton of money with giant boats they can drive worth a **** either. I just try to be as defensive as I can and pretend that no one knows where the hell there going. This way I'll stay safe. :)

Keith , I've been in and out of the inlets down there , and those inlets down there are nothing to play with ..the currents are crazy as Hell how hard and fast they run ..as far as the idiots on the jet ski's , there's nothing we can do about it. There are groups of them that are respectful and operate their machines properly , then there's idiots , and the idiots just don't care ..this is a problem in any body of water

I dont care about the jet skis. What I am really wondering about are people with 15-18 foot skiffs with 40 HP outboards. This particular day the guy had a kid on the boat and I would be horrified if the boat flipped after I passed. BUT, of course, the speed boat was the bad guy (me). I dont know what he was doing in there at 5 MPH in the first place.

This is absolutely false. Bigger boat does not have right of way due to size only.

Here are the rules as published by the uscg and this is in fact law.

You are also always responsible for your own wake. So if it causes damage you are at fault

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent

And also the term right of way is not used anymore it is give way and stand on. However even if you are stand on and the other vessels actions alone will not stop a collision it is now on you to make the necessary adjustment to avoid. They did this so any marine collision they can actually find fault with both parties.

I run a boat for a living and am immersed in this as I'm actually working on upgrading to a 1600 ton masters license.

That is good info. They are mostly talking about overtaking or passing in open water.

There is inland and international. Most boating down by recreational boaters is inland. The col regs demarcation line is on the chart in coastal areas. That's where the rules change. If read right you will see some rules are the same for inland and international and some very different.

Boynton inlet was cut for intracoastal flushing, it really wasn't meant to be a navigable inlet (narrow, fast current, 18 ft FIXED bridge, etc). That being said, it is a looonnnnng way to either inlet to the north or south, mostly no wake/slow zones (12-15 miles guess). It sucks because you can't see the other side of the inlet once you enter it so once you commit you own it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUOsgXg7Gwg

Yes yes yes! LOL - I am glad you posted that. Once you commit from the ocean side, you are in there!

1/2 way thru there are actually pilings and the current goes sideways. This was exactly where I had to slow and almost came off plane then gently passed the guy on the skiff. Then I was the a-hole.

But its like dude, are you sure you should be in here in a rowboat powered by a weedwacker? Cmon man!

Kieth what makes you so special? Why make fun of anyone with a boat cause it isn't as big and fast as yours? Not saying you are a d!ck but your sounding like one talking like that. If you have to come off plane then you have to. It's about being safe. I run a 150ft boat in major currents on a reg basis. 10knots is the best I can make so I know about driving slow in a hard current. The waterways should be shared and enjoyed by everybody.

Also as the overtaking vessel you are the give way. It is your duty to not impede him. Regardless of size or speed he has to maintain course and speed.

Look at my first post. This thread started simply as an inquiry. I tried to be as cautious as possible. My main question is why would someone even try to attempt this inlet in a boat that is obviously not seaworthy?

Jupiter Sunsation knows this inlet... Its bad news. Matter of fact at :36 in this video is exactly where my inquiry/situation happened.

So, let me turn this around ICU, if you were in this situation what would you do? You are the captain of a fishing boat and your boat goes sideways trying to avoid a small craft (a very small craft that is ALREADY in a bad situation) do you risk your passengers lives? A diving commercial vessel went down in this exact spot 2 years ago in the same situation a 2 people died. This isnt a stone throwing competition, what are my rights? What is the law?


The real questions are:
-What is considered too small or underpowered for a seaworthy vessel? Whos fault is it is they endanger other peoples lives?
-Is it legal for jet skis to go into an inlet and jump waves and remain in there for a significant amount of time? (go in and get out)


How far should should I go while I risk my personal safety, the lives of people on my boat and equipment in this particular situation?

The truth the law is in the rules of the road. There is no too small a vessel. Underpowered. Ever heard of a sailboat? Lol. I run a 150 ft offshore supply vessel. The only lives they can basically legally endanger is on their own vessel as under the rules every operator is required to be able to avoid a collision. Some states have a law that says no wake jumping within a certain amount of feet of any vessel (this law born because of jet skis) I love in Florida and do not KNOW what their law is on that as I don't ride jet skis. You shouldn't risk your personal safety but you should be able to control your vessel. There is a phrase known as "bare steerage way". It is the slowest you can go and still maneuver your vessel. Bare steerage is not on plane. I promise.

Seriously read the rules I sent you. Not just skim them but read them making sure to look at international vs inland. You will learn a lot. I promise. I seriously just wanna help you understand.

I've seen guys 3 miles off shore in a Jon boat with a 10 hp on back ..not saying its my choice , and nit sure there's any regulation that states that either ..

Regulations can't fix stupid unfortunantly....... They dang sure try though. Keeps the lawyers busy and our insurance rates going higher......

ICU, I hope you can take whoever is in your avatar out on that 150 ft boat. DAYYYYUM.

My inlet (apollo beach--goes from neighborhood canals to the bay) is pretty calm as inlets go so not too much drama as long as two large sailboats don't try to pass at the same time--the channel is narrow. Generally people stay on the right much like you would in a car on a public road. If a sail boat is coming in or out I generally scoot way over so they can have the deepest part of the channel. I did once see a small boat nearly sink. It was a ~16' flats boat with a small outboard. One adult man and one boy (probably 7yrs old) in it. About 3' chop, got sideways, was taking on tons of water. Another closer boat (a sport fish) got beside him on the upwind side which mostly broke the chop for the little boat. The child was hauled into the sport fish and the main in little boat made his way in without sinking by staying the shadow of the sport fish. Crazy that someone would take a boat that small out in that area and crazier still that he'd take a child with him!

Are you saying that if a freight barge is coming at me and I'm in a 22' boat he does not have the wright of way. Or better yet that a 300' boats wake is responsible for sinking my 6' zodiac. There are many laws that do not make sense, but I can stop a 22' boat faster than a 200' boat. As far as the jet skis jumping wakes , why do you think they are there.......to jump the wakes.......

ICU Thanks for your reply
It was just as I was taught.
The vessel being overtaken has a duty to hold his heading and speed or make it apparent he is willing to give way and do so in a manner which allows him continued control and eases the difficulty for the overtaking vessel who must also exercise caution in the pass as it's Capt will be responsible in a collision.
When my family elders were in a position like this they slowed until it was safe to pass and then gave them lip service for not being flexible and working with the overtaking vessel.
When I'm operating our flat bottom flounder boat with a small outboard there's no way I'm deliberately holding my line and make the Capt of the shrimp boat or a big sportfisher being placed in an awkward position to overtake me.
If there's space in the channel I know my draft is much less then his and I edge towards the shoreline holding my speed as best as possible.
When the operator of a small boat like the one mentioned earlier continues to hold his bearing down the center of the channel he needs to realize that although he's entitled to it certainly isn't fair to the boat overtaking him.
We all have equal rights to launch any vessel we choose but we must respect other boaters in a spirit of cooperation out in the drink in situations like these.
See ya
Kelly

I would like to say this as well. In New York...... The biggest ass holes in the world will run you over on the roads for looking at them fun. ( don't want to get into the cab drivers) but once you hit the water almost everyone waves to each other. I believe that some people take law way to much to heart rather than respect. I would never take anyone out in a smaller boat, sail boat or anything. Mostly because I'm not a douche like that. But we all have boats for one thing. Enjoyment . Otherwise there could be a **** ton of money we didn't spend on boats for a few months of pleasure. I have 4 boys and look what I'm spending for 4 nights of pleasure. Ugh !

I can say that it is no where near the same on the roads vs the waterways here in the Daytona area ..boaters alway seem to be very curtius in the waterways and the local Islands ..the boat Ramos is another story ..I personally always take my time and stay to the outside of the channel ..also always give right of way to sailboats and large boats ..we have a ton of people up here that are stand up paddleboards , and always come to a no wake position in there area ..common courtesy is a lost subject in so many people ..

Those idiots on the Jet Skis and Surf Boards should just be target practice for the guys fishing the Jetty. With shotguns. Morons.

Look I get there is an etiquette. I've grown up boating between the Chesapeake bay and now for a living. Kieth asked for the law. I presented him with the law. Now your into a tanker vs a 22ft boat your going to extremes not the situation here. However there is the narrow channel rule (yes it's in the link I posted) however the narrow channel rule doesn't apply here because both boats can only navigate within the channel. That rule applies to marked channels whereas smaller shallow draft vessels can safely operate outside the channel.

Biggest point here is if the small boat was making way the bigger boat could have slowed to get around smaller boat and still been fine.

True. I wasn't trying to stir the pot. Does the direction of current have an affect on the "law"? Do you know?

On the western rivers and great lakes It does in that a vessel down bound with a following current is the stand on vessel and shall propose the manner of passage. That is under rule 14 down in the inland box.

I urge anyone operating a boat to read the link. It has lights, whistles(sound making devices) required and all the steering and sailing rules.

The book can be bought at any west marine.

To add to the excitement, kids will jump off that bridge on an outgoing tide, swim back to the beach and jump off the bridge again......

Ahh, so we can add bird hunting to the fishing attraction. :champs:

The one thing that gets me fired up , is the Jackwagon that feels he is better than everyone else and goes cruising through a No Wake Zone ..by all means if it were an emergency I would understand .