Well said.
True most don't know the blind spot whistle signal. Forget dropping movable antennas & outriggers to get less air draft. Or even what 5 or 6 short blasts whistle signal means two things. Many do not know how to use a radio, the channels or even have it on. I used to do the same thing and ask the bridge tender down in SRI who's the last boat coming my way as I waited. The old bridges were narrow and low except for Ocean Ave.
A professional mariner in a duckboat killed two people and injured 12, while another professional mariner ran a tug and tow over him at 5 knots in a mile long straightway on the Delaware River 2pm on a sunny July day. Really? WTF! That's the blow hard pros who preach loudly. Haven't bothered to even looked at the rules in decades since their Test.
The rawest rule of boating operation is to trust no one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jakesdad
As Capt. Frank says most don't know the rules. I have been running out of Shark River since the early 60's. In the old days, everyone respected the rules of the road. Everyone knew what a whistle signal meant, and everyone knew the clearance height of their boat. Many times people where advised they had to drop all non essential items in order to clear the bridge.
Openings where limited to those in need, outriggers are not essential, antenna, soft tops etc, all had to be dropped.
My crew still laughs when I approach any span I use my horn, at all times especially with the tide. Can't tell you how many times oncoming traffic still proceeds. In today's world I even ask if there is any traffic on channel 13 before I proceed.
Better safe than sorry.
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