By Carolyn Brown Treadon

The following information on Recreational Boating Safety – Dealing with Other Boats’ Wakes was written by Bob Currie, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety Specialist, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Galveston Flotilla.
If you have ever traveled on a busy waterway such as the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), then you have seen the results of crossing another boat’s wake at the wrong angle, thewrong speed, or too close to the other boat. Perhaps you have done one of these things (you know you have) and quickly regretted it. If you are lucky, you will only experience a very rough ride if you cross another boat’s wake improperly. Other results can be damage to your hull, swamping your boat, ejecting passengers and gear, and flipping your boat. If you learn a few pointers then you will have so smooth a wake crossing that you will amaze your passengers with your boat handling skills and you will probably get a salute from the other boat operator. Here is a list of considerations for each wake crossing:

What to do when things go wrong
Rules of the Road: Passing Head-On (Rule 14)
“Unless otherwise agreed when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.”
It’s just like driving a car on a two-lane undivided road: keep right! Oh, if only it were that simple. In most cases it is, but there are some other considerations. Each meet requires some analysis. Just be sure to clearly signal your intentions.
Check back next week for more information from Bob Currie.
Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident!

If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.

Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.