It was a hot, windless day last summer and I was steering our trawler slowly out of a small river inlet when I crossed paths with a small sloop. He was under power, with no sail up, and I had the right of way.
Yet on he went, cutting in front of me and forcing me to a dead stop. There was plenty of room between the two boats–certainly no emergency situation–yet he unleashed an impressive string of expletives as he passed, even as his wife swatted him to quiet down.
Sometimes, it really does seem like sailors are from Mars and powerboaters are from Venus. And I should know: I'm a sailor who owns a trawler.
I have long maintained that conscientious captains in sail and power should have more in common than not. Both study weather, piloting and navigation. Both need skills in mechanics and electrical systems. Both respect the sea.
GLEN JUSTICEFlying the chute is a beautiful thing, but this boat was doing so immediately outside a busy channel near shallow water, causing several vessels to alter course.
But the reality on the water is that there are important differences too, and understanding the two worlds is the key to narrowing the gap. Here, in the interest of better understanding, Mad Mariner presents some questions and answers about how powerboats work and what sailors need to know to improve relations between the two sides.
Q. Why do powerboats insist on steering so close to my boat?
A. There are, of course, some powerboat captains who simply don't understand the impact that their large engines have on other boats, and often their conduct is unacceptable (more on this in a minute). But in fairness, there are also many sailors who have fallen into unsafe habits that can invite problems.
From the Chesapeake Bay to the California coastline, I frequently see large sailboats raise sail immediately out of the slip or as soon as they enter the channel, often slowing and altering course to do so. Though they are generally motor-sailing, these captains make their boats more vulnerable to weather and less maneuverable by raising sail in tight quarters – precisely the time when we all need maximum flexibility.
With the boat slowed and the crew focused on raising sail, the vessel often becomes an obstacle in the channel, forcing other boats to steer around it or slow to an idle behind it – two scenarios that invite close calls. A similar scenario can play out at the end of the day, when sailors opt to move all the way up the channel and into the harbor under sail, sending their crew forward only at the very last minute. Again, this leaves them preoccupied and less maneuverable in tight quarters, and other vessels are forced to adjust.
Remember that a powerboat forced to move faster or change course can only do so using its engines – and more throttle means more wake.
Believe me when I say that I understand the magic of that first few seconds when the engine is cut and the wind takes over. And I understand the reluctance to re-engage that engine. But it seems a better practice to raise and lower sail when the boat is well clear of traffic, so long as it is safe to do so, and to rely on the motor in the channel and the harbor.
Q. Powerboats are so much more maneuverable – why don't you just get out of the way?
A. It is true that powerboats have the edge here. Sailboats may be graceful and sexy, but a powerboat with twin engines or a bow thruster will win in the slalom every time. The important thing for sailors to remember here is that these are only relative advantages, and that powerboats are still governed by many of the same forces that hold sailboats in check.
Depth is a good example. Generally speaking, powerboats draw far less than sailboats. We have all watched with something like awe – or perhaps envy – when the captain of a fast, planing-hull boat turns confidently into a patch of two-foot water, and speeds into the horizon without any trouble.
