Shopping for fishing reels
Well, no, we’re not really shopping for reels, although maybe it would help our fishing. I was instead just thinking about the mnemonic which describes the pecking order for right of way on the water:
New Reels Catch Fish So Purchase Some – or NRCFSPS.
- Nuc (Not Under Command)
- Ram (Restricted In Ability To Maneuver)
- Cbd (Constrained By Draft)
- Fishing. (Commercial only, all types except trolling)
- Sailing
- Powerboat
- Seaplane
How often do we run into seaplanes when out on the water? Well, so far we haven’t but interestingly there is a seaplane landing strip in the bay leading towards our marina.
And you can see in a the pic below a couple of our dock neighbours who were in the marina several weeks ago. So it is possible. Even though the mnemonic above indicates that we have right of way over a seaplane, I’m pretty sure that we’d be working to get out of his way!
One thing I found interesting was watching the seaplanes get into their slip. After cutting the engines nearby the pilot actually got out on the pontoon with a paddle to get his plane close enough to throw a line to shore.
On an entirely different topic, we have been successfully avoiding the thunderstorms that have been occurring every afternoon for the past few days. As a reward last night we were treated to this beautiful rainbow overtop of our friends’ boat, Pirate Jenny.
I recall once being in the path of a landing seaplane as we were stopped, hauling our kids back into the boat after a tube ride. The plane was coming at us and not diverting at all. It was a mad scramble to get the kids aboard, and out of there just in the nick of time.
Not the time to start arguing about Col Regs (collision regulations).
Gorgeous double rainbow photo, there… 🙂
As for the seaplanes, they’re fairly common in some of the inland Northern Ontario areas I cruise. In theory and on paper, they’re supposed to give way to surface craft, and most are pretty good about doing a loop around the lake to make sure there’s a clear path and that everyone sees them.
But once the plane is on approach, the practical side of the matter is “boater, get the hell outta there”- the descending plane has substantial blind spots, needs to come in at a very shallow angle (thus, he’s terrified of your mast) and is very restricted in its ability to change course. If I see one, I open the throttle and take the shortest route out of his path.
Sounds like the smart thing to do!
We could actually see one entire rainbow (both ends) but I didn’t have my wide angle lens on the camera.
Fantastic picture of our boat!! Double rainbow too. We plan to get that blown up.
Thanks Mike!!!! ( The picture is sweet, salty and puffy!!!!!)
We had a great time in Kerr Bay with you guys. Thanks!!!
We had a blast too. I’ll email you a full-res copy of the pic.
That is a lovely picture of the rainbow and friends. I don’t see how a seaplane could get out of the way of anyone, except by taking off again! And the poor guy sitting on the pontoon with his paddle isn’t in a very good position to get out of the way, either! I have seen them sort of taxi on the water with low revs, but I still don’t think they steer very well on the water!
Yes, he taxied close to the dock but then wisely cut the engine a little ways out. That’s when he broke out the paddle.
Seaplanes are quite common here in the PNW… perhaps influenced by Alaska where they take the place of the station wagon. Kenmore Air runs an operation based on Lake Union in downtown Seattle – they are taking off and landing there constantly (we were moored there for a year and a half). Taking off and landing at over 100 mph, I’m pretty sure that all the sailboats look like stationary objects to them, whether or not they are getting out of the way. How they pick a path thru them, I just don’t know.
Right now, we are anchored in Ganges, on Saltspring Island in BC Canada, which appears to be the center of operation for Saltspring Air. The pilots were very courteous this morning – they taxied way out before opening the throttle, allowing us to sleep in.
Matt is right – once the plane is on final, he is flying only slightly over stall speed – he is unable to make any sudden maneuvers, and the controls are very mushy… basically he is pretty much committed to the path he has chosen.
bob