By Walt Elliott
Kingston Community News, Columnist
With trumpets and the sound of the horn, the boating season is upon us… Honk! Honk! Honk! Hoonk! Hoooonk!
If the tune sounds familiar it’s called “Danger Signal”… five or more blasts on the horn signifying that one boat thinks that the other is a nitwit who will probably perpetrate a collision. Since we hear this Greek chorus all summer, June’s FerryFare is dedicated to avoiding kerfuffles afloat.
Size matters
Bigger is less maneuverable. It takes ferries about three minutes to stop … or at least one boat length. Up in the pilot house they may not see boats that are closer than 50 feet. If they can’t see you, they can’t avoid you. OK, chances are slim to none that you’ll become a ferry hood ornament like in the cartoon. But rafts, paddle boards and kayaks do go under the ferry dock and there they have a good chance of being capsized or pushed up against the barnacles on the pilings by the ferry’s prop wash.
Keeping clear
Leaving Kingston the ferry runs straight until the Apple Cove Point light is abeam before turning toward Edmonds. So, when coming out of the marina with a ferry in the dock, go straight and wait a bit before turning north. Returning ferries need about a mile to line up for the Kingston dock. You’ll hear one long horn followed by two short toots when they’re on their approach.
Potted
Routes that ferries normally follow are shown on the charts. It helps everyone if we pull up our fishing gear to leave them clear. While we had a great crabbing season last year, those pesky pots caught more than crabs. Salish, Elwha and Chimicum were all knocked out of service after their propellers and drive shafts got tangled up with crab pot lines. The repairs cut into summer service in the San Juans, at Bremerton and at Port Townsend. Ouch!
Chapter and verse
The basic nautical rules cover most situations but there are some details to be aware of. While a boat may normally have the right of way, in narrow channels like Eagle Harbor and Rich Passage, all boats must stay on the starboard side and also stay clear of vessels that need the deep channel to navigate. For example when in a channel, a sailboat which normally has the right of way, must take early action to give a ferry sea room. All boats are also required to use good seamanship, aka common sense. Sailboats tack back and forth when going upwind. But turning in front of a ferry to risk a collision would violate the rules.
Security
Besides these navigation rules, there are security zones around ferries, and violating them may get you a visit from those cute, red patrol boats. When within 500 yards of a ferry you’re supposed go at the minimum speed you need to steer. If you get within 100 yards you’re duty bound to call the ferry, or the Coast Guard escort, on channel 13 or 16 for instructions. When a ferry is docked you’re supposed to stay at least 25 yards away.
Keeping in touch
Better communications can head off one-finger salutes and five-honk disputes. This means using the VHF radio. Talk to ferries and other ships on channel 13 and on channel 14 for the people controlling the traffic out in the Sound. Channel 16 is used for distress or safety calls. It’s also used to establish contact before switching to another channel for routine chats.
Your Ferry Advisory Committee wishes you fair summer winds, gentle seas and peaceful boating. We meet on the second Monday in the Village Green Community Center at 6:30 p.m.
— Contact Walt Elliott at elliottmoore@comcast.net.
