Port of Vancouver introduces Boater's Handbook

[Bill 310]

The Port has released a long overdue Boater's Handbook

Link

https://www.portvancouver.com/article/safe-boating-awareness-week-launches-vancouver-community-event

 

[Pineapple Express]

Thanks for posting. I've just skimmed through it.

I didn't realize that there were speed limit areas at First Narrows (15 knots) and around Deep Cove (5 knots). I don't boat in the harbour much at all. Regardless, this is good info.

 

[Rain City]

You'd think it would be mandatory to pass a test from it in order to operate a vessel between the narrows. That is one crazy patch of water.

 

[Bill 310]

I printed out the Guide and had it bound. As I read through it I found this





Now why the Port Authority didn't just include theses sections in the guide simply boggles the mind.

I went and had bound copies made up one for the boat and one for the house.

Now I have to go get additional pages printed and dick around trying to open up the binding.

I wonder how much of this guidebook was hurried along after the rental boater / Harbour Air collision

In my cut and paste (above) port authority should be written as Port Authority (with caps)

 

[mayday]

Just to circle back to another topic re waiting for the cruise ships to pass under first narrows - even according to that handbook, there is no requirement to wait - unless they have been granted a specific "clear narrows" call, it is allowed - you can't impede their operations (obviously ) but can transit in parallel

 

[Bill 310]

When we had Cruise Ships leaving the last time we were coming home we waited and the benefit of that was that some of the Rental Fleet waited as well.

Of course a few powerboats zipped down the side of the Cruise Ship maybe 50 feet away from her side.

None of the official boats out managing things did anything to educate the ill-informed . This of course sends a message to those who waited and didn't act like butt hats., i.e. It must be ok to do dumb thing 7 , or dumb thing 11

In a perfect world they would use dumb folks like me to help them write the sections that apply to recreational boaters moving about in the harbour.

 

[mayday]

Ok, I'll bite - curious why you feel its dangerous for more than one vessel to go through that area?

 

[Bill 310]

Ok, I'll bite - curious why you feel its dangerous for more than one vessel to go through that area?

No biting required .That was a good question.

When a cruise ship, or two is exiting through the First Narrows and the Granville Island rental crowd is trying to go under the Lion's Gate eastbound I have observed higher than normal levels of nautical stupidity adding a Cruise Ship or bulk carrier to the mix just turns the dial up to 11.

Cruise Ship exiting or entering and boats captained by folks who are experienced not a big problem .

I chose to wait and while waiting I see lots of really dumb things happening. Harbour Patrol is trying to control and manage things as best they can but that is not always enough.

The issue is not about folks who know what they are doing and give way and tuck in along the Stanley Park seawall but rather the rental Captains who are perhaps operating a powerboat for the first time . Plus the impaired and the speeders, and the folks who really should know better..

On occasion I have seen the Harbour Police hold boaters back by asking them nicely to wait. .Folks still ignore them.

I wait because I am not in that much of a hurry, and I don't want my family to be adversely affected by someone else's actions when waiting 5 minutes is so easy.

I also don't want to have to be pulling folks out of the water and doing CPR . I have done it (CPR) 5 times and so far have had zero success .It tends to wear on a person.

In the end, It is what it is.