"otnmbrd" wrote
| Let me give an example which may help some understand my thoughts on RAM and
| small pleasure boats.....
| Take an 8' pram with a small Seagull outboard (2hp?) towing a 25' powerboat
| using a bridle from cleats on either side of the stern and, say, 20' tow
| line.
| Would this boat be maneuverable? Not really..... he's underpowered and with
| the bridle set-up will have a problem making any but the smallest course
| corrections.


Your thoughts are your own.... But the Rules are the Rules!

"(vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and
her tow in their ability to deviate from their course."

The question you should be asking isn't *would this boat be maneuverable*. It's *is this
boat severely restricted in its ability to deviate from it's course*? It's plain that it's NOT!
It's as simple as turning the tiller handle. Or throttling back. It might not turn as fast or
slow down as fast as it can by itself. But it can do both. There's nothing severe about it.
Severe is being stuck to a dredge pipe, or being attached to a boat your supplying or being
attached to a wreck or having a mine ten feet away on either side of you. That's what
the examples tell you. A towboat severely restricted means the same freakin' thing. Say
it's going around the bend in a river. It can't change course or the barge will hit the
bank. It can't slow down or the barge will hit the bank. That's severe. Duh!

3(g) "from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by
these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel."

How can you say your example is *unable* to keep out of the way of Scotty's sailboat?
It's so simple. Turn the tiller sooner instead of later of turn off the freakin' motor and
stay out of the way of the sailboat.
It's silly to say your example is RAM. The rule just doesn't support it. Two motor boats
is all they are. One's running the other's broke down.

Cheers,
Ellen