Posted by Walt on July 20, 2004 at 11:58:39:
In Reply to: Bottom Scratcher Too Close posted by Pasley on July 20, 2004 at 09:16:35:
The Bottomscratcher should have hailed the anchored boat on VHF 16 and should not have approached it if no reply was received, assuming the alpha flag was being flown by the anchored boat. (A diver down flag alone would be questionable...legally in open water it's not required to be respected, but common sense from a boat captain should make him wonder).
I wonder sometimes about commercial boat operators... while I was under sail in a light fog, a dive boat nearly collided with me (he came close enough so that I could see he was eating breakfast and wasn't paying attention). Thankfully I saw him, dropped sail and fell off my track (I value my boat more than a suit against the boat operator after the collision).
And, yes, I had my radar reflector up....he was not paying attention - was running on auto pilot feeding his face.