"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...

Scotty wrote:
Last week while sailing up a river channel, about 200yds
wide, doing 3 kts in light. wind, I spotted , off my
starboard stern quarter, 2 powerboats, 'sitting' next to
each other. I figured they were fishing, or just talking to
each other. Then they seemed to be trolling, very slowly up
river, as I was cutting across the channel at an angle, I
figured I had plenty of time to cross in front of them,
rather than behind in case they WERE trolling lines.
Then the lead PB starts honking his horn ( like a NYer, when
the light turns green) and yelling. I heard something about
my Mother, and towing and privilege. Since we were both
going slow, and not real close, I continued on my coarse. he
never got closer than 100 ft. Only after they passed did I
see the small towing line between them.

Would a 'tow' like this have 'privilege? Would he be
considered a RAM?

Yes

Yes, but....

Wouldn't he need to be displaying a day
shape?

Tech..yes

Not just technically... how is one supposed to know? You have to tell people
about your inability to maneauver.

Given that I had ample time to cross, was I still
wrong to do so?

no, not if you did not futher restrict his ability

Exactly.

Even if it had been a properly marked 'real' towboat, and
someone crossed in front, causing the tow to turn, but no
collision happened, what if anything could/should be done to
the crossing boat?

Flip him off.

Is there penalties for near misses?

can be if someone pushes the issue and gets the USCG involved.

Yup, but doubtful there would be penalties... they would tell the crosser
not to do that again.