Debunked, debunked, bebunked! See comments interspersed below.


"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ...
Neal has insisted that my complaints of his "rules" are just nit picking.
Here's a few of the nits:

Errors of Omission --

Neal forgot to mention a few of the basic concepts, such as:
Everyone must always avoid collisions
Every vessel must keep a lookout
Every vessel must always proceed at a safe speed, taking into account
conditions, traffic, the nature of the boat, etc.

He also forgot other rules most consider useful, such as:
For powerboats head-on, alter course to the right.
For powerboats crossing, the vessel on the left shall keep clear.

And of course, he neglected to mention that in thick fog, every vessel is must
slow or even stop when hearing a signal that might imply a chance of collision.

Although a description of lights is probably beyond a basic rules lesson, it is
worth mentioning that all vessels must have lights at night. A particular
point, in US inland waters, all power vessels, no matter how small, must have
running lights.


The ONLY way I could avoid omitting something would have been to
print the text of the COLREGS. Since this is available elsewhere on
the Internet, why should I bother? I chose instead to print a Novice
Lesson for sailors (screw the motorheads) that cut to the quick so
even novices sailors could grasp the intent and basic rules of the
COLREGS that primarily concerned them. From feedback I have
received I would say I succeeded admirably.


Emphasizing useless info --
Neal description of the "pecking order" is meaningless to the novice. For
example, any NUC showing signals is likely to be a large ship that a small
vessel should avoid anyways. The beginner would be better advised to avoid all
commercial traffic.

This is a matter of opinion. Your opinion does not present a
valid argument for me to include it in my Novice Lessons.


Outright blunders --
Neal claims NUCs have priority over RAMs. Totally wrong.

NUC is higher in the pecking order than RAMs and that's a fact.

Neal claims "all vessels" are represented in the pecking order. The largest
class of boats, vessels under oars or paddles, are never mentioned.

Sorry, but the largest class of vessels by far is motor vessels.


Faulty explanation --
Neal explains at length his belief that the rules are completely different in
narrow channels. In truth, small vessels have the added responsibility not to
impede vessels that can only maneuver in within a channel, but they do not lose
their standing in the pecking order. His particular example: "a power boat is
coming ..., you are the give-way vessel" is incorrect, especially if the power
vessel is not actually restricted.

You are wrong. The Rules say you shall not impede any vessel proceeding
in a narrow channel by crossing said channel in such a way as to impede.
This is one case where a small sailboat does not have the right of way
over a motor vessel.


His description of the sailing rules is not too bad, but he doesn't explain the
meaning of "upwind vessel," a point we know is confusing to beginners. Also,
his explanation of "starboard tack" is not quite correct.

Anybody but some fool motor boat operator knows full well what
upwind means.

You proved my picky, picky, picky contention by your failure
to list one serious error in my fine Novice Lesson concerning
the Rules as pertains to the sailor. You only succeeded in wasting
your time as well as my time reiterating the same old crap that
has no bearing other than your poor ego being hurt by my award-
winning web site.