UK regs on boat traffice and buoys?

[Alison]

Joking aside, what the hell can we do about it? WE all know that either of the flags mean diver down please keep your distance but its no damn good if the Chav doesnt! There's an example of a very lucky guy at the top of this page, if that had hit his head Clive could well have been killed! Thats no joke!

[Spaniard]

Unfortunately, as in so many other situations in this modern life, the authorities will do sweet f.a. until there are a number of well publicised injuries/fatalities. Spearfisherpeople in this country are too few to be considered a worthy cause to protect. What we need is someone famous to join our ranks and highlight our plight to the right person at RYA or whoever polices the boatpeople around our coasts. Anyone know anyone famous??

[SurfnSpear]

Originally Posted by Alison

Joking aside, what the hell can we do about it? WE all know that either of the flags mean diver down please keep your distance but its no damn good if the Chav doesnt! There's an example of a very lucky guy at the top of this page, if that had hit his head Clive could well have been killed! Thats no joke!

Due the frequency of these watercraft coming very close and therefore ignoring legitimate 'DIVERS DOWN' symbols what about getting some evidence of them on film. I for one am going to use my camera next time as I generally hear the motors coming, surface, and then ensure they notice me. I know you don't always hear them coming, which is the real point of this thread, but I am definitely going to try 'hunting' errant watercraft with my camera. It has 1Gb memory stick so I should get some video or pics without losing out on capacity for the water shots. If like Sunday at Ringstead, I will soon get some shots. In the end it might not do much now, but keeping the footage may be useful for any further inquiries/debates on regulation?? Word might even get around the jetski forums (if there are any??) that there are spies in the water...

[Old Man Dave]

Sorry, I know we're serious here but I'm still on this mindset - a SMB in the shape of a speed camera?
Practically, whatever the "proper" symbol is a lage SMB with DIVERS in big lettering gets my vote. If you make your own it's possible to get a slimline below water shaped bouy to support a large above water sign. I use 2 commercial dan floats and this is very good solution.
Dave

[Alison]

The filming them sounds like a very good idea especially if you can get the bouy in shot too, hand it to the police I guess, as I said before the north wales police have a jet ski patrol, so they must be the guys to report it too, maybe if we all complained once in a while then maybe they would take it a bit more seriously.
Michael, that toll booth? with a sign saying:"Jetski license inspection" was pretty funny though

[Adrian]

Or a float disguised as a floating torpedo - with a radioactive sign on it.

[UK Spearo]

Like I said I wrote to the coast guard and local MP, neither seemed interested. Just make sure you at least always have a float with you (I like do Daves idea's for float designs!).. I know a few people who insist on diving without a float - mad! laters Clive.

[SurfnSpear]

Water ASBO's!?!!?

[Spaniard]

Wonder what a jetski would look like after an encounter with a powerhead?? Hmmmmmm

[DeepThought]

Originally Posted by Spaniard

Wonder what a jetski would look like after an encounter with a powerhead?? Hmmmmmm

Much better!!
I think the fuel tank should be considered as a head-shot in that case.

[portinfer]

I know that for cars on the road they are not allowed to pass closer than a car width to you if you are on a bike (yes, I am a militant cyclist...) - and if they do and you just happen to have your bike keys in your hand and they slip down the side of the car then even with a stretched arm you are going to win in court as the car was closer than it legally should have been.... (I've been across too many car bonnets to care too much about cars so just chill now and ride defensively - ie lots of braking and assuming that the car driver will do something mad like overtake and then take a sharp left [happens everyday...])

So perhaps .. well lets say that the range of a speargun is 5m... if a craft is within 5m of you then they are too close and especially if you happen to see a large bass on the surface about, lets say 5m away and you just happen not to hear the craft... unfortunate as you did have a clear flag up to say you were diving/hunting ... :0)

(PS I in no way advocate violence - it would just be an unfortunate shot )

[Alison]

Well I have to sympathise with that attitude Ed, wrong as it is but to be honest I would be tempted to put a spear through the hull of a boat that nearly mowed me down, below the waterline of course so they couldnt hang around to give me grief Perhaps its the Irish in me But being tempted doesnt make it right either

[portinfer]

Sometimes being wrong can be right ... oh so right ! (Make you feel better two until you realise that you have just lost a nice Devoto shaft so maybe I'll stick to the bass...).

Had a scary moment this weekend when a boat came barrelling towards me despite me waving my spear in the air and then jinxed around me and waved as if nothing had happened - bearing in mind I was in a very very quiet spot and had no float (there is a very small channel through there but I assumed that no boat owner would know it - i mean it is narrow with lots of rocks and the tidal range is huge here so there is no way you could know it at each state of tide - well this guy did - he was either a genius or insane - rocks about 2m or less beneath the surface.... I went down and hid in a cave with some large wrasse )

[Alison]

Cripes it seems everybody has had a close shave! It can only be time before someone gets killed, it just amazes me how it hasnt happened so far, with any water users not just spearo's

[portinfer]

So what is the official line ?

Might wander along to the harbour auth. tomorrow and see what they have to say about it....