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Navigare Warning
#315758
03/17/2024 10:25 AM
03/17/2024 10:25 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 168 Roseville, Minnesota
Swifty
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 168
Roseville, Minnesota
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I very rarely post, but I saw something last night that has me worried. Are charter companies not checking sailing resumes any longer? Last night around sunset, a Navigare Lagoon 46 with 5 men came into Kelly Cove (Norman Island) and attempted to pick up a day mooring that isn't designed for overnight use. But instead of standing at the bow of the boat, they were on the stern steps trying to snag the line from the side. It looked like they had one line running from the stern cleat and then they initially tied it off to the starboard bow cleat. As they tried to figure out how the lines were supposed to go, they had the boat in gear with no one at the helm and it continued to spin around the ball for 10 - 15 minutes. Eventually, they got the starboard line corrected but the ball was still on the outside rather than between the hulls. Then they ran another line from the forward port cleat on the outside and tried to push it under the hull with the boat hook. Eventually, they got the ball in front of the boat but the lines were still on the outsides of the hulls. Finally, they attached the anchor bridle to the entire thing and went inside. It's bad enough that Navigare put one of their own boats in danger. But if the wind had picked up, this boat could've come loose and done significant damage to the other boats nearby. It's my understanding that Navigare has way too many boats in their fleet and are now offering deep discounts to get them out on the water. Based on what I witnessed last night, it would appear that they don't care who they rent to either, as long as they're making money. Here's a link to a video we captured... [video:youtube] https://youtube.com/shorts/EHWUfRrgD90?si=NZAmXbCD__SH75gY[/video]
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: Swifty]
#315772
03/17/2024 11:34 AM
03/17/2024 11:34 AM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 886 Louisville, KY
NoelHall
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 886
Louisville, KY
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Kelly's Cove is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, the couple of balls marking dive sites are very close by and become attractive to boaters perhaps believing they are part of the mooring field. Regardless, it appears the crew lacked the basic skills to operate the boat and secure an appropriate mooring ball. Did they stay overnight? I just wondered if the individual collecting mooring balls fees for the night advised them they were not on an overnight ball?
Noel Hall "It is humbling indeed, to discover my own opinion is only correct less than 50% of the time." www.noelhall.com
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: Swifty]
#315773
03/17/2024 11:50 AM
03/17/2024 11:50 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,666 Memphis, BVI, CT
RatmansWife
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,666
Memphis, BVI, CT
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One night this week two power cats overnighted on yellow mooring balls on Diamond Reef; I got photos. The next morning I paddled out and told two guys on one boat that yellow balls are for professional dive boats. They said they had a professional captain who had been doing this for ten years and knew what he was doing.
Boat identified, I called the charter company to speak with the manager, who was lovely. They redline that area unless there is a professional captain. These guys had hired their own captain, whom I had seen grab the ball. All this company's boats have trackers, and she said she would follow up. That boat stayed until noon, so 18 hours on a yellow ball.
The other boat was leaving, so I didn't try to follow up. Hoping word gets out people are being watched.
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: RatmansWife]
#315779
03/17/2024 12:14 PM
03/17/2024 12:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,164
MIDiver
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,164
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One night this week two power cats overnighted on yellow mooring balls on Diamond Reef; I got photos. The next morning I paddled out and told two guys on one boat that yellow balls are for professional dive boats. They said they had a professional captain who had been doing this for ten years and knew what he was doing.
Boat identified, I called the charter company to speak with the manager, who was lovely. They redline that area unless there is a professional captain. These guys had hired their own captain, whom I had seen grab the ball. All this company's boats have trackers, and she said she would follow up. That boat stayed until noon, so 18 hours on a yellow ball.
The other boat was leaving, so I didn't try to follow up. Hoping word gets out people are being watched. There is so much entitlement out there…… But I am confused - redlined or not the yellow balls are not for overnight use. By anyone.
Last edited by MIDiver; 03/17/2024 12:16 PM.
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: RatmansWife]
#315782
03/17/2024 12:49 PM
03/17/2024 12:49 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,164
MIDiver
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,164
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I believe the manager meant they aren't even allowed to anchor in that area unless there is a professional captain.That is another issue: anchoring too near the reef. I suspect some professional captains are more motivated by prospective tips than by protecting the reef, but I may be jaded. Not jaded - spot on.
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: Swifty]
#315792
03/17/2024 03:08 PM
03/17/2024 03:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,050 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,050
GA/NC
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Yellow balls are dive balls with a 90 minute maximum like all NPS balls. Boats also often overnight on the NPS balls at Monkey point. The NPS balls are not a strong as the overnight balls.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 03/17/2024 03:11 PM.
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: Swifty]
#315816
03/17/2024 09:58 PM
03/17/2024 09:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,423 New Jersey, USA
DanS
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,423
New Jersey, USA
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Who are these doofuses!? Beyond belief. Thanks, Swifty, for the heads-up and the video. Dan
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: Swifty]
#315824
03/18/2024 07:16 AM
03/18/2024 07:16 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,050 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,050
GA/NC
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The downwind pickup is used to showcase above average skills. It’s difficult to do correctly and puts you a cut above those who use the wind as a crutch for an easy pickup. It is best to executed in winds above 10 knots with lots of loudly shouted commands from the helm to show who is in charge and impress onlookers. If you really want to impress everyone combine the downwind pickup with lots of speed and slam the engine or engines into heavy reverse producing big clouds of black smoke! Extra points for rigging the bow lines after you grab the Mooring.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 03/18/2024 07:23 AM.
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Re: Navigare Warning
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#315869
03/18/2024 01:56 PM
03/18/2024 01:56 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 369 Close to the water as possible
Flotsam
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 369
Close to the water as possible
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The downwind pickup is used to showcase above average skills. It’s difficult to do correctly and puts you a cut above those who use the wind as a crutch for an easy pickup. It is best to executed in winds above 10 knots with lots of loudly shouted commands from the helm to show who is in charge and impress onlookers. If you really want to impress everyone combine the downwind pickup with lots of speed and slam the engine or engines into heavy reverse producing big clouds of black smoke! Extra points for rigging the bow lines after you grab the Mooring. I always award The Boaters Badge of Merit if someone goes overboard during the process as well.
Flotsam
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.
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