Relative Bearing--Use Your Thumb to Avoid Collision--Jim's Little Boat -- Catalina 22 -- Rule 7

Jim demonstrates using your thumb to take a relative bearing on another boat to see if you will collide.
Jim's Little Boat is dedicated to helping beginning sailors and providing a video reference for work on their own boats. There are more than 50 videos in the Jim's Little Boat archives of You Tube. While some of the videos are very specific to Catalina 22 sailboats, most are general and apply to all small mono-hull sailboats.
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[@SailWithAMission]

Thanks, for the tip. As a novice taking rules of the road very seriously I am frustrated no one else seems to. I will give this a try the next time I'm watching a powerboat flying towards me.

[@daveopincarne3718]

I learned this by comparing the oncoming vessel to the background. If the vessel looks like it is moving forward against the background it is "gaining ground" and will pass in front. If it looks like it is moving backward relative to the background, it is "losing ground" and you will pass in front of it.

[@mariawachter5968]

I like it . Thanks

[@daveopincarne3718]

Jim - Another informative video. Let me know if you need a "cooperative boat" in the future. I'm nearby.

[@daveopincarne3718]

Sounds like I'm not the only one who gets alerted to other boats 200 yards away traveling in the opposite direction. My new answer to the question "What are you going to do about that boat? " is "Not hit it."

[@mariawachter5968]

Can you give me a tip on how to get the crank to move it , it’s stuck and can’t put the keel down. Please

[@daveopincarne3718]

Maria, check the keel lock pin. In a C22, it's located inside the forward dinette locker. If it has been over tightened, it might actually have enough purchase to hold the keel up. You might have to crank the keel up hard to take pressure off the threads. If the keel won't drop after it's been loosened, you might have to troubleshoot. First thing would be determining if the cable has slack or not. If it is not a simple matter of the lockpin, you may have corrosion, a frayed cable, or some other issue. In a worst case scenario, you could loose the keel and the boat could capsize. Repair shouldn't be a huge issue, but it's not something you want to allow to fail. Jim has some great videos on keel maintenance; they will give you a good idea of how the system is put together. Good luck!

[@mariawachter5968]

THANKS 😊 yes 👍🏻 I will try ,,,,

[@amicidavinci]

Should the thumb be aligned with the bow of your own boat?

[@jimslittleboat4388]

No. Just get the relative bearing. If the oncoming boat is pointed at your beam and the bearing doesn't change, they are going to t-bone you.