“Pollywog, Pollywog, Big Blue”.
“This is the Pollywog.”
“Good afternoon! We’re the big trawler coming up on your stern. I’d like to make a gentleman’s pass on your port side.”
“Come on up Sir! We’ll pull it back as you approach. Thanks for the call!”
As Big Blue approaches behind the port side of Pollywog, both boats slow down so that Big Blue creates a minimal wake, thereby creating little rocking motion for the overtaken and slower Pollywog.
“Thank you for the slow pass, Big Blue! Hope you have a great day, and a pleasant passage!”
“You’re welcome, and same to you! We gonna see you at Coinjock?”
Slowly motoring down the ICW listening to channel 16, especially in the narrower canals, this is the incessant chatter. Occasionally someone asks to shift to another working channel. But that usually doesn’t happen for the brief and courteous interchange given above.
About 10% of the time a large power vessel will approach and, even without calling on the radio, it’s unspoken and assumed for both vessels to slow. Again, only to minimize the massive wake created by the larger overtaking vessel.
However unusual, for there’s one in every crowd, and an ignoramus blows past without concerns of offending. For shades of gray, sometimes the larger overtaking behemoth will steer a long roundabout path to minimize disturbance, possibly attempting good judgement of the watery wall being created.
In any case Fayaway is heavy and takes waves fairly well. We’ve crossed expanses of ocean, for days on end, without complaints about massive waves that dwarf wakes made by your average trawler. We don’t mind a bit of rock and roll!
Furthermore, while living on the Merrimack River, we assume a higher frequency of wake ignorance. Kinda sad actually – that this behavior is apparently acceptable. And while yes there is some consideration for others, but it’s certainly not the majority we experience with longer distance cruisers in the close proximity of the ICW. Instead of the friendly radio exchange heard above, it’ll be an explicit language, broadcasting a sort of watery road rage.
All part of the boating experience!
While we make the best of the narrows, congestion and friendliness of the ICW, we will always prefer the peace and wilderness of open ocean.
SV Fayaway 
When taking the Boating Safety Course I didn’t bother to remember the appropriate etiquette/safety rules for ocean-going vessels and small spaces. Not necessary for our lake. Wouldn’t expect to come upon a Naval vessel or a tug boat. Yes, most people are courteous here and glad to see the same holds there!
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