Another Florida Boat Crash

thataway · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:49 pm Post subject: Another Florida Boat Crash

A day ago there was another Florida boat crashed reported---that that this is unusual, but what stands out here, is that it was captured on video, as the boat crashed into the sea wall of a Coast Guard Station. There is speculation that there was a mechanical steering failure of medical problem.

I have witnessed incidents of this type happen several times in my life where there was mechanical failure of a steering system. We all need to remember that failures, of both steering and throttle can happen.

Don't run at a fast speed where such a failure could cause an accident (either running aground, or hitting another boat), be aware of how to stop the boat if this happens (avoid panic, and chop the throttle/ cut off ignition or fuel/ be able to rapidly devise some way of diverting the course of the boat, necessary). So here is the puzzle, what would have you done if you had been at the helm of the boat?--assuming it was mechanical failure?

http://www.local10.com/news/boat-crashes-into-seawall-at-miami-coast-guard-base/31915998

jkidd · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:15 pm Post subject:

I guess I would pull the teather. Last ditch tilt the motors out of the water.

hardee · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 11:34 pm Post subject:

For that to happen and the occupants to be awake and alert, as in paying attention to where they were and their surroundings (situational awareness), the throttle would have to be locked and the steering. The distance covered in the time the video shows would have allowed either the throttle to be chopped, or the wheel to be turned. Last ditch would be to bail out of the boat before it hit the wall.

In a C-Dory, you can steer to some degree by weighting one side or the other, using trim tabs, or with twin engines, changing the RPM on one side or the other, or even go into reverse. I have tried all three, and they all work with varying degrees of easy and efficiency.

In this case, probably an out drive, not enough time to raise the engine. Might not be a kill switch on an inboard and no way to tilt that prop up. The deeper V won't steer with a weight shift as readily. If the engine won't kill from the key, maybe pull some wires in the engine compartment.

Again, last ditch, BAIL OUT. Hitting the water at 30mph or more is till better than hitting a brick (in this case stone) wall.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Foggy · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:42 am Post subject:

Definitely, not good seeing this.

In the three seconds shown in the video, there is reaction time to do something
other than hit the seawall head on at speed IF the occupants were alert;
kill the engine or throttle, jump out, adjust one trim tab to avoid head on collision,
the worst angle for mechanism of injury.

Observing the vessel's speed that close to shore, a concrete seawall no less, and
the "companion", it is doubtful in my mind the captain was voluntarily alert -
maybe thinking with his other head if not a medical reason for altered mental
status. Otherwise, perhaps the (inexperienced?) companion was driving while he
was inattentive, maybe a DUI situation.

The entire situation was preventable even if associated with a medical or
mechanical problem. Excess speed close to other vessels, shore, shoals or
objects is a disaster waiting to happen sooner or later.

Aye.

potter water · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:05 am Post subject:

JUMP!

journey on · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:56 pm Post subject:

Another thought: no-one was at the helm. Both were occupied with other matters. It's safer on a sailboat.

Anything to do with operating the boat wasn't in their thoughts.

Boris

RobLL · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:10 pm Post subject:

A question: I understand that were the throttle/gear lever on my Suzuki were to fail, the key would still turn the engine off. True?

potter water · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:39 pm Post subject:

Key shuts down my Suzuki with no problem. Aldo, the lanyard switch. Something fishy about how that boat was running wide open like that. Two people, so there was no health issue. Even two drunks might be able to see the land approaching. Turn off key, take out of gear, lanyard, steer different, no excuse unless they were in a suicide pact. No excuse other than that. Hope they get to the bottom of it.

jack keifer · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:56 pm Post subject: What would you do?

I'll suggest no matter what you decide to do, think through what you would do a few times before the situation occurs so that you can respond the way you intend when you are under pressure. Better yet practice what you might do out in open water to assure what you intend to do will work. Knowing how to respond in a crisis came home to me a few years ago when after launching at the Richmond, CA marina we went up the canal to the fuel dock. On the way back, a tug that was servicing a ship suddenly quickly reversed into the middle of the canal and we were suddenly looking at some 10,000 hp 3 stories tall bearing down on us. We were moving at no wake and even at that when I reversed the forward momentum killed the engine. So then I had restart and then reverse. Lucky for us, I got it in reverse, and the tug stopped, and we missed each other by about 20 ft. I am sure he never knew we were there. Bottom line is if I had to do it again, it would be better to go to neutral briefly and then to reverse.
Jack

localboy · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 8:12 pm Post subject:

starcrafttom · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:48 pm Post subject:

I would not doubt that some one would run into a wall if they lost steering if they had never thought about it before. Saying in the Corps is that you will react the way you were trained, unless you were not trained. Panic is were training takes over if you have it. Those that have not trained, even in there minds, will lock up and do nothing at all. I have seen it before. This is why training, even at the "talk about what you would do If something happened" level is very important.

either that or they were bumping ugly s.

BrentB · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:46 am Post subject:

I am glad no others were hurt or died

Nice boat too

Foggy · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:17 am Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:06 am Post subject: Re: What would you do?

jack keifer · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: bozt crash

Harvey,
Thanks for the ideas. The hard lock would not have worked as the canal is narrow, although there might be other times when it would. The monitoring of the ship to ship channel certainly would and I'll remember that the next time I am around those big boys.
Thanks again.
Jack