Another Florida Boat Crash

T

thataway

Active member
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-crashe ... e/31915998
 
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

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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.
 
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
 
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?
 
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.
 
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
 
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..
Click to expand...
.

:shock: :oops: Say wha???!?!?!?!!!!?!?!?!!!











:lol:

No alcohol. No drugs. Makes you go hmmmmmmmm.....
 
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.
 
localboy":2ce3dllu said:
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..
Click to expand...
.

:shock: :oops: Say wha???!?!?!?!!!!?!?!?!!!

:lol:

No alcohol. No drugs. Makes you go hmmmmmmmm.....
Click to expand...

Aye.

You got that right.
 
jack keifer":19zrsrfm said:
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
Click to expand...

Jack, JMHO. It's hard to say from here, but full throttle into a hard full lock turn might have worked. Then again, it might clear some cupboards, Also, might be a good idea to be listening on vhf13, (bridge to bridge). That tug and ship were probably on that one.

It's always good to do a short pause in neutral before dropping into reverse.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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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
 
Thanks Jack, your Welcome. Typically if you see a tug that is working it will be on VHF 13. Another place to listen (especially up here in Puget Sound or in the Straits, is the Vessel Traffic Service, or "Seattle Traffic". They will be on 5, ll or 14 depending on where you are. It is a good place to track. My experience is that of the time I get a quicker reply on 13 than on 16 and then you have to move to a working channel anyway. It really helps to have the ship name to use rather than using a description or location call. (The name shows on an AIS receiver display and that is where I get the call info from.)

Have a great day.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

HH_Cal_09_07_Jul.thumb.jpg
 
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