a needless tragedy

[wajajaja02]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/NEWS/808180341
SouthCoastToday.com: Boat accident off Marion injures teen

They teach that the motor is off when swimmers are in the water at the safety course I took. Has anyone come up with a cage for the prop?

 

[45Auto]

Re: a needless tragedy

There was a thread not too long ago about this exact subject. Can't imagine NOT shutting off the motor when anyone is near the back of the boat.

Wouldn't be hard to put a cage around the prop, would be a huge amount of drag and would seriously effect your prop efficiency though. Much more effective to simply shut off the motor when getting in or out or anyone's near the back.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: a needless tragedy

+ 1 SHUT OFF THE ENGINE !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: a needless tragedy

Yep, always turn the motor off. Not just neutral, but shut off. And your are right, wajajaja02, turning off is what they teach in the approved CG classes.

 

[JB]

Re: a needless tragedy

Accident? ACCIDENT!!?? Accident my foot.

Premeditated negligence strikes again.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: a needless tragedy

A 20 foot rope? It should be between 50 and 60 for tubing. Secondly, shut the motor off and pull the other tuber to the boat.

I think a lot of things were wrong in this case. It's unfortunate people learn the hard way.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: a needless tragedy

Apart from the operator being clueless about basic safety practice......................... it appears the child was never taught basic boating safety.............................."The teen still on the tube leaned forward to get on the boat, but instead fell onto the moving propellers"


As for your thoughts JB.........................seems the USCG sees it different

"After an investigation Sunday afternoon, the Coast Guard found "no negligence" in the skipper's actions.
"It was a pure accident from the Coast Guard's perspective," Petty Officer Steven Kent said."



If the "skipper" wasn't negligent WTF would you call it.............................cause "accident" dam sure doesn't seem to cover it.