Fatality crossing waves

[109jb]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

I wonder if a pfd would have helped?

The article said that he hit his head and broke two vertebrae in his neck and was later taken off life support. It doesn't seem that a PFD would have helped in this case.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fatality crossing waves

a number of injuries, including fatal ones, occur from impact inside the boat.

I didn't think the wave looked all that big, either, which goes to show, there is a hidden force to waves that is more important than mere height.

 

[F_R]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

I wasn't there but there probably was a strong tidal current, along with the wave. Makes for an extremely dangerous situation.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

condolances to the family.

i have no ocean experience. i do find following waves more disconcerting though. even in a lake environment.

i wonder if he'd have ridin the back side of the following wave, at the speed of the wave, if the out come could have been different.

from what i read. these kind of entrances are absolutely the most hazardous for any vessels.

man, broaching a boat sure looks like a drag..

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

its very sad.
looks like a calm deceptive day, kinda like Oregon inlet here sometimes.
seems when it came off that following sea it bow steered rather violently as the stern lifted .
if you look close both shift and throttle handles are still shoved fwd and the boat does about a 360* turn with no one at the helm.
I imagine the crew got tossed a bit as well.
prayers go out to all for such an untimely departure.
its rather sad to say but years ago when I worked at Gearhart Owens Explosives(GOEX) in Cleburne Tx I had one of the melt pour supervisors tell me., two people will kill you, those that know nothing and those that have done it long enough to know it all.
I have been on both sides over the years but so far I cant run faster than my guardian angel.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

I wasn't there but there probably was a strong tidal current, along with the wave. Makes for an extremely dangerous situation.

There's steep, standing waves in the inlet. The incoming waves break into them. It's nasty, the best way I can describe it is that it's like there's a hole in the water that your bow drops into, because the level of water between the crests of the standing waves is lower than any of the surrounding water. It's not uncommon to hit bottom.

-E

 

[sasto]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

There's steep, standing waves in the inlet. The incoming waves break into them. It's nasty, the best way I can describe it is that it's like there's a hole in the water that your bow drops into, because the level of water between the crests of the standing waves is lower than any of the surrounding water. It's not uncommon to hit bottom.

-E

True eli lilly....as there is a buildup of a sandbar in the area created by the Loxahatchee River. Common practice is to ride the crest of the wave in that inlet. But not always possible. One of the harriest inlet I ever entered is your way....Boynton Beach Inlet, one mistake and your on concrete ot the bottom.

I rode a wave into Riding Rock Marina, San Salvador, Bahamas one time, within 60 feet from a concrete wall.....jammed all of her 2400 HP in reverse and goosed the throttle, the boat was shaking and so was I, stopped about 5 feet from disaster. Hurricane was approaching. Nothing like what Capt. Tom expierenced though.

 

[Philster]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

Following a breaker is not easy. Again, preferred is to maintain control and go over the breaker. When you follow a breaker, it eventually slows and is overtaken (that includes you) by another breaker. There is an ugly moment when the breaker is completely out of energy and the water is at its lowest point. You don't want to be there. The following breaker is coming, you have no water and the breaker that could have propelled you is out of gas/existence.

It's very sad because he was just doing what always worked, in a damn large/fine boat. That's what sucks. I always say that I hate when I do the right thing and it backfires. That means that you cannot guarantee success, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is make the odds as good as possible.

In the end, nothing is 100%.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Fatality crossing waves

What a terrible tragedy. Condolensences to Captain Tom's family and friends.

Here's an informative article on bar crossing:

http://www.clubmarine.com.au/internet/clubmarine.nsf/docs/mg17-6+technical

TII