Pontoon boat problem

[BJM]

This happened to a friend who is not boat knowledgeable. The whole extended family rents a pontoon boat for a day of fun. The boat is heavily loaded with about 8 people and tons of gear. While cruising the kids decide to sit with their legs in the water at the front between the pontoons (this scares me every time I see it). It turns out most of the gear was near the front as well. Said friend decides joining the kids would be fun. Once my buddy gets to the front the weight distribution was such that basically only the driver was near the rear. The front end went under and a huge wave rolled over the deck washing everything overboard. The kids and my friend got washed out as well. The rear of the pontoon boat rose right out of the water and the engine revved like crazy. With the weight removed the whole boat slammed back down and somehow the engine got itself stopped. <br /><br />Luckily no one was hurt and the kids were rescued. Everyone started screaming because my buddy was no where to be seen. He was actually swimming around putting everything back on the boat. Lesson learned, don't let everyone be at one end of a boat.

 

[amtsst]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

I don't know what it is about boats...<br /><br />Imagine public outrage if there was a company that rented Peterbuilts for the day. Anybody who wanted to drive around in a big rig only has to show up and pay $150 bucks. You can go anywhere...as fast as you want with no license or training. <br /><br />Can you imagine? <br /><br />Somehow, boats are different. A couple of weeks ago, I was in southern maine with my family and I took the sea kayak out for a morning paddle. I had a young kid do a "fly-by" in one of those pocket boats. 9 feet long with a 30hp nissan on it. He passed me at WOT not more than 20 yards away. I almost capsized in deep water.<br /><br />I caught up to him while he was back at the marina returning the rental. I yelled at him and what did his momma do? Tell me to stop being an A$$hole cause "her son wouldn't have done that". I never hit a woman but I sure thought about tossing her off the dock. I don't think it woulda helped her tho.<br /><br />

 

[BigBabyLou]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

Backwater, you got a good point.<br /><br />I come from Europe and you gotta have a boating license over there. That means no stupid dump punks can kill people on the lakes or sea. There is a long thread about a boat accident on this forum and I don't know if anyone agrees with me but I think we (boaters) should somehow bring the boating safety issue to the attention of the authorities because more and more people get hurt/killed/murdered on the water every year by drunks/punks/idiots.<br /><br />Do you know what we can do about this?<br /><br />Lou

 

[PDS]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

BigBabyLou, since when does getting a boating license mean that you won't create an accident or cause one? We are all humans, with the ability to make judgement calls. Why would you assume that since you took a boating class and you know the rules of the water that you automaticly do the right thing when something comes up on the water? Fill me in on the inside scoop, Please. PDS

 

[sloopy]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

some one died at our lake he was hanging with his legs out on the front of the pontoon,, quess what happened!, his girl goes over to hug him from behind, she hugs him, he looks back, and somehow loosesseet on platoform falls in and is killed by the motor prop. it was his girl friends familys boat, the insurace company sued them... to make a long story shory, it should not of happeded, I get made fun of when I put a life jacket in a kyack (not evin wearing it!!!) on a small pond! put hey I will live if something happens I got to see the pontoon boat after the accident, the propellor looked like it ran a big rock and kept spinning, it was only at the tips too, it horriifies me to think about what he must of felt, ! if you fall between a pontoon boat (2 toons) were do youthink you will go???!!!!!! right to the motor!, there is slim chance that you will miss it!, the motor that killed the kid was a yamiha (I think) it was low horse power under 50!

 

[MGuckin]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

I can remember back when the crash test dummies first showed up for driver instruction movies. It was a good demo.<br />Maybe it would help if some people knew just how much damage could possibly occur using watercraft.<br />No matter how many courses have been taken, or who is licensed and who isn't, common sense, experience and peer training are prevalent in anything.<br />The training course (license) at least gives you a head start. It is up to us, as experienced boaters, for the rest.

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

As a pontoon owner (sort of it is still not running$$$$$) I have never nor will ever let anyone ride outside the railing. I consider this stupid and beyond dumb. What do people think the railing is for anyway? As to the Submarine act it happens more often than not with toon owners that have no clue. My railing is set about 1 1/2' to 2' back off the front of the deck and I keep more weight in back and have never shipped water. I have had some come over the front deck because I wanted to see how she rode in rough water if there were more weight up front but keeping the gate closed kept most of it out the inside area. This is beyond stupid human trick and almost falls into Darwin Award.

 

[PDS]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

Peter, you are correct with how you captain your pontoon! Party barges, as they are called around my neck of the woods, are usually used by younger people(when used incorrectly) that don't realize how much extra drag, plus the weight variance, is caused by having a few of their guests up front and dragging their legs in the water at the bow of a pontoon creates. The worst thing I have seen on T.V. was about a 8-10 year-old that almost got his arm severed near shoulder from a prop. Don't know what kind of boat it was(pontoon, or ski boat), but it was bad! My ski boat has a stern ladder and I won't get too close to picking up someone in the water until I shut off my outboard. I'd rather see that person in the water a little longer, than risk hurting or maiming them. Props still spin a little in nuetral. Good luck getting your pleasure cruiser going. PDS

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

PDS it is not a pleasure cruiser but a tried and true fishing boat. Sometimes it gets used just for the ride but 98% of the time it is heading out or back from fishing.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

Greetings,<br /><br />Two weeks ago there was a woman injured by the prop while attempting to reboard a boat in local waters. I don't get it, folks have to know that the prop is what makes the boat go...right? How many people who are injured or killed by props would play so foolishly with an oscillating fan? Not mention a fan with 40+ Hp. This one truely baffles me.<br /><br />SoulWinner

 

[divepat]

Re: Pontoon boat problem

re;boarding near motor,i never allow anyone to board in water while motor is running,to do so one must have a amputation wish.