What a fright I got !

[QBhoy]

Guys
I'm sure we have all heard the "wear your lanyard" shout hundreds of times.
I'm guilty of not wearing it, in the thinking the chances of me falling out the boat are tiny, given its deep cockpit and bucket seats.
So...tonight, I was hooning around and going head to head with a supercharged Jetski. Water was calm and I was well trimmed up and running mid 60's....I was so busy looking to the aft port quarter to see where he ski was that I totally missed some big rolling wake left by a long gone 40+ft cruiser.
Jeez the boat took off skyward like you see some of the big cats do so often. The engine revved to the limiter then landed on the transom almost. The bow then slammed into the water hard. Even the big heavy ram assured engine hatch/sun pad flew open and closed.
Man, what a fright I got. Was literally shaking. I could easily have been knocked out against the windscreen.
I'm normally so careful when running trimmed up like this. Just completely caught me unaware.
For sure, I will be wearing the lanyard next time I'm running fast. So silly.

 

[Silvertip]

Wise decision. Then test it periodically.

 

[Sprig]

Glad you came out of that safely, could have been disaster. God was looking out for you. You didn't mention if you were wearing a PFD. That is as important or even more so as attaching the kill switch lanyard. I don't get in my boat without my PFD. Again glad you are ok.

 

[QBhoy]

Thanks Sprig.
I wasn't wearing one. They are onboard, but I rarely wear them. No real excuse, but I had the full hood cover on tonight, so no chance I'd come out, but very lucky I didn't get a knock to the head.
Was a real wake up call. All happened in slow motion...seemed like all I could see was sky...for ages. All the seats from now section and rear ended up on the floor. Almost expected that the windscreen would have shattered and all.
Was so lucky. I think a lesser boat might not have come away un damaged.

 

[JoLin]

Don't know if you were alone on your boat, but I made my wife a promise that I've never broken. When I'm running solo, the PFD goes on before I leave the dock and doesn't come off again until I'm back in. If I somehow go overboard, chances are it'll be because I hit something or something hit me. Chances are also good that I'll collide with something hard and/or sharp on my way over. Try to swim with a concussion or broken limb.

I invested in a self-inflating PFD. I hardly notice it.

My .02

 

[QBhoy]

Jolin
I was solo. You are totally right.
I have been on, owned, around and even had a career on boats for nearly 40 years. I have just become far too complacent. The odds would suggest I was due for something like this. Was talking with my friend (the guy on jet ski) earlier. He reckons it's perhaps a good thing I had a fright like this. Total rethink required.
One of those things I never want to experience again, but wish I had it on video.
Just goes to show that just when you think you know it all...
The wake wasn't the breaking type. It was from a big boat that wasn't even in site. The boat took one chining porpoise then an almighty leap into the air. I felt every bit of the oncoming air (at 65mph) right under the hull. Landed hard on its ass at probably 45o or more, then a nose dive and an almighty splash. So, so lucky.

 

[JoLin]

We all need a wakeup call once in awhile. Thanks for posting this.

 

[tpenfield]

I wear PDF most of the time and always when captain of the boat. Lanyard as well while at the helm. I usually take the lanyard off once in the harbor and docking, since I have to move about the boat.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Situational awareness.

 

[southkogs]

We all need a wakeup call once in awhile. Thanks for posting this.

Well said.

Thanks QBhoy - glad you're not a news story, man.

 

[BWR1953]

The best wakeup call is one that happens to someone else.

 

[QBhoy]

Haha. Very true guys. Lanyard was first on the to do list this evening.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

I had a swivel pad on the drivers seat ( no longer) and theres even a sticker on them stating not for drivers seat was running about 50 hit a few sneaker waves back to back spun this way and that way slipped off the seat, ok maybe a little more than slipped off the seat. Got tossed into the back of the boat. Took me a couple seconds to get back to the steering wheel. I now have a locking swivel base for that seat. It had been in there for years and I was well aware of what could happen but thought I was always in control.

 

[Watermann]

Yeah that was a close call alright, glad you and the boat came out unscathed. One of the first things I did with my SS rebuild when I had the old 1979 controls apart was to splice into the OB kill wire and install a kill switch with lanyard.

As far as PFDs go most guys I know have ratty old things stowed away somewhere in there boat. The self inflating types are on my seats and never stowed because they are worn when under way and I have the kill lanyard attached to the D ring on the vest. In the pic below you can see my set up and the orange things attached to the PFDs are whistles. I also popped for a NFB helm that accepts no input from the motor end of the cable, which makes for a safe addition to any OB boat.

 

[H20Rat]

looks like someone had a video of your wake jump!

https://youtu.be/1UEETjztLqI?t=1m18s


Seriously though, you realized what happened and hopefully will change. Could have ended far worse!) Like many others, if I'm solo, the PFD is on at a minimum. Kill switch may or may not be attached. Doesn't matter how safe you are, you can't swim if you are hit by someone else doing 60, and tossed out of the boat unconscious. (having a full cover means nothing, your boat might potentially be in several pieces.)

 

[gm280]

looks like someone had a video of your wake jump!

https://youtu.be/1UEETjztLqI?t=1m18s


Seriously though, you realized what happened and hopefully will change. Could have ended far worse!) Like many others, if I'm solo, the PFD is on at a minimum. Kill switch may or may not be attached. Doesn't matter how safe you are, you can't swim if you are hit by someone else doing 60, and tossed out of the boat unconscious. (having a full cover means nothing, your boat might potentially be in several pieces.)

Interesting video. But I don't see how he floated in the water for ten minutes with a camera boat filming it all. It brings home the points they are trying to make, but sounds fishy to me with the text displayed.

 

[QBhoy]

Yeah guys...
Was a close call and it must happen to people all the time.
Good advice about the life jackets too. Ps your boat looks stunning for the age.
I've since worn the lanyard every time out since. Still need to get into the habit of wearing the pfd. Silly not to and by the time I get to it, may be to late. Worse stil..unable to get to it for the worst !