Boating Accidents
Boating accidents can occur at anytime, anywhere and with any object; they are typically the results of operator error. In the case of the above video, the small craft boat operator was obviously impaired, either sleeping at the wheel, a medical issue and/or alcohol/drugs. Safe boat operation begins with the safe well being of the boat operator. Similar to operating a vehicle, one does not operate a boat under the influence of any mind altering substances and one must be physically alert.
Accidents come when least expected. A family went out on a cruise in the local waters, upon returning the wind and waves increased. The boat operator guided the boat to shore, in a normal fashion, bow first unaware of the events that were to follow. The wave action was hitting the stern allowing the boat to take on water from the stern area. Within minutes the boat was swamped, the only section of boat floating was the bow. The family aborted the boat and swam to shore with no injuries. Fire fighters and a tow truck were used to haul the boat out of the water. The boat was a total loss. Also keep in mind the environmental effects from a sinking boat that the owner is responsible for. The fuel from the boat leaked and drifted along the nearby beaches.
How could this have been avoided? The boat operator could have monitored the weather, perhaps coming in earlier. The operator could have found shelter in a neighboring cove or marina and simply weight until the seas became calmer.
The challenge is to recognize the safety hazard and use good judgement to mitigate the hazard. Recognition of safety hazards takes training, practice and the ability to remain calm. In this particular case with an inexperienced boat operator, it would have been better to take the boat on a smaller body of water that wasn’t susceptible to wind and wave action. Also, a small open-bow boat is not designed for this type of wave action.
First it’s obvious that this boat is going too fast for the conditions. Also note the boat is barely in the water, it’s a planing hull. Granted the boat operator steered the boat at an angle into the wake of the other boat but he did not take into consideration the boats ability to stay in the water. When these type of conditions approach, such as large waves, slow down and proceed through the wave at an angle to prevent a boating accident.
The photo above was a 28-foot boat that we used for various outings, that is me on the right side. On that particular boat, in 1986, I was involved in a boating accident that seriously injured me and even years later I have to use certain precautionary measures. The accident was preventable had certain factions been followed; however, I was not in-tune to recognize the hazards. The good news, I recovered and most importantly the accident taught me many aspects of life. I wrote the memoirs titled Recover From A Boating Accident in hopes that others could learn from my incident and not have to engage in an accident to learn some of life’s lessons.
One of the most important aspects in safe boating practices is to know your surroundings at all times. It’s apparent the boat operator of the yacht did not pay attention to the surroundings. Also, remember the surroundings can change at any given time resulting in a boating accident that can jeopardize life, limb and property.
The boating accidents can quickly turn into boating emergencies where life, serious injury or serious property damage are the result of wrongful decisions. Most accidents are preventable, follow safe boating practices, get the appropriate training and the proper boat for the conditions that you operate a boat.
Boating accidents can happen without warning, watch the videos below and see if you would have done something different. Don’t let your love one fall prey to the preventable accident.