Accident at Spindle Point July 11

codeman671 · 07-11-2014, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Fun

Wonder if they were wake surfing close to the boat.

I saw a wakeboard, not a wake surf board but who knows?

The boat was an I/O, it is recommended not to surf behind a stern drive.

Dad sold the C * C · 07-11-2014, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

I saw a wakeboard, not a wake surf board but who knows?

The boat was an I/O, it is recommended not to surf behind a stern drive.

RECOMMENDED!!! no kidding

I love watching the wake surfing and wish it was formalized way back when. I used to ride a full sized wind surfer behind the boat and would ride the wake; but never dreamed of riding the big wave right behind the boat

My best to the person(s) hurt. Crappy way to end the day on the water

codeman671 · 07-11-2014, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad sold the C * C

RECOMMENDED!!! no kidding

There is no law against doing it with a stern drive and it's done every day on the lake but it's extremely dumb and dangerous.

Dad sold the C * C · 07-11-2014, 09:11 PM

Really! I can't imagine surfing off a stern drive. The ones that I watch off the deck have been in-boards.

It looks fun

chipj29 · 07-12-2014, 07:41 AM

One of the accidents in Meredith was a 15 year old boy who was wakeboarding. I don't know the details, but he was not wake surfing or doing anything reckless. I know because I coach the boy in football and just spoke with his father.

ITD · 07-12-2014, 08:12 AM

People near the back of the boat in the water..... turn off the motor before they get within 10 feet.

Bizer · 07-12-2014, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITD

People near the back of the boat in the water..... turn off the motor before they get within 10 feet.

I have one friend who thinks I go "overboard" on this issue. Before anyone gets within 20 feet of the boat, I turn the boat off and remove the key. I then hold up the key so that those in the water can see it and I announce, "The key is out of the ignition". I then put the key on the dashboard or in my pocket. I do NOT put it back in the ignition. When everyone is safely away from the boat, I announce, "Starting engine" and then wait 3 seconds before I reach for the key. This allows at least 5 seconds for anyone to tell me, "Wait, Mabel is still in the water behind the boat", in case I missed her.

pcmc · 07-12-2014, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bizer

I have one friend who thinks I go "overboard" on this issue. Before anyone gets within 20 feet of the boat, I turn the boat off and remove the key. I then hold up the key so that those in the water can see it and I announce, "The key is out of the ignition". I then put the key on the dashboard or in my pocket. I do NOT put it back in the ignition. When everyone is safely away from the boat, I announce, "Starting engine" and then wait 3 seconds before I reach for the key. This allows at least 5 seconds for anyone to tell me, "Wait, Mabel is still in the water behind the boat", in case I missed her.

As Bear Grylls says, "You can get it right 1000 times, you only have to get wrong once." This often goes through my head when I do something with a consequence.
You have a safe system, if it works for you do it. The time you rush, or take it for granted where someone is, is when when the unthinkable could happen.

codeman671 · 07-12-2014, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipj29

One of the accidents in Meredith was a 15 year old boy who was wakeboarding. I don't know the details, but he was not wake surfing or doing anything reckless. I know because I coach the boy in football and just spoke with his father.

I made no speculations above. You are incorrect though, someone was reckless.
The driver of the boat. The prop didn't just jump off the shaft and bite the boy... Clearly they were too close, not paying attention or didn't know what they were doing.

DickR · 07-12-2014, 11:13 AM

It would be useful to all boaters to understand the scenario that led to the accident. If a detailed explanation is made available, I hope someone posts it here. Otherwise we are just speculating, and nobody learns anything.

I can't imagine any scenario in which someone being towed and is completely behind the propeller ends up being struck by it. If I am missing something, enlighten me.

The only thing I can imagine is that the person injured was not being towed at the time of the accident, but was in the water with the boat approaching, perhaps to be picked up or to have the rope brought around for another pull. Boat comes too close to swimmer, driver cuts wheel sharply to steer away, resulting in prop being aimed directly at swimmer. This is pure speculation on my part, but aside from a second boat coming too close to the swimmer, what else is there?

ITD · 07-12-2014, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DickR

It would be useful to all boaters to understand the scenario that led to the accident. If a detailed explanation is made available, I hope someone posts it here. Otherwise we are just speculating, and nobody learns anything.

I can't imagine any scenario in which someone being towed and is completely behind the propeller ends up being struck by it. If I am missing something, enlighten me.

The only thing I can imagine is that the person injured was not being towed at the time of the accident, but was in the water with the boat approaching, perhaps to be picked up or to have the rope brought around for another pull. Boat comes too close to swimmer, driver cuts wheel sharply to steer away, resulting in prop being aimed directly at swimmer. This is pure speculation on my part, but aside from a second boat coming too close to the swimmer, what else is there?

Unfortunately I have witnessed behavior that just begs for an accident. I'm not saying it happened here.

What I have seen includes leaving the engine running (boat with outdrive) while swimmers board or disembark from the back and kids jumping off the back of a boat while underway (again with an outdrive). All very unsafe practices in my opinion.

chipj29 · 07-13-2014, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

I made no speculations above. You are incorrect though, someone was reckless.
The driver of the boat. The prop didn't just jump off the shaft and bite the boy... Clearly they were too close, not paying attention or didn't know what they were doing.

I didn't say that you were speculating. In fact, your first post was the only informative post in this thread. I said that the boy wasn't being reckless. I don't know about the operator of the boat. When I spoke to the boy's dad, I didn't ask for the details out of respect for the family who is dealing with a crisis. I didn't think he would appreciate being questioned.

If I do find out info, I will post it here.

AC2717 · 07-14-2014, 08:48 AM

could have been the boat not running and the person swimming behind the boat and just cutting their legs on the prop, they are still very sharp, even when not moving. Or trim could havbe been up and the hit it themselves

again just asking/speculating and agree that details need to come out first

07-12-2014, 07:41 AM	#5
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	Enough speculating One of the accidents in Meredith was a 15 year old boy who was wakeboarding. I don't know the details, but he was not wake surfing or doing anything reckless. I know because I coach the boy in football and just spoke with his father. __________________ Getting ready for winter!

07-14-2014, 08:48 AM	#13
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,587 Thanks: 756 Thanked 356 Times in 268 Posts	could have been the boat not running and the person swimming behind the boat and just cutting their legs on the prop, they are still very sharp, even when not moving. Or trim could havbe been up and the hit it themselves again just asking/speculating and agree that details need to come out first __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

07-11-2014, 09:11 PM	#4
Dad sold the C * C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 273 Thanks: 119 Thanked 62 Times in 40 Posts	Really! I can't imagine surfing off a stern drive. The ones that I watch off the deck have been in-boards. It looks fun

07-12-2014, 08:12 AM	#6
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,941 Thanks: 481 Thanked 699 Times in 390 Posts	People near the back of the boat in the water..... turn off the motor before they get within 10 feet.

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Bizer For This Useful Post:
BroadHopper (07-12-2014), codeman671 (07-12-2014), diz (07-12-2014), Not to Worry (07-15-2014)

07-12-2014, 11:13 AM	#10
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 758 Thanks: 4 Thanked 260 Times in 172 Posts	It would be useful to all boaters to understand the scenario that led to the accident. If a detailed explanation is made available, I hope someone posts it here. Otherwise we are just speculating, and nobody learns anything. I can't imagine any scenario in which someone being towed and is completely behind the propeller ends up being struck by it. If I am missing something, enlighten me. The only thing I can imagine is that the person injured was not being towed at the time of the accident, but was in the water with the boat approaching, perhaps to be picked up or to have the rope brought around for another pull. Boat comes too close to swimmer, driver cuts wheel sharply to steer away, resulting in prop being aimed directly at swimmer. This is pure speculation on my part, but aside from a second boat coming too close to the swimmer, what else is there?

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to chipj29 For This Useful Post:
codeman671 (07-13-2014), Greene's Basin Girl (07-13-2014), pjard (07-13-2014)