Lessons Learned on the Lessons Learned on the WaterWater

P/C Dale McGinty, SNP/C Dale McGinty, SN

ALWAYS CHECK TO SEE IF THE

BILGE PLUG IS IN PLACE AND TIGHT 

SCENARIO: SCENARIO:

While launching his boat at Lake DeGray, AR, While launching his boat at Lake DeGray, AR, a SPS member proceeded to back his boat a SPS member proceeded to back his boat down the ramp and into the water.  Soon he down the ramp and into the water.  Soon he began to crank the engine and it started; began to crank the engine and it started; however, he just sat there.  Finally he stopped however, he just sat there.  Finally he stopped the motor, got back into his vehicle, and the motor, got back into his vehicle, and pulled the boat and trailer out about ten 10 pulled the boat and trailer out about ten 10 feet onto the ramp.  He had failed to put in feet onto the ramp.  He had failed to put in the bilge plug. the bilge plug. 

LESSON: ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE BILGE PLUG IS IN PLACE

STAY CLEAR OF THE

WINCH HANDLE

SCENARIO: SCENARIO:

At a launch ramp in south LA, a SPS At a launch ramp in south LA, a SPS member was loading his boat.  His motor member was loading his boat.  His motor would die as he was driving the boat onto would die as he was driving the boat onto his trailer.  In an effort to help, another SPS his trailer.  In an effort to help, another SPS member was standing at the winch. As the member was standing at the winch. As the captain would start the motor and move captain would start the motor and move the boat onto the trailer, the other member the boat onto the trailer, the other member would crank in the slack line.  Finally the would crank in the slack line.  Finally the boat was within about 1ft. of its destination boat was within about 1ft. of its destination when the motor died again. The winch lock when the motor died again. The winch lock failed and as the boat slid back, the winch failed and as the boat slid back, the winch handle spun at a very rapid speed.  The handle spun at a very rapid speed.  The handle clipped the member’s front tooth handle clipped the member’s front tooth which cracked. which cracked.

LESSON: STAY CLEAR OF THE WINCH HANDLE WHEN LOADING A BOAT

ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION

TO WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOUR BOAT

SCENARIO: SCENARIO:

Several SPS members were traveling at cruising speed Several SPS members were traveling at cruising speed in single file in the boat lane on Toledo Bend.  The in single file in the boat lane on Toledo Bend.  The armada was joined by several non-squadron jet skis who armada was joined by several non-squadron jet skis who were jumping the boat wakes.  A jet ski was traveling were jumping the boat wakes.  A jet ski was traveling between two boats about 200 yards apart and had between two boats about 200 yards apart and had stopped jumping the wakes.   The captain of the second stopped jumping the wakes.   The captain of the second boat glanced down to check his speed (27 MPH), RPM’s, boat glanced down to check his speed (27 MPH), RPM’s, gas gauge, volt meter or GPS and then looked up to see gas gauge, volt meter or GPS and then looked up to see that the jet ski had stopped dead in the water about that the jet ski had stopped dead in the water about 50ft. in front of him. The captain had to cut first hard to 50ft. in front of him. The captain had to cut first hard to starboard then hard to port, barely missing the jet skier.starboard then hard to port, barely missing the jet skier.

LESSON: ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU

BOAT

LESSON: This could be the boat that you run over … PAY ATTENTION

KNOW THE RIVER, KNOW THE RIVER, CHARTS, AND BUOY SYSTEM CHARTS, AND BUOY SYSTEM

AND ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION.AND ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION.   

SCENARIO: SCENARIO:

On a Red River trip, an SPS member ran On a Red River trip, an SPS member ran over (at cruising speed) a newly placed rock over (at cruising speed) a newly placed rock revetment, which did not have a navigation revetment, which did not have a navigation buoy to mark its location. The reason this buoy to mark its location. The reason this happened is unclear. The captain claims happened is unclear. The captain claims that he saw a couple of fishermen who were that he saw a couple of fishermen who were madly waving at him, but he didn’t madly waving at him, but he didn’t understand what they were indicating. understand what they were indicating. Another possibility could have been a slight Another possibility could have been a slight inattention to the river, causing him to have inattention to the river, causing him to have drifted too far out of the channel.  Which drifted too far out of the channel.  Which ever occurred, the captain then proceeded ever occurred, the captain then proceeded to reverse his direction and ran over the to reverse his direction and ran over the revetment a second time almost sheering revetment a second time almost sheering off the outdrive.  He was towed 2 miles to off the outdrive.  He was towed 2 miles to the launch.the launch.

LESSON: ALWAYS KNOW YOUR CHART, BOUY SYSTEM AND STAY

ALERT

ALWAYS CHECK STATUS OF

LOCKS AND BRIDGES

SCENARIO: SCENARIO:

Three SPS boats were making a passage from Three SPS boats were making a passage from Baton Rouge to Morgan City down the intercoastal Baton Rouge to Morgan City down the intercoastal waterway and would return to Baton Rouge via waterway and would return to Baton Rouge via the alternate intercoastal waterway.  They were the alternate intercoastal waterway.  They were within 15 miles of the destination, when they within 15 miles of the destination, when they requested permission to go through the Sorrel requested permission to go through the Sorrel Lock and Dam back into the intercoastal Lock and Dam back into the intercoastal waterway.  This was the VHS transmission. “This waterway.  This was the VHS transmission. “This is the pleasure boat WHATEVER requesting is the pleasure boat WHATEVER requesting passage through the lock. (over).  “Capt’n, the passage through the lock. (over).  “Capt’n, the lock is closed for repairs.”(over). Lock master, lock is closed for repairs.”(over). Lock master, how long will the locks be closed?” (over). how long will the locks be closed?” (over). “Capt’n, about three months.” (over).  …long “Capt’n, about three months.” (over).  …long pause… “Lock master, how can we get across to pause… “Lock master, how can we get across to the intercoastal waterway?”(over). “Well Capt’n, the intercoastal waterway?”(over). “Well Capt’n, you can go back to Morgan City and come up the you can go back to Morgan City and come up the other side.”(over).other side.”(over).

LESSON: ALWAYS CHECK STATUS OF LOCKS AND BRIDGES

ALWAYS

STAY CLEAR

OF THE PROP

SCENARIO:

A SPS member was on the Red River for a day of skiing with his family.  They anchored with a Danforth for a swim in some mild current.  Everyone was in the water.  The motor was off and in neutral, the anchor was holding and everyone was around the stern of the boat. One of the boys got his foot close to the prop which was spinning due to the current’s action on the prop (wind milling).  This resulted in a 6 inch laceration of his foot requiring many stitches. 

Lesson: ALWAYS stay clear of the PROP

ALWAYS GO THROUGH A CHECKLIST

BEFORE LAUNCHING

SCENARIO:

On Sunday of a holiday weekend, several SPS families trailored to Fort Lauderdale for an adventure to Bimini in the Bahamas.  After the boats got on plane, one of the boats stopped and radioed to the fleet that his engine was overheating.  He checked the engine and the oil and radioed that he would need a mechanic.  The mechanic arrived on Tuesday, verified that it overheated, and directed the captain to pull the boat out slowly.  When the stern was out of the water, the mechanic handed the captain the “ear muffs” or outdrive flusher that had been left on since his pre-trip check.

LESSON: ALWAYS go through a checklist before launching

ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOUR ANCHOR IS LOCATED

SCENARIO:

Five SPS boats went to Bimini. They were anchored in a beautiful cove with about 20 or 30 other sailboats and motorboats.  On the morning of departure, they intended to slip out very early. Everyone had looked at their charts and were ready to depart from the cove at a dead-slow idle so as not to disturb the other boats in the harbor.  There was not much light and as one of the fleet began to inch out of the anchorage, several sailboats began to follow and then gently bump into each other.  This SPS boat was dragging an anchor that had caught on other anchors.

LESSON: ALWAYS know where your anchor is located.

ALCOHOL AND BOATING CAN BE DANGEROUS

LESSON: Alcohol and Water IS DANGEROUS

SCENARIO: On a launch ramp on the Ouachita River, this boat fell on the ramp when drunken boater pulled the boat from water too fast without attaching the boat to the trailer.  The drunken friends picked the boat up and put it back on trailer.

SCENARIO: While boating in south LA, a SPS member encountered a drunken person traveling at high speeds in a flat bottom boat at dusk.  Despite evasive maneuvers by our member, the little boat impaled itself into the cruiser.

LESSON: Sometimes Engines Fail

LESSON: Sometimes S*** Happens!

Lessons: ReviewLessons: Review

• Always check the bilge plugAlways check the bilge plug

• Beware of the Winch handleBeware of the Winch handle

• Always stay alert when motoringAlways stay alert when motoring

• Check status of Locks and Bridges Check status of Locks and Bridges

• Always stay clear of the propAlways stay clear of the prop

• Have a check list before launchingHave a check list before launching

• Alcohol and boating can be dangerousAlcohol and boating can be dangerous