Boating Accident-Posted on June 20th, 2017 at 10:05 AM

[Icky]

X3.... since when has it been LEO's job to recover vessels unless they contain evidence? Want your vessel recovered?..pay for Boat US or sea tow, or have a good group of friends and a proper tow rope.

My tax dollars should not go to recovering a 36' skater, unless it'll get parked in my driveway with keys on the seat in a day or two....

I'm sure law enforcement was there until the recovery boats arrived, you know to make sure no one else hit the thing:rolleyes

 

[lbhsbz]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying but there is a some hypocrisy in your message. Running 85 in a shitty 19 foot boat is contradicting a good amount of your message in my opinion. There are all kinds of conditions that you can't adjust for in time at those speeds. I hit those speeds probably 5 times a year in my boat and I usually do it on lake powell with zero boats and zero canyon openings in an area I know well that I have already driven over that day or weekend. I still view it as a risk personally, and I am not willing to say I am prepared for everything I am responsible for. Not possible at 85.

The term "shitty" implies that I have a boat that I'd have to pay to get rid of, rather than someone pay to buy it from me. The gel is crap, the interior sucks, but rather than piss away my money on cosmetic crap, I spent it on structure. It's ugly but solid...new transom is thick enough to require 8" long bolts for the engine bracket....that should be all you need to know.


Much like those who ride bikes...as the saying goes, there are those who have gone down, and those who will go down. For planes, I believe it's something to the extent of "there are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots".

Going fast is not reckless...I'd have no problem piloting my boat at 110+ if I can come up with a combo to push it that fast....under the right conditions and in the right place at the right time. I spent most of this last weekend running around, jacket on, kill switch lanyard on, at 30mph burning 100LL AV gas because that was an appropriate speed for the conditions as far as I and my passengers were concerned. Everyone in my boat had a jacket on too...we can all look like dorks together. I've been pitched out of a boat while I was the driver and doing less than 60mph. Speed is only a small part of the equation. Stack the deck in your favor and things will generally end better.

Edit: If you have kids young enough to be legally required to wear a PFD, it makes them feel a lot less dorky if the guy at the wheel makes everyone in the boat put one on before getting underway. I've had an argument from one guest, and kept it off plane until he put the damn jacket on. He understood my reasoning once we got underway. Most would rather look like dorks than be dead.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Without a center sponson he possibly could have cleared the jet ski and avoided all of this drama

 

[Tank]

Reminds me of the sticker on one of the popular Havasu skaters, right between the sponsons, "PWC INTAKE"

 

[JRider]

Over all, the outcome could have been a lot worse. Nobody died, a couple very recoverable injuries, pretty minor in the big picture. We will see what the investigation brings, but does not look like any major charges could come of it anyway.

 

[Bigbore500r]

All i know is if I ever have an accident, first thing i'm gonna do in the hospital is ask for a tablet so I can surf RDP and find out why it happened

 

[riverroyal]

im about to pipe off soon. RD's place has too much drama BS lately. Simple threads go sideways for absolutely no reason. 3 experienced boaters wearing life jackets had a accident, they lived. For fuck sakes we should be celebrating.

 

[JD D05]

All i know is if I ever have an accident, first thing i'm gonna do in the hospital is ask for a tablet so I can surf RDP and find out why it happened

Hahahaha or what you could have done to have even more fun.

 

[BHC Vic]

This thread went to shit in under 6 pages.

It went to shit on the first page. I sent my dad a link and all he saw was rd cuss out grads 

 

[New to boating]

Callente skater blew over with Larry Gilligan and Brad Stewart.Larry has been airlifted out.

Like BOATCOP said we don't know what happened yet but based upon the condition of the part of the deck that is not submerged I think a blow over is very unlikely - You don't blow over a 368 Skater (or similar large Air Entrapment Catamaran) at 80-100 MPH and when they do blow over (at much higher speeds) you never see the deck in tact like that, its generally partially or completely destroyed.

Also, 3 Guys in the boat and only 1 with significant injuries - Large Air Entrapment Catamarans that blow over do not leave the occupant/operators with minor to somewhat significant injuries - these accidents produce multiple fatalities almost 100% of the time.

We can learn a lot more once the boat is on a trailer and we can see photos - the condition of the windshield and damage to the rear hatches and freeboard will tell a lot about how it crashed based upon the ripping direction of the parts - you can tell how the top side of the boat impacted the water which tells you a lot about the type of accident that occurred - also would like to see what the drives look like, what trim position are they in, is there a blade missing from a propeller?, did the tie bar break?, is there skeg damage from hitting something in the water at speed?

Also at some point I am sure the Occupants will make a statement if they even know - and its possible they will not.

Super lucky Guys it sounds like, everyone living to tell about it and fight another day.

 

[Old Texan]

Wow......As typical a lot of information shared good, bad and otherwise. Lots of passion. Lots of relief those involved survived and no one will carry anything but memories after the fact.

What I see happening is the ever present change of a sport we love. Bigger boats, bigger power, more variety of the types of watercraft that share the same bodies of water, more varying purposes to be on the water, and more people doing it all. The constant is the size and constraints of our waterways stay the same. Essentially more fish of all types in the same pond.

This all leads to what we have in front of us. Still be able to use our watercraft to extent they were designed and how we purchased them to perform while in close contact with others doing the same. Like most else in life, our space is getting more crowded and we must adapt.

Regardless of the skill level a high performance boat operator has achieved, he still must deal with a growing number of other vessels. Stretches of water may have changed with growth and new obstacles make for changes in how to operate in these areas. Safe stretches of water to open the throttle safely are growing harder to find except when planned events facilitate safe operation.

PWC's and wake boats are not going away. More operators mean more inexperience to deal with.....Everyone has to learn and during that process, their will be miscues. Some major that require that much more caution.

All I can see as a solution is we all need to be more aware, be more educated, be more tolerant, and realize the responsibilities involved. If we do not, incidents and accidents will bring about major changes and rules and regulations we will not agree with and we'll lose our great sport.

Be wise, be tolerant, and most of all, be safe.

 

[CLdrinker]

Good to know that if someone cuts you off instead of trying everything possible to avoid a collision you're going to run them over and hope for the best. That's a great idea. [emoji1418]please post when you're on the lake so the rest of us can stay out of your way.

Wow. Pipe off. A guy that spent his life in the Coast Guard and as police officer on the water. I'm pretty sure I'd rather read Allan's posts with his advice/knowledge and learn from him then having you tell him not to pipe off.

Tru dat [emoji106] [emoji202]

Yes I know how much experience boatcop has, but when he makes assumptions that are wrong about a situation I was in and was forced to react to and implies that I was in the wrong. Yes that is wrong of him.

What pissed me off is boatcop stated I don't have to have the throttles wide open all the time.

Wrong, boat saw wide open one time while we owned it.

Here is short story of what happened and what caused me to develop the them before us mentality.

2002 HTM SS traveling about 50-60mph just passed copper canyon area. We are literally the only boat on the water. I'm driving about 300-400yrds off the shoreline. Out of nowhere a sit down type jet ski comes out of a cove from
My right hauling ass. He is heading straight into our path at 90degrees

There is time for me to pull back throttle and turn left.

Jet ski is oblivious to us and turns straight into us. That put us into a situation where he will no Tbone us or almost head on.

I turn harder left. Put my mom on the floor of the boat.

Jet ski guy finally sees us about 20', he oh shits and turns hard left and drenched us.

He circled back and flips us off.

The guy was clearly not looking ahead or around him. If he was he would have turned right soon as he exited the cove an merged with us.

So I was dealing with a vessel that came into view very quickly and was not looking for vessels.

aftrt that I saw how people got pitched around st slow speeed we decided that if we were going fast it would be them before us. Then Steve died and we went back to a V bottom.

The End.

 

[CLdrinker]

Outdrive1 everything possible to avoid collision is different than pitching your occupants out and possibly killing them.

Never said I wouldn't try.

Disagree with me all you want. That's fine.

 

[Old Texan]

The issue I see with too many PWC's is the same as I see with the guys riding "crotch rocket" motorcycles like crazed fools. They ride as if the water/highway is their's alone and put themselves in positions of getting run down or forcing the other vehicle to take dangerous evasive action to keep from killing and self centered irresponsible idiot.:rolleyes

 

[lake p.a.l.]

Fantastic news that everyone is going to be OK.
Does anyone actually know if the Skater rolled during avoidance of the possible accident or if it spun out and took on too much water that the bilge pumps couldn't keep up?

 

[BajaT]

Most of us ride or have ridden motorcycles. Would we look at this the same way, if we pulled out of our driveway or parking lot, only to be nearly (or) run over by someone in a Ferrari doing 150 MPH on a PUBLIC STREET. There's a time and place for everything. Closed courses for testing, early morning when no one else is out yet, mid-January, etc. A summer afternoon on Lake Havasu probably isn't the best time for a speed run, especially near resort areas.

Ferrari is going 4x the speed limit, breaking the law. Motorcycle should not be entering roadway unless safe to do so. Some blame would and should be on motorcycle pulling out, possibly primary factor in collision with ferrari as ferrari has right of way. Boat was likely obeying law going 100 as no one else in sight, quiet Tuesday am. Problem started when jet ski allegedly pulls out of cove. What now is the safe speed for conditions for the boat? What responsibility does jet ski have leaving a cove (driveway) and entering main waterway, allegedly cutting straight across the waterway. I agree if everyone drove 30 mph all day this would not happen. Also, if they stayed home and never left the house it would not happen.......

 

[red ant]

The issue I see with too many PWC's is the same as I see with the guys riding "crotch rocket" motorcycles like crazed fools. They ride as if the water/highway is their's alone and put themselves in positions of getting run down or forcing the other vehicle to take dangerous evasive action to keep from killing and self centered irresponsible idiot.:rolleyes

Willing to bet most of the clueless jet ski/ boat operators went from being total couch spuds to owning and operating watercraft. Think they own the place and it is all about them. Same people who pull u-turns in the middle of a highway and cause you to have to take extreme measures to not be in a bad wreck. Rules do not apply to them, just like the crotch rocket crews.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

All i know is if I ever have an accident, first thing i'm gonna do in the hospital is ask for a tablet so I can surf RDP and find out why it happened

im about to pipe off soon. RD's place has too much drama BS lately. Simple threads go sideways for absolutely no reason. 3 experienced boaters wearing life jackets had a accident, they lived. For fuck sakes we should be celebrating.

I completely agree with both if you guys. This is fucking rediculous!

 

[That Guy]

Wow. Pipe off. A guy that spent his life in the Coast Guard and as police officer on the water. I'm pretty sure I'd rather read Allan's posts with his advice/knowledge and learn from him then having you tell him not to pipe off.

Right....lol. Pipe off....my new favorite saying. Unfortunately, it was said to one of the most knowledgeable boating people on these boards. We've been getting good advice from Alan for many, many years.

Without a center sponson he possibly could have cleared the jet ski and avoided all of this drama

:skull

 

[Englewood]

3 experienced boaters wearing life jackets had a accident, they lived. For fuck sakes we should be celebrating.

Best post right here...

I don't have a hard time believing the jet ski shot out of nowhere and it was a knee-jerk reaction by the driver...Our skis go 75mph out of the box, and require no training. We can all act like we would've done different, but you never know until you're in that situation. He made the split-second decision to avoid turning that jet skier(s) into hamburger meat. That is commendable.

Boat owners like this, who wear them proper safety equipment, are what keep's the liberal nut jobs from only focusing on the DUI boat crashes in an effort to close the lake. The owners of this Skater are exactly what you want to be on the lake with you.

I hope they have a speedy recovery and can return to the boating scene.

 

[red ant]

Ferrari is going 4x the speed limit, breaking the law. Motorcycle should not be entering roadway unless safe to do so. Some blame would and should be on motorcycle pulling out, possibly primary factor in collision with ferrari as ferrari has right of way. Boat was likely obeying law going 100 as no one else in sight, quiet Tuesday am. Problem started when jet ski allegedly pulls out of cove. What now is the safe speed for conditions for the boat? What responsibility does jet ski have leaving a cove (driveway) and entering main waterway, allegedly cutting straight across the waterway. I agree if everyone drove 30 mph all day this would not happen. Also, if they stayed home and never left the house it would not happen.......

Pulling our daughter water skiing on a 60ft line, slalom. Sunday morning 6:30 A.M. A sit down jet skier pulls out of a campground on the opposite side of the river, crosses right in front of us, never looked. We have to slow down. Only doing 35 to 37 MPH anyways. Almost sink the skier. Honk horn, he waves. He is now on the right side of us towards the shore. He is right about 5' off to the side and behind about 20ft. I am pointing back to the skier, I stand up and grab the rope at the tow to show him, hey we got a skier. He shook his head as in ok, got it. Next effin thing he turns towards our wake. Our daughter is only 40ft back from him. I yell stop to the driver, my daughter cuts hard to the left, no collision. She is in the water and jet skier is off on his merry way. This happened while in flatty, no good wake to jump. If this had not been a very experienced skier, the outcome would have been much different. My point is lack of speed isn't going to always save you. I guess we should have stopped the boat and dumped our skier when the idiot who doesn't know the law, or care about anything other than himself crossed right in front of us. This all took less than 1 minute to happen. It scares me to think this could have been a family out early with little ones on a tube, while it was calm and very little traffic.

 

[guest hs]

Something to ponder the ocean is a wide open area to boat and no jetskis to dodge.

 

[rivermobster]

All i know is if I ever have an accident, first thing i'm gonna do in the hospital is ask for a tablet so I can surf RDP and find out why it happened

Solid gold...

Sig line material right here. :thumbsup

 

[twocents]

As expected, the recent spike in Lake Havasu boating incidents as caught the attention of governmental water enforcement agencies. For the first time in many years, the U.S. Coast Guard is planning to have a presence (observers) in and on the 17-mile Refuge area during the upcoming 4th of July weekend. It would behoove everyone to be on their best behavior. Because it is considered a navigable waterway, the Coast Guard has federal authority to make the rules and regulations. Let?s hope they don?t find any more reason to act.

 

[Outdrive1]

The sad part is this just gives more fuel to the fire for a speed limit argument. The marine association is already talking about it.

 

[daveb1]

Without a center sponson he possibly could have cleared the jet ski and avoided all of this drama

since when did a 36 skater have a center pod? although it is not funny, neither is your lack of boat knowledge.

west coast tunnels like eliminator and dcb have center sponsons but don't handle rough water as well.

 

[Dog]

since when did a 36 skater have a center pod? although it is not funny, neither is your lack of boat knowledge.

west coast tunnels like eliminator and dcb have center sponsons but don't handle rough water as well.

Reading comprehension much?

It was a joke that the jet ski would go right through because THERE WAS NO CENTER "POD" ON THE SKATER.

 

[JD D05]

since when did a 36 skater have a center pod? although it is not funny, neither is your lack of boat knowledge.

west coast tunnels like eliminator and dcb have center sponsons but don't handle rough water as well.

Do you wear a whistle?

 

[renodaytona]

Any word on the driver and if he is still in the hospital? Has anyone talked to Brad?

 

[CornWater]

Reading comprehension much?

It was a joke that the jet ski would go right through because THERE WAS NO CENTER "POD" ON THE SKATER.

Do you wear a whistle?

Well that'll cover that.... [emoji2]

 

[CLA]

Fact: Accidents happen, society needs to realize this.

Fact: Everyone lived and used safety equipment.

Fact: Speed limit on river and Lake Havasu would make for a town with no one in it. Its the premier "hot boat" "fast boat" "performance boat" capitol of the world. You take that away and the money would leave.

 

[Old Texan]

FFact: Speed limit on river and Lake Havasu would make for a town with no one in it. Its the premier "hot boat" "fast boat" "performance boat" capitol of the world. You take that away and the money would leave.

:hmm

Never been there so I can't refute that statement. But having been to other venues like Lake of the Ozarks, multiple Florida and Great Lakes areas, NY/NJ, Lake Travis, and many other places, I'd have to see some official numbers to declare a capital.

Clear Lake and Galveston Bay this weekend will a have a couple dozen or so boats qualifying as performance boats.....:skull

Just sayin'.....No disrespect intended.

 

[28skater]

Something to ponder the ocean is a wide open area to boat and no jetskis to dodge.

:nono The ocean is closed

 

[CLA]

[/B]

:hmm

Never been there so I can't refute that statement. But having been to other venues like Lake of the Ozarks, multiple Florida and Great Lakes areas, NY/NJ, Lake Travis, and many other places, I'd have to see some official numbers to declare a capital.

Clear Lake and Galveston Bay this weekend will a have a couple dozen or so boats qualifying as performance boats.....:skull

Just sayin'.....No disrespect intended.

No disrespect taken. I do all the Florida Powerboat Club runs, 5 time class winner at LOTO, I have property at Havasu, Texoma, Lake Travis, and Kemah. Havi.........there is nothing like it.

I'm in Lago Vista on Travis and sometimes you wont see another performance boat for 2 weeks. Texoma has never been the same since the Flash crash, Kemah has a decent scene but the water sucks.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

since when did a 36 skater have a center pod? although it is not funny, neither is your lack of boat knowledge.

west coast tunnels like eliminator and dcb have center sponsons but don't handle rough water as well.

It says "without".

 

[Tank]

Any word on the driver and if he is still in the hospital? Has anyone talked to Brad?

Larry is Out of surgery recovering. Pretty major surgery for some head impact and basically he was scalped by the windshield so they had to reattach his scalp. He's banged up but will be out of the hospital in a couple days. [emoji106]

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Just out of pure curiosity. What power does this boat have?

Again, please read nothing into my question. I just would like to know, beautiful boat!

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Rotten deal]

No disrespect taken. I do all the Florida Powerboat Club runs, 5 time class winner at LOTO, I have property at Havasu, Texoma, Lake Travis, and Kemah. Havi.........there is nothing like it.

I'm in Lago Vista on Travis and sometimes you wont see another performance boat for 2 weeks. Texoma has never been the same since the Flash crash, Kemah has a decent scene but the water sucks.

Wow your living the dream . Congrats . I need to figure out how to pull off even half that.

 

[CLA]

Wow your living the dream . Congrats . I need to figure out how to pull off even half that.

LOL, thanks man. FPC is pretty easy because most of the best runs are in the winter. I just put the boat in Havi until January. I'm sick of trailering.

OLDTEX you might look at the weather report for OL challenge.

 

[Old Texan]

No disrespect taken. I do all the Florida Powerboat Club runs, 5 time class winner at LOTO, I have property at Havasu, Texoma, Lake Travis, and Kemah. Havi.........there is nothing like it.

I'm in Lago Vista on Travis and sometimes you wont see another performance boat for 2 weeks. Texoma has never been the same since the Flash crash, Kemah has a decent scene but the water sucks.

Maybe it's just the times I've been at these places, events are happening. Again, the closest I get to Havasu is this forum.

Travis is too crowded for my wife so we tend to stay on Lake Austin if we go up that way. But Devil's Cove always seemed to have a moderate mix with the wake boats and cruisers. Just don't go to the back early and expect to get back out until day's end is what I found.

Kemah will have a bunch for the Outlaws deal, but other types of boats dominate the typical weekend. Different water type indeed and it ain't nice blue and tropical for sure. We're in a center console if we're on the water there.....

Hey it's all good and the places mentioned have quantity if not high power quantity.:skull

 

[CLA]

Maybe it's just the times I've been at these places, events are happening. Again, the closest I get to Havasu is this forum.

Travis is too crowded for my wife so we tend to stay on Lake Austin if we go up that way. But Devil's Cove always seemed to have a moderate mix with the wake boats and cruisers. Just don't go to the back early and expect to get back out until day's end is what I found.

Kemah will have a bunch for the Outlaws deal, but other types of boats dominate the typical weekend. Different water type indeed and it ain't nice blue and tropical for sure. We're in a center console if we're on the water there.....

Hey it's all good and the places mentioned have quantity if not high power quantity.:skull

Bro your crazy! lol Lake Austin is nuts, you have to drive on it like a highway! Where I am on Travis is just down from where the Colorado and Perd split. You can run the Colorado river like a slot car in my cat. No public boat ramps for about 30 miles from Lago Vista. The LVPOA has private ramps. Devils cove sucks I stay away from that part of the lake. Check out Lago Vista on google earth and look up river where they split. You can take the perd to 71 bridge.

I know about Kemah man.......I have two guns from winning my class in the shootout. I go down there all the time.

Havi has crazy hardware all the time. Period.

 

[CLA]

That's about as many performance boats your gonna see at one time on Texoma bro. I grew up on the lake. You should get out more. lol

 

[Old Texan]

LOL, thanks man. FPC is pretty easy because most of the best runs are in the winter. I just put the boat in Havi until January. I'm sick of trailering.

OLDTEX you might look at the weather report for OL challenge.

Right now it looks like the storm will be gone by the weekend. Tonight and tomorrow will be the worst if it doesn't keep moving east.

I'm about 40 miles southwest as the crow flies from the Bay Area and we don't have any sign of rain at this point. Warnings extend to San Luis Pass but that's the edge and it's going NE.

Tickfaw would be flooded if they had their event going. LA, AL, and the FL panhandle are the coastal areas taking the brunt.

I don't worry much if it rains hard on the coast. It's when it goes inland and sits. We get crazy floods a couple weeks later like last summer. And then there was I believe TS Alicia that dumped 36" on Houston 12 or so years back. DO NO want a repeat of that one.

 

[Old Texan]

View attachment 568876

That's about as many performance boats your gonna see at one time on Texoma bro. I grew up on the lake. You should get out more. lol

Ya I know. Don't open a restaurant

 

[RiverDave]

I must have missed something here. People are saying slow down and associating speed with the boat because it's a Skater. Didn't I read they were going 80-100 mph? (Which is literally like a 1/4 throttle for this boat). Don't jet skis come box stock running 75+ now?

Perception is a funny thing

 

[RiverDave]

Just out of pure curiosity. What power does this boat have?

Again, please read nothing into my question. I just would like to know, beautiful boat!

Thanks,

Steve

It's got Monster PSI motors. They were running on methanol a little while back, but they were putting it on pump gas a few weeks ago.

 

[BingerFang]

I must have missed something here. People are saying slow down and associating speed with the boat because it's a Skater. Didn't I read they were going 80-100 mph? (Which is literally like a 1/4 throttle for this boat). Don't jet skis come box stock running 75+ now?

Perception is a funny thing

Yea but that's just what you read... :cool

 

[twocents]

I'd like to make a correction to a totally false rumor that has been floating around town that the Lake Havasu Marine Association is advocating speed limits for Lake Havasu. That is absolutely not true. If you check out this coming Friday's Todays News Herald (and Sunday edition too), the Marine Association is publishing a position paper on where it stands on boating safety, and it does not include speed limits. As soon as the position statement is published, I will post it on RDP.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

Did the Skater spin out and take on too much water or did it roll ??

 

[Outdrive1]

It's got Monster PSI motors. They were running on methanol a little while back, but they were putting it on pump gas a few weeks ago.

Why do I think Gary Kincaid built them? I could be wrong.