Pontoon Ejection @ the Shootout
09-01-2022 | 12:33 AM
#32
Charter Member # 55
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,272
Likes: 2,513
From: Omaha/LOTO
Prior to any run, safety check including lanyard connection check AND test it. Hook up and walk away and make sure it trips. Let's face it that safety lanyard is the ONLY thing preventing a runaway vessel no matter what the type.
This pontoon isn't my cup of tea, but to each his own. I think Tyler C., running that 26 joker with a million HP last year was insane, but just make sure your insanity doesn't put others in harms way. We really do appreciate other's insanity...it's entertaining.
This pontoon isn't my cup of tea, but to each his own. I think Tyler C., running that 26 joker with a million HP last year was insane, but just make sure your insanity doesn't put others in harms way. We really do appreciate other's insanity...it's entertaining.
09-01-2022 | 07:41 AM
#33
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,329
Likes: 1,834
From: Merritt Island, FL
Did you notice it had a makeshift canard up in front of the front door ?
I don’t know if this had much effect, being it isn’t that big, but these Play Crafts seem to porpoise a lot and I imagine that was a put there to help with that, I agree that it looked like it never lifted and it seemed like he was driving on ice
I don’t know if this had much effect, being it isn’t that big, but these Play Crafts seem to porpoise a lot and I imagine that was a put there to help with that, I agree that it looked like it never lifted and it seemed like he was driving on ice
09-01-2022 | 10:08 AM
#34
Gold Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,989
Likes: 214
From: Rochester, NY
I looked at this whole unfortunate incident another way. In my humble opinion, the tactics used by the patrol boats to attempt to halt the runaway boat were pretty pathetic. At first, they appeared to attempt to ram the boat for reasons I totally don't understand. The eventual decision to drown the motors with a water cannon was very clever, but how many boats do you know of that run around with open engine hatches to make this possible. Oh, and how many patrol boats actually have a water cannon to use? It worked, but I think they got pretty lucky.
So, what would I propose? What not a good old-fashioned prop fouler? All this involves is a decently long length of floating line passed across the bow of a runaway boat. Since most runaway boats (eventually) end up going in circles, this isn't all that hard to do. The line will wrap around the prop and foul it - slowing or stopping the boat.
I carry a 60' tow line for tubing that's made out of thick, floating polypropylene:
1-4 Rider Tube Tow Rope | West Marine
Twist Lock Carabiner, 11 MM | West Marine
Although I used to carry this for actual tubing, my son grew out of that years ago, so now it's carried strictly for towing other boats - or fouling a prop. Although it has a spliced loop at both ends, I have a heavy-duty carabiner clipped to one end to hook to a towed boat or a fender if used for a prop fouler. Why a fender? Because if you toss the line, it gives you something heavy to heave. And if you miss, you have a nice target to pick back up before trying again. Is this technique guaranteed to work? No, But I'll take it over a water cannon any day of the week.
Your thoughts?
So, what would I propose? What not a good old-fashioned prop fouler? All this involves is a decently long length of floating line passed across the bow of a runaway boat. Since most runaway boats (eventually) end up going in circles, this isn't all that hard to do. The line will wrap around the prop and foul it - slowing or stopping the boat.
I carry a 60' tow line for tubing that's made out of thick, floating polypropylene:
1-4 Rider Tube Tow Rope | West Marine
Twist Lock Carabiner, 11 MM | West Marine
Although I used to carry this for actual tubing, my son grew out of that years ago, so now it's carried strictly for towing other boats - or fouling a prop. Although it has a spliced loop at both ends, I have a heavy-duty carabiner clipped to one end to hook to a towed boat or a fender if used for a prop fouler. Why a fender? Because if you toss the line, it gives you something heavy to heave. And if you miss, you have a nice target to pick back up before trying again. Is this technique guaranteed to work? No, But I'll take it over a water cannon any day of the week.
Your thoughts?
09-01-2022 | 10:28 AM
#35
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Aside from that I can't believe what they get out of those things.
$8,000 not counting the engine worth of aluminum, plywood, and plastic interior.
Seen one at a dealer with a 400. If I remember right "sale" price was $195,000.
09-01-2022 | 10:38 AM
#36
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Joined: Aug 2010
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I looked at this whole unfortunate incident another way. In my humble opinion, the tactics used by the patrol boats to attempt to halt the runaway boat were pretty pathetic. At first, they appeared to attempt to ram the boat for reasons I totally don't understand. The eventual decision to drown the motors with a water cannon was very clever, but how many boats do you know of that run around with open engine hatches to make this possible. Oh, and how many patrol boats actually have a water cannon to use? It worked, but I think they got pretty lucky.
So, what would I propose? What not a good old-fashioned prop fouler? All this involves is a decently long length of floating line passed across the bow of a runaway boat. Since most runaway boats (eventually) end up going in circles, this isn't all that hard to do. The line will wrap around the prop and foul it - slowing or stopping the boat.
I carry a 60' tow line for tubing that's made out of thick, floating polypropylene:
1-4 Rider Tube Tow Rope | West Marine
Twist Lock Carabiner, 11 MM | West Marine
Although I used to carry this for actual tubing, my son grew out of that years ago, so now it's carried strictly for towing other boats - or fouling a prop. Although it has a spliced loop at both ends, I have a heavy-duty carabiner clipped to one end to hook to a towed boat or a fender if used for a prop fouler. Why a fender? Because if you toss the line, it gives you something heavy to heave. And if you miss, you have a nice target to pick back up before trying again. Is this technique guaranteed to work? No, But I'll take it over a water cannon any day of the week.
Your thoughts?
So, what would I propose? What not a good old-fashioned prop fouler? All this involves is a decently long length of floating line passed across the bow of a runaway boat. Since most runaway boats (eventually) end up going in circles, this isn't all that hard to do. The line will wrap around the prop and foul it - slowing or stopping the boat.
I carry a 60' tow line for tubing that's made out of thick, floating polypropylene:
1-4 Rider Tube Tow Rope | West Marine
Twist Lock Carabiner, 11 MM | West Marine
Although I used to carry this for actual tubing, my son grew out of that years ago, so now it's carried strictly for towing other boats - or fouling a prop. Although it has a spliced loop at both ends, I have a heavy-duty carabiner clipped to one end to hook to a towed boat or a fender if used for a prop fouler. Why a fender? Because if you toss the line, it gives you something heavy to heave. And if you miss, you have a nice target to pick back up before trying again. Is this technique guaranteed to work? No, But I'll take it over a water cannon any day of the week.
Your thoughts?
Other patrol boats were throwing ropes with fenders in the water, you can make it out in some parts of the video. I assume to foul the prop.
None worked apparently.
Aahhh, IMO they should of manned up, turned hard into the runaway boat and had a guy jump on the thing.
Would of made that 11 minute video way more exciting from our end anyways.
09-01-2022 | 11:12 AM
#37
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 393
From: Indianapolis, Lake Cumberland
Speaking of Kill Switches - my Comp has two. One for the driver and one for the throttle-man. I guess when they first started making these Comps it was with racing in mind. I was told they figured that if both the driver and throttle-man got ejected then both lanyards triggering would kill the boat. But if only one of them got ejected then the boat would be left running so the person still in the boat could go back and pick the ejected person up. I still don't get it.
So I always leave the lanyard in the throttle-seat out/off so the engines will stop if I get ejected.
So I always leave the lanyard in the throttle-seat out/off so the engines will stop if I get ejected.
09-01-2022 | 12:38 PM
#39
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 765
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From: USA, PA
In a boat run away situation, is it possible/practical to dump 100' + of floating rope in the way of the boat? gets caught in the prop - stops it cold? Damage possible, but the priority is to stop the boat that could kill someone.
09-01-2022 | 12:44 PM
#40
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,527
Likes: 706
From: Taunton Ma
I have stopped a center console this way. Operator fell out while fishing. Harbormaster and I tossed the line in its path and then followed the boat right as it grabbed the line I jumped on and shut it down. Was pretty uneventful actually
