Chapter 3: Operating Your Boat—Safely
Avoiding Propeller Strike Injuries
If you've ever seen a propeller strike accident, you want to do
everything in your power to prevent another one. They can be the
most gruesome of boating accidents. Anyone in the water around
a boat—a swimmer, scuba diver, fallen water-skier, or someone
who's fallen overboard—is a potential victim. Many propeller
accidents are caused by operator inexperience, incompetence, negligence,
and intoxication. However, most accidents can be prevented if operators
follow a few simple safety practices.
Turn off the engine when passengers are boarding or disembarking. Propellers
should not be spinning when a passenger is in a vulnerable situation.
Prevent passengers from being thrown overboard accidentally.
- Never release the steering while the boat is in motion.
- Never start a boat with the engine in gear.
- Never ride on a seat back, gunwale, transom, or bow.
- Make sure passengers are seated properly before getting underway.
Some operators cause injuries by putting the engine in gear while
people are still swimming or diving from the boat.
- Assign a responsible adult to watch any children in the boat
and sound the alarm if a child falls overboard.
Maintain a proper lookout for people in the water. The
primary cause of propeller strike accidents is operator inattention
or carelessness.
- Slow down when approaching congested areas and anchorages.
In congested areas, always be alert for swimmers and divers.
- Learn to recognize warning buoys that mark swimming and other
hazardous areas.
- Keep the boat away from marked swimming and diving areas. Become
familiar with the red and white or blue and white diagonally
striped flags signaling that divers are down.
The "Circle of Death"
Every year, serious injuries and deaths occur when boat operators
let go of the steering wheel or outboard steering handle while
the boat is moving. A phenomenon called steering torque forces
the motor to slam to the left causing the boat to swerve sharply
to the right, throwing the victim into the water.
The boat continues to travel in a circle and returns to strike
the victim in the water, inflicting massive propeller wounds—thus
the term, "circle of death."
The way to avoid this type of accident is to never let go of the
steering wheel or handle until the boat has stopped moving. You
should also use the automatic shut-off lanyard if your motor is
equipped with one. Be sure that clamp-on swivel seats are tightly
secured and seat backs are sturdy enough to withstand the shock
of a victim being thrown against them. And finally, if you notice
that it takes extra pressure to hold your boat's steering, have
it professionally serviced immediately.
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The Circle of Death
Serious injuries and deaths occur when boat operators let
go of the steering wheel or outboard steering handle while
the boat is moving. Learn more in this animation.
(Most students will already have Flash installed. If not, follow
this link to install the Flash Player.) |
Devices that Reduce Propeller Strikes
Several new technologies are available to reduce propeller strikes.
The devices fall into the following categories.
- Guards: Devices that provide some type of
physical barrier around the propeller. These include deflection
devices, full cages, ring guards, ringed props, and "Kort
Knozzles."
- Propulsion: Devices such as jet drives and
pump jets.
- Interlocks: Devices that automatically turn
off the engine or sound an alarm. For example, a ladder interlock
stops the engine or triggers an alarm when passengers use the
ladder to enter or leave the water.
- Sensors: Wireless sensors or other devices
worn by boaters that shut off the boat's engine or trigger an
alarm if the wearer falls overboard.
For more information about these devices, read the article "Propeller
Injury Intervention" on the U.S.
Coast Guard's Boating Safety website.
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