In March 2012 Yamaha announced a new stainless steel propeller guard for outboards on flood rescue boats in the UK and made several statements about how great it was, how well it performed, and even how prop guards were necessary when people were in the water near the boat. About October we became aware of Yamaha’s new propeller guard. In mid October we began posting
Most college students in engineering and design take one or more design project classes, often a Senior Capstone Design Projects Class, in which they work individually or as teams to develop solutions to problems. We are trying to tap this resource and encourage students to consider selecting design projects related to propeller safety. More student design projects would help grow the body of knowledge available
Yu Chen, 43, an accomplished wakesurfer (Sail Surfer) was teaching lessons on Lake Mendota in Wisconsin about 6 pm Wednesday 31 May 2017. The University of Wisconsin maintains a Lifesaving Station on the lake. Their boat was returning from a rescue to Governors Island when Yu Chen was struck between the UW LifeSaving Station and Edgewater Hotel. The accident is under investigation. Among the agencies
Deputy Devin Hodges of Anderson South Carolina Sheriff’s Office drowned while entrapped on a boat propeller on Lake Hartwell, 1 June 2017. We previously covered the accident at Deputy killed by boat propeller. As a well liked young man, serving in law enforcement, leaving behind a wife and four young children, there has been a tremendous outpouring of compassion and support from the community and
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in South Carolina was conducting on water training exercises in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Lake Hartwell in the Singing Pines Recreational area near Starr South Carolina on Thursday 1 July 2017. ACSO Deputy Devin Hodges and another ACSO person were on a USACE boat thought to have been being operated by a USACE participant
U.S. Coast Guard recently released their annual 2016 recreational boating accident statistics report. Total counts for 2016 Coast Guard Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) reported accidents were considerably higher than in 2016. 2016 USCG BARD reported accident statistics were 4,463 accidents, 2903 injuries, and 701 fatalities. 2015 USCG stats were 4,158 accidents, 2,613 injuries, and 626 fatalities. For 2016 USCG reported 171 propeller accidents, 175
A college student in Sweden, Fredrik Helgesson, designed a test stand to log strike test outboard motors (outboard motors impact floating logs). The report is titled, Konstruktion av “log strike”-testrigg for utomboardsmotorer. Back in early 2016 Mr. Helgesson, a mechanical engineering student at Halmstad University in Sweden, contacted us a few times for technical specifications on how the industry tests log strike systems. He said
U.S. Coast Guard’s National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) held their 97th meeting in Arlington Virginia Thursday 23 March – Saturday 25 March 2017. The meeting was held in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn in Ballston in Arlington. The meeting room was setup with tables forming a horseshoe at the front of the room, with the open end of the horseshoe facing the public
U.S. Coast Guard National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) 87th meeting in Arlington Virginia March 23-25, 2017. Part 2 of our coverage. Thursday Early Afternoon 25 March 2017. Subcommittee Meetings Much of the work of NBSAC occurs in the three subcommittees: 1. Boats & Associated Equipment Subcommittee 2. Prevention Through People Subcommittee 3. Strategic Planning Subcommittee Each Subcommittee presented some topics Thursday afternoon. Boats &
U.S. Coast Guard National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) 87th meeting in Arlington Virginia March 23-25, 2017. Part 3 of our coverage. Thursday Late Afternoon 25 March 2017. Boats & Associated Equipment Subcommittee continued Recent Propeller Injuries & Discussion of Potential Mitigation Strategies by Phil Cappel Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety and Brian Goodwin of ABYC (John Adey of ABYC was previously listed in
U.S. Coast Guard National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) 87th meeting in Arlington Virginia March 23-25, 2017. Part 4 of our coverage. Friday 25 March 2017. Prevention Through People Subcommittee Rich Jepson opened the Prevention Though People segment. He expressed his thanks to Jeff Ludwig, Jeff Hoedt, and Captain Boross. Streamlining On-Water Instructor Licensing by Rich Jepson He presented and there was an engaging conversation
U.S. Coast Guard National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) 87th meeting in Arlington Virginia March 23-25, 2017. Part 5 of our coverage. Saturday 26 March 2017. The last day is typically reserved for the three subcommittees (Boats and Boat Equipment, Prevention Through People, and Strategic Planning) presenting resolutions, the discussion and formalization of those resolutions, and voting on them. With no resolutions this year, beyond