Time to Update Boat Safety

[Bud Kennedy]

One can't help but think that safety systems on board many of the high powered bass boats of today.  It just seems to me that boats that are capable of the speeds now possible need to have some sort of system to protect the boater and non boater in the event of a crash that can easily cause ejection from the craft.

I believe that many of the deaths being reported each year are a result of ejection and most likely hitting some part of the boat on the way out.  Under this circumstance a pfd while important might just be the best way to find a body or an injured person.  We need to ask ourselves that under certain circumstances like high speed runs or runs during periods of limited visibility, should a seat restraint system be developed to at least keep the boater and non boater in the craft to assist in avoiding injury but still able to be released quickly as in a capsize situation.

I am not talking about a small jon style boat with a small motor moving along at 15 mph I am more focussed on the craft running greater than 50mph or perhaps even 40 mph that might get involved in a crash.  A crash happens in the blink of an eye at these speeds.  I don't know what the answer might be but at this moment a restraint system such as a limited seat belt might just be in the right direction.

[Mike Cork]

I've often wondered about restraints myself, but I eventually quit wearing a helmet because I was afraid I couldn't unstrap it should I end up in he water.

So, lets say your boat flips while you're doing 50 plus mph. The restraint saves you, but I have to wonder how long it would take for your mind to realize that you just flipped a boat and you're now upside down and in the water. I think many would drown anyway.

Boat racers use cages and O2 tanks. Something simpler could be done for bass boats. Maybe a sealed helmet system with a few minutes of O2. Just enough to get your bearing and get top side.

I've lost the need for speed. I rarely go WOT and when I do you can bet it's on fairly calm water and good conditions. However I'm not young nor fishing for thousands of dollars anymore, to major driving factors to go fast.

For now we have to rely on smart driving. If the visibility is low, conditions bad, or congested then boaters need to slow down. Life is not worth it.

[Princeton_Man]

The thought of a harness has crossed my mind a time or two. I've been co a few times couldn't have been any different than trying to stay on a bull for 30 seconds. Few boaters are thinking about their co during the adrenaline filled morning blast-off to get to "there" first. Some aren't thinking at all.

Mike makes a good point. Being strapped in on a capsized boat is a potential big problem/fear. In an event like spearing a wave, I'm not so sure I wouldn't prefer being washed out over being strapped in and having my neck snapped.

I wonder how much would it add to the cost of a bassboat to have NASCAR racing seat systems with an explosive bolt release like on the canopy of a fighter jet? It's a cool idea, but dang! There are already rigs selling for over a $100K!

Unfortunately, the two best safety upgrades that can be added to any boat is education and common sense. In the recent Okeechobee incident, there were 250 boats participating. From reports, only one boater who was reportedly quite familiar with the lake chose to challenge the conditions on the lake to get "there".

Maybe co-anglers should have the ability to pull back on the throttle or kill the engine if they disagree with the operation.

[Oldfart9999]

The thought of a harness has crossed my mind a time or two. I've been co a few times couldn't have been any different than trying to stay on a bull for 30 seconds. Few boaters are thinking about their co during the adrenaline filled morning blast-off to get to "there" first. Some aren't thinking at all.

Mike makes a good point. Being strapped in on a capsized boat is a potential big problem/fear. In an event like spearing a wave, I'm not so sure I wouldn't prefer being washed out over being strapped in and having my neck snapped.

I wonder how much would it add to the cost of a bassboat to have NASCAR racing seat systems with an explosive bolt release like on the canopy of a fighter jet? It's a cool idea, but dang! There are already rigs selling for over a $100K!

Unfortunately, the two best safety upgrades that can be added to any boat is education and common sense. In the recent Okeechobee incident, there were 250 boats participating. From reports, only one boater who was reportedly quite familiar with the lake chose to challenge the conditions on the lake to get "there".

Maybe co-anglers should have the ability to pull back on the throttle or kill the engine if they disagree with the operation.

Xs2! If you hit the water at that speed with a helmet on I would think that if the helmet catches the water you could lose your head!
Rodney