Fell off bow and hit by prop

I would think the picture would be even worse if someone fell off your swim platform while you are reversing into a slip. There is no reason for anyone to stand on the swim platform when the boat is in motion. Toss lines to dock help from inside cockpit, not from swim platform!
 
The victim should be cited and fined?? Really? Like the passenger injured in a car accident should be cited and fined? The operator of this boat is solely responsible IMO.
 
Wow, lots of blanket statements in this thread, and a lot of what works for me works for everyone.

If all you have to do is put your 13 foot beam in a slip lined with pilings 14 feet wide it is hard to get blown around if you get in. If the slip is 6-8 feet wider than the vessel, it is a different ballgame and you need the springline secured as you move into the slip.

How does the springline get on if no one is on the bow?

MM
 
Woody said:
You never let your wife throw a line?
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Just to clarify, I meant handling lines not necessarily from just the bow or just throwing them.

My wife is sometimes an important part of docking, or undocking too. She'll be where I ask her to be and handle the line I ask her to if needed/when needed, but I don't think it's necessary for anyone to be on the swim platform to assist.
 
Great Lakes said:
I have a pretty nasty photo of a guy that fell off the bow of a boat (his feet were dangling off side) and the props got him in the arm and torso.

I don’t know if I can post it though. What’s the rules for this? The guy is still alive and will recover fully.

However I feel like there’s been a lot of talk on here about not letting guest on the bow while underway. Usually a strong photo says a lot and will stick with you

Let me know if I can post it
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Thanks it us important to be safety conciuous at all times . When docking my children are seated or in the case of my 18 month old locked below. Not much use having someone on the bow because it's a long way down to our floating dock. If I need assistance I'll radio ahead for a dockhand most marinas have them during business hours. Another thing of will do is let my wife off the boat at a tdock and walk up to the slip ready to receive a line by the time I bring the boat around. This works well and is safe for us . Personally I won't accept the risk of a person getting between the boat and dock and the foredeck as well as swim platform are for use at anchor. My family members aren't fenders
 
I think this debate is a heathly one to have.

To be clear, while pulling into any well anywhere, stern or bow in(usually stern), my wife will not be on bow. Just my rule as an operator, I didn’t want to start a right or wrong debate. I feel safer this way and it’s never a problem for us docking. If I miss my mark or whatever then I try again.

This guy was hurt while underway, not docking
 
Great Lakes said:
I think this debate is a heathly one to have.

To be clear, while pulling into any well anywhere, stern or bow in(usually stern), my wife will not be on bow. Just my rule as an operator, I didn’t want to start a right or wrong debate. I feel safer this way and it’s never a problem for us docking. If I miss my mark or whatever then I try again.

This guy was hurt while underway, not docking
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Absolutely I think examining our practices and habits is essential to remain and become safer boaters . One thing I don't think debatable is people on deck when underway . They make boats that are designed for the up front experience those are called bow riders.
 
Always good to see a pic for a safety reminder, some pics can burn into memory. The guy that got the manatee back treatment will take some time to heal those slashes. And I bet 2 or 3 ribs got sliced...ribs never heal 100%, you feel them decades after.
 
I have a question. I never got a straight answer either from other boaters or law enforcement as to the rule for “bow riding” in NY. Some say if the boat has designated seating on the bow it’s ok. Our boats have sun pads and I normally say NO to riding on the bow but a few days ago I let my daughter and friend (21 yrs old) sit on the pad as I made the 25 min no wake trip back to the slip I had full view of them the entire time is this “legal”? Is that considered designated seating? I would never allow anyone up there other than idle speed.
Also my wife Never goes to the platform while backing in. She sits on the bridge stairs and keeps an eye out then steps off after we’re in. I also search for here on the cameras,and ask where she is after we leave the slip while she’s putting fenders, lines away as I can’t see her most of the time.
 
a couple at our marina got pulled over last week because the wife was on the bow hanging the fenders as they were approaching their dock. this is a no wake zone. the guys told them it was against the law. she pulled out the book and showed them that it isn't. she was right...lol

but i think i read where if your bow rail is at least 10" or something above the deck then it is legal at no wake speeds but i can't remember for sure.

i tied fenders to my dock so i don't worry about hanging them off the boat until we are already in and tied up
 
tc410 said:
And if I can’t get the boat up to the dock, under complete control, so she can HAND the line to the dock attendant, then I have no business driving a boat.
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please dont tell us you are happy your wife gives hand to the dock attendant after you returned to port ... ;-)
 
People read the first post
(his feet were dangling off side) and the props got him in the arm and torso.
that is illegal when underway
 
When we bought our first cruiser one of the best things that we did was to hire a captain and we took an on-water safety course on our own vessel. We practiced emergency drills, docking/leaving the slip, maneuvering the boat and general boat handling. We were taught that the stern line is the first on and last off. I stand in the aft area of the cockpit as we're approaching any dock with the stern line ready in my hand. I'm not on the swim platform until we're about 1-2 feet away from the dock and my husband is very adept at docking the boat so he's always coming in at very slow speeds. In our current marina we are docking bow-in but we generally dock stern-in when we're at other marinas. I would never stand on the bow primarily because getting the stern settled and secure will give us the best chance at having a quick and secure docking. I suppose it makes a difference if you're moored between pilings or have another configuration but this is what works for us.

In our last boat our son was only about a year old when we got it so it made sense for my husband to dock while I attended to our son until he needed my help. We had more than one occasion where our son was strapped into his baby seat, screaming away while we were trying to dock the boat. (no fun for anyone) For whatever reason we just stayed in these roles even though I am able to dock our boat without a problem. So in our 450, our plan will be for me to start taking a more active role in docking instead of just handling lines. I'm at the helm more often than not while we're cruising but I don't want to allow my docking skills to lapse - especially when we have pods and joystick for docking. I think it's so important for women to have an equal role at the helm both for their own experience and enjoyment of owning a boat and also for safety. I think it's terrifying when women co-own a boat and don't even know how to start the engine or make a call on the radio.
 
sandydlc said:
For whatever reason we just stayed in these roles even though I am able to dock our boat without a problem.
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you have a great boat ! i had a pleasure once to manouver a boat with zeus and in fact its just as easy a 10 year kid can do it without any problem , simply amazing system !

i think boating as a couple is about teamwork , not about emancipation .

cheers
 
aerobat77 said:
you have a great boat ! i had a pleasure once to manouver a boat with zeus and in fact its just as easy a 10 year kid can do it without any problem , simply amazing system !

i think boating as a couple is about teamwork , not about emancipation .

cheers
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It is a great boat! I agree about teamwork but I also would love to see more women at the helm at least some of the time. There are too many examples, even in our yacht club where the women are never at the helm and have no desire to learn. From a safety perspective we should be willing and able to do anything that our husbands do. I would say that my husband and I have improved our communication greatly since owning a boat together and particularly in stressful situations we come together calmly and focus rather than falling apart and yelling at each other.
 
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