Boat hits bridge – video

[Presentation]

My goal of posting this video is not to poke fun at someone else’s misfortunes. It’s to learn.

Please view the below then lets discuss.

I assume current was strong. I assume the captain put both engines into reverse.

The boat went sideways. I’m not sure why. Maybe the port engine died?

I am trying to figure out why they could not go hard reverse and back away.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VMrrT4X6Qg[/youtube]

 

[Turtlesboat]

it's pretty obvious what happened. He hit reverse, The current swung his butt to starboard towards the wall. He turned to port and punched it to try turn around. The current swung his butt right into the bridge. Looks like he needs a new arch.

 

[highslice]

He seemed to be trying to turn around, but the current caused the boat to react contrary to the capn's inputs. After that, it looks like sheer panic takes over. That's my guess.

Or what Turtlebutt said.

 

[Four Suns]

It appears that there is a strong current running looking at the bridge pilings.

His mistake was not reading the height guide on the bridge (all the tidal bridges around here have them... I assume it's an Army Corp of Engineer thing). I bet if you asked the guy how high his boat was off the water, he wouldn't know. I mean... the dork has his ANTENNAS still straight up and not lowered...

Frankly, it just looks like he wasn't paying attention to the situation... was he drinking?

 

[fwebster]

1. Failure to read or understand bridge clearances on a chart or reading the marks on the bridge.
2. Failure to know his bridge clearance.
3. Waiting to react to conditions rather than aniticpating the potential dancer and avoiding the problem.
4. Inept boat handling

 

[cpt. sundancer]

sounded like he was bwi [boating while inox.],new arch,new ant.at least he didnt have a radome to wipe out:smt021

 

[Hampton]

Agree with some of the above:

Out cruising around and going under bridge.
Didn't notice until last second that boat was too high/bridge too low.
Initial reaction was inadequate to keep boat out of bridge in current.
Panic took over, boat got sideways, hit bridge.

Pretty much the same as other opionions.

 

[Hampton]

I think I've got it now:

Captain on bow with camera.
Friend "steering" the boat.

 

[jabs]

If that's on the St Croix in Mn and it looks like it is I have never noticed much of current there. So much for keeping a cool head

 

[JV II]

He're something to think about for all who have DTS. If you are locked into "One throttle" or "sync" the boat will not turn when you try to pivot on the throttles. Remember that. It might save you some serious boat dollars. I'm doubt the boat shown had DTS, but what happened in that video is exactly what would happen if you tried to manipulate your approach/escape with throttles locked in "one throttle" mode.

 

[tobnpr]

The guy standing on the Bridge does not appear to be the operator, to me.
He's standing in front of the arch, with his right hand resting on the top of the arch. You can't really tell what the left hand's doing, but also seems to just be holding on. If he were running the boat you can bet both his hands would have been working the gears and throttles.

I believe the boat was being run from the lower station, with the same circumstances and end result...but at least would explain why the lack of clearance wasn't so obvious to the Captain.

 

[Woody]

I couple more feet of water and he would have some real damage. Maybe even a death, did you notice the guy ducking at the last minute?

 

[Pseudomind]

It appears that there is a strong current running looking at the bridge pilings.

His mistake was not reading the height guide on the bridge (all the tidal bridges around here have them... I assume it's an Army Corp of Engineer thing). I bet if you asked the guy how high his boat was off the water, he wouldn't know. I mean... the dork has his ANTENNAS still straight up and not lowered...

Frankly, it just looks like he wasn't paying attention to the situation... was he drinking?

1. Failure to read or understand bridge clearances on a chart or reading the marks on the bridge.
2. Failure to know his bridge clearance.
3. Waiting to react to conditions rather than aniticpating the potential dancer and avoiding the problem.
4. Inept boat handling

Being a newbie, and after watching the video a few times, I would say these assessments above pretty well sum up the situation.

From a few replays: The first portion up to where the boat hits, sounds like (paraphrasing here)

"either, you know or too low (Bow person)
I don't think so (Bridge person)
You low? (Bow person)
it's going to hit...it's going to hit (Bridge person)
Quick thinking on the captian is needed it 's definitely going to hit (Bow person)

Just some of my observations;

Why did they not not stop before the bridge and at least assess the situation. Stopped, turned around in a circle, etc.

It does not appear to me that it was engine trouble, note how easily the boat moves forward afterwords when coming back under the bridge.

The current as shown is a bit strong. it is more noticeable once you are able to see the pilings and the bridge edge.

It does appear to me that someone is in the pilot house operating the boat and tries to spin around to port in an attempt to turn around, but are too late, whether they could have come to a stop in time is hard to say? (reduce throttles fully, place into reverse and throttle back up in order to reverse out before hitting?).

Next it appears the one who should be operating the boat is up on the bow taking photos, and the person on the bridge is telling the person on the bow, that they are going to hit.


[Aside]4 cents in these non-inflationary days according to some...okay in the truest sense it is not inflation... but if one takes a 10 percent pay cut and taxes, utilities, fuel cost go up.

How did they call it last year COLA was increased 5. 28 percent, yet a 10 percent pay cut is not inflation..semantics and our congress.... just gotta love'em. Puke[/Aside]

 

[Tonka Boater]

It's definitely being driven from the lower station. The guy up top is on the port side and not at the controls.

Looks to me like he's in unfamiliar waters and panic setting in.

Man that was painful to watch.
.

 

[carterchapman]

This one ie even better - the engines even worked afterwards!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYzpK3VqNXg&feature=related[/youtube]

These are all painful to watch!

 

[Nehalennia]

The first one's either system failure, gross inattention or both.

 

[Tonka Boater]

After watching it 10 times I am going with inexperience. 90% of all boaters admit to doing something really dumb with their boats...the other 10% are liars.
.

 

[Chris R]

Ok, here is my dumb question....why did the guy turn and go back under the bridge again? Heck, he was already heading downstream, the damage is done, why not simply keep on your original heading? I'm assuming the panic move caused him to react that way. The guy was pretty lucky the current didn't slam him into one of the bridge pilings while was doing a u-turn under the bridge.

 

[Turtlesboat]

He still had one antenna intact, figured "might as well knock that sucker off too".

 

[Blueone]

I think your all thinking too hard... My guess is the husband got the boat in the divorce settlement and the wife is taking it out for one last cruise