Sea Ray (Captain) at fault

Auto pilots should have feature that requires the operator push a "reset" button every 10-15 minutes or it would return the throttles to idle. There could be a 30-60 countdown on the auto pilot before it initiates the shutdown. A minor inconvenience for the increased safety factor.

Also in today's world of smart/self driving cars you would think a boat could be equipped with forward looking sensors to stop the boat in the event of any obstacles it "sees".
 
I wonder how long before all boats are required to transmit AIS info? I can see an integration between AIS and AP which would effectively "see" other boats, but only if all boats are required to transmit.
 
hottoddie said:
Auto pilots should have feature that requires the operator push a "reset" button every 10-15 minutes or it would return the throttles to idle. There could be a 30-60 countdown on the auto pilot before it initiates the shutdown. A minor inconvenience for the increased safety factor.

Also in today's world of smart/self driving cars you would think a boat could be equipped with forward looking sensors to stop the boat in the event of any obstacles it "sees".
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Interesting you would say that...I recall on the Boeing 777 we had to do something switch-wise every 15 minutes or an alarm would sound in the cockpit for that very reason...
 
Agree, just like most if not like all GE's Diesel Electic Loco's. If I remember right you must hit the button every 5 to 10 min or the emergency braking system reacts.

Both autos and marine need to be the same... No more sleeping at the wheel
 
That was just wrong. In my flying days we had guys blame the automation for their lack of situational awareness. Just no excuse. A lot of boats out there with old control heads hooked up to high tech nav systems, not a clue what they are doing or what the interface allows them to do.
Just a shame.
 
stephens013 said:
That was just wrong. In my flying days we had guys blame the automation for their lack of situational awareness. Just no excuse. A lot of boats out there with old control heads hooked up to high tech nav systems, not a clue what they are doing or what the interface allows them to do.
Just a shame.
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I was thinking similar. Most small fishing boats up here aren't center consoles, nothing sticking up, no tops. I've had many times in the broad daylight when the waves or sun is right, that a small boat will appear and I wondered why I didn't see it sooner. No accident close calls but still I was surprised I didn't see them sooner. Even with radar there have been a few times when I couldn't see them as soon as you'd think. I'm always at the helm and always watching. All the electronics could make some folks a lazy Captain.
 
I can see how blow boaters need the auto pilot due to their long slow passages BUT that does not mean they should be allowed to set an auto pilot and go below to sleep or have dinner. We all know that things can go bad quickly. Auto pilot should be a tool to keep a boat on course and reduce fatigue and not a tool to go take a nap or make dinner down below while you put others at risk.
 
Awful accident. Two old buddies just passing time enjoying beautiful weather and good fishing in the Keys.

How do you miss a 60fter coming right at you fast enough to ride over your boat?
 
With all the tech we have, Why doesn't someone make a auto pilot that can sense a collision? We have cars that sense another car and can activate the brake to keep distance. Your telling me with radar or some other sort it can't be done? Alarm, something...Still no excuse.
 
El Capitan said:
Awful accident. Two old buddies just passing time enjoying beautiful weather and good fishing in the Keys.

How do you miss a 60fter coming right at you fast enough to ride over your boat?
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I'm sure they didn't miss the 60 footer but by the time they realized the 60 footer missed them I'd guess it be sorta like this....
 
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I use my auto pilot regularly and have a remote control so that I can move about the boat while under way. Ill even use the head and run blind for a minute or so but only after I visually clear the route ahead and never while making more than eight or ten knots. Ill also always have a passenger on watch that knows how to stop or alter the boat's course. Absolutely no excuse to ever run over a stationary boat in broad daylight. I hope this event puts and end to the skippers' boating adventures. Stupid should hurt!
IMHO we don't need more technology on our boats we need fewer dumbasses with more money than sense operating boats.
Carpe Diem
 
Woody said:
I'm sure they didn't miss the 60 footer but by the time they realized the 60 footer missed them I'd guess it be sorta like this....
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As I learned in OUPV school, every captain is responsible for doing everything in their power to avoid a collision. If it were me I'd be firing up my outboard and getting under power and out of the way so that I have the capability for avoidance. Standing on the stern waving my arms with a non running engine just wouldn't be enough for me.
 
In the youtube video posted, it's less than 10 seconds from the start of the video until the impact happens. Not much time to pull an anchor fire an engine and get out of the way.
 
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hblock72 said:
In the youtube video posted, it's less than 10 seconds from the start of the video until the impact happens. Not much time to pull an anchor fire an engine and get out of the way.
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+1 If anyone on the boat had tried to go to the helm and start the engine to attempt to move out of the way they would probably have been killed from the looks of the after math.
Perfect example of why people should wear a PFD of some kind when ever on a small boat.
Carpe Diem
 
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Holy shit, I know the captain. Well, met him anyway. When we were first looking at 380s, the first one I stepped foot on was his in Irondequoit Bay just east of Rochester.

Now, the other thing that jumped out at me. Any time I'm on autopilot, I ALWAYS set up a 45-ish degree radar alert cone at a 2 mile range just in case.
 
bracketracer said:
Holy shit, I know the captain. Well, met him anyway. When we were first looking at 380s, the first one I stepped foot on was his in Irondequoit Bay just east of Rochester.

Now, the other thing that jumped out at me. Any time I'm on autopilot, I ALWAYS set up a 45-ish degree radar alert cone at a 2 mile range just in case.
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I'm curious about what type of warning your radar gives you when it detects a target. Most properly tuned radar will pick up the vast majority of targets but not all. It's the ones that don't get picked up that worry me.
 
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