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oldtimer57.
So Ive looked at it 1,000,000 times- nosehook or steering failure? Somehow I doubt failure? My guess is he swung right, wake raised motor he didnt trim down and as soon as he turned right he was done. http://www.bassfan.com/news_article/777 … g-incidentC.O.D. Jr. III
Thats exactly what I thought.
There probably wont be too many comment on the situation from those who can really evaluate it. They claim the lock nut loosened or came off.
I too have watched this over and over. To be honest got me wandering of my own driving skills. The fact is at even lower speeds “CAN WE REACT QUICK ENOUGH”. When these things happen its generally just a normal day out. When I was in my early twenty I hit a log length wise. It turned hard right I couldnt even back off the throttle. Luckily I was not pitched out. All I kno is it happen quickly! Just as this accident did. I glad these young men are ok!. A “NEAR MISS” like this will be everlasting in these two young mens minds. Whether it was steering failure or drivers error. It was a accident!!. Could happen to anyone of us at anytime! Definitely will be on mind for a long while!2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury
You dont have to react that quickly. You have to react WAY before the situation arises. Not very good judgement to jump a 45 degree wake at that speed. Tends to pull the boat to the right and when the nose drops, you are going right, right now. Were they running hydraulic or dual-cable steering?Bow steering is a powerful force to reckon with. I have seen several boats over the years that cruised up onto dry land after such an event, and they really didnt know what caused it.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Crossed the wake at wrong angle with too much air and it hooked.
As I watched it over and over and I ponder how this sport grows I really really feel that that we are doing these kids a disservice by not giving them some true pro advice on operating these rockets. Not some clownshoe that “can drive his boat 83 on the speedo”- someone who paid his mortgage fishing. From the cheap seats I repeatedly see and hear stories where this can easily be avoided. Had someone just one time told em to trim down to slow down those boys wouldnt be in this situation to me…although Im likely wrong. Kudos to these young men for opening themselves to this discussion. But if we are gonna learn from this Im afraid theres more to learn here than check your nylon nuts.C.O.D. Jr. III
oldtimer57 wrote:. Were they running hydraulic or dual-cable steering?The stories I have read said hydraulic steering. From the BassFan story above….”Bland and Young both escaped injury after a part associated with the hydraulic steering control broke on Bland’s boat and caused the boat to suddenly veer to the right,”Im wondering if the force from the spinout was enough to break the steering???? Last edited by toledobasser on January 23rd, 2017, 4:07 am, edited 1 time in total.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
Redngoo wrote:I too have watched this over and over. To be honest got me wandering of my own driving skills. The fact is at even lower speeds “CAN WE REACT QUICK ENOUGH”. When these things happen its generally just a normal day out. When I was in my early twenty I hit a log length wise. It turned hard right I couldnt even back off the throttle. Luckily I was not pitched out. All I kno is it happen quickly! Just as this accident did. I glad these young men are ok!. A “NEAR MISS” like this will be everlasting in these two young mens minds. Whether it was steering failure or drivers error. It was a accident!!. Could happen to anyone of us at anytime! Definitely will be on mind for a long while!I dont think its a quick enough decision question. I think its a question of knowing in advance how to operate a high performance boat- like how to slow down when crossing boat wakes at acute angles- or just realizing how risky that proposition truly is. I watch this crap all the time from local idiots and unless I draw out in first 4-5 I just dont wanna be around these fools- I quit fishing events as a co for this exact reason! Like a lot of folks here I have been in a boat with someone who paid his mortgage fishing- their driving skill set is light years ahead of us weekend idiots in most cases- and I dont mean speed- I mean keeping the hull on a rail and recognizing the danger spots. Anyone can drive one fast who has nuts and desire. At the last second you can see kid try to steer left with ZERO response from hull- engine was already out of the equation- keel was already heavily engaged right and motor was too high; or at that exact moment the steering went out and it wouldnt steer left. If boat didnt have to be towed Im guessing option one.Once again big props to these kids and their parents for laying this out here for discussion. A lot to be gleaned.Other thing of note in this article- What in the sam hell is FLW doing letting college kids fish a derby with purely manual jackets? What the hell is anyone doing letting anyone fish a derby with such? Last edited by clownshoes on January 23rd, 2017, 4:29 am, edited 1 time in total.C.O.D. Jr. III
Hard to know what to think. You dont normally pass on the right. You dont normally get that close behind the boat you are overtaking before you move out to the side where his wake is flatter, rather than getting up close where it is much more pronounced. Very first thing they should have done, should do, is set up a reasonable horsepower limit. College kids cant reasonably afford such boats, so they wont grasp the importance of learning how to drive it as safely as possible. We are more cautious because we are saving up and paying hard-earned money for our boats. I am ultra-cautious for that reason, as I get to pay when something goes wrong due to operator error.I think it is great that these kids are out fishing rather than out doing drugs or whatever. But would you give a kid your dodge viper to go drive? Not if you expected him to return home safely. Theres a learning curve that takes time. Young kids think they are invincible/indestructible. Dont you remember those days. Only thing is, these boats can kill them. And if some common sense is not exercised, thats exactly what is going to happen.Kids are kids. And will be until they gain a lot of experience.The old “good decisions come from experience, experience comes from bad decisions” quote comes to mind. Unfortunately, “experience” from bad decisions can be painful or fatal.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
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