Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Ejected…at 60 mph…
somata.
So, Im now part of a group I never wanted to be a part of…last week on a pre-season tournament before our Wednesday nighter starts up for the season, I was thrown from my buddies Cougar FTD at between 50-60mph. Total freak thing, doing something that we all do regularly without incident. We were following another boat into a turn on the river and they came off the gas a bit, when my partner came off the gas the nose of the boat dipped enough to catch their wake just right…or wrong as it were…to spin the boat and hurl me overboard. It happened faster than you can imagine. One moment we were running, the next moment I was tumbling in the water. So fast I just rember being thrown and then instantly in the water. My first fear was finding the surface, as I was pretty disoriented. But my vest lifted me and I swam for the top. My second fear was getting hit by another boat, as the whole field, except for the boat we were following was behind us. I waved my arm as high as I could and the boat following us was far enough behind to see me and swing wide around me. At which point I started swimming for the flat that I knew no one would run. By then my buddy got the boat over to me. As soon as I got ahold of it, I was fine. but of course his Talons meant that the ladder couldnt deploy. So he had to lift me…64″ 250lbs + 50lbs of wet clothing…into the boat. Luckily water temps were upper 50s, air temps low 60s. I think he was more freaked out by it than I was. The boat is relatively new, so hes been careful about running it until he gets enough seat time, so he was driving cautiously. Went back to the ramp, changed into dry clothes, and finished out the night. Was a little sore for a few days after, but suprisingly fine considering the force it must have taken to fling me from the boat. Probably good that I was stubborn enough to finish out the night, as it keep me moving and I didnt stiffen up as much as if Id gone home and curled up on the couch. I have no doubt that the life jacket saved my life. Really glad that I had the old school style and not the inflatable. Not sure I would have had the presence of mind to pull a cord, and am scared to think how it might have turned out with one that didnt deploy. And I think well take my Sabre FTD for a few weeks, until the PTSD wears off.All this is to say, when might the BCB life jackets in XL be back in stock? 2011 Sabre FTD w/ Mercury 150 Pro XS, Power Pole Sportsman 2s, Humminbird 898 w/ 360 and 858 at bow, 898 at ConsoleFor lots of BCB love, follow me on instagram: @professorbeard
glad you are ok. it can happen to anyone no matter the amount of time behind the wheel
Thats scary just reading about it. Glad you are OK. I bet your boater was pretty shook up too. I know Id be if I lost my partner overboard like that. Id say take the cougar but switch seats until he gets some more experience in this hull under his belt.
Glad you are okay. What a scary situation. I stopped wearing my inflatable a few years ago. Just wear the Mustang BCB vest now.
I dont think anyone can possibly over-emphasize how dangerous these boats can be if you (a) blink and (b) are not familiar with high-performance boats. Crossing a wake is bad enough under any circumstances. Doing it in a turn triples the danger. You should never get close enough for this to happen, swing wide earlier where the wake is smaller, or else back off and follow. Crossing a wake has caused more boating accidents than most anything else other than raw stupidity in a really fast boat where alcohol is involved. If he had already trimmed down some, this cant happen as the turn would already be in progress. Getting up on a wake, running caddy-cornered (direction of travel of boat is NOT the same as the direction the keel is pointing), inviting this sort of hook.Almost sounds like he was too close if their reduced throttle caused him to chop his quickly. Same result you can get when chine walking starts and you chop the throttle. Boats look SO easy to run. After all, the river is generally wide, there are no lanes, no intersections, no stop signs. Really not as easy as it appears.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Fortunately youre not hurt and was able to get back safely.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Glad all were safe other than some soreness of body and ego.
That had to be a wild ride. I have never been thrown out of a boat but have been in two that speared waves and that was exciting enough for me. Glad you are OK>
That our Lord you are ok as well as your partner- it is too easy to sustain neck and head injuries from boat ejections
Thanks all! It could have been bad, but I cant fault my partner. Hes been running bass boats for a long time and was actually hanging back a bit because the guy we were following was throwing a rooster tail a mile high and we were getting overspray. If I thought he was in the wrong in any way, Id be taking the year off from fishing with him. But it is a good reminder that no matter how experienced, little variables can come into play that can make things sketchy pretty quickly. Im religious about my life jacket and kill switch. And now more than ever….2011 Sabre FTD w/ Mercury 150 Pro XS, Power Pole Sportsman 2s, Humminbird 898 w/ 360 and 858 at bow, 898 at ConsoleFor lots of BCB love, follow me on instagram: @professorbeard
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