As the boating season kicks into high gear, just wanted to remind everyone to be careful. Friday night a vessel traveling at a high rate of speed struck a dock throwing 2 people and a dog from the vessel. Fortunately no one was killed as happened in nearly the same spot last year. Also, late this week the TowBOat US Islamorada suffered a tragic loss. A responding tow boat at night was overturned trapping one captain underneath, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The other captain was thrown and is recovering. The message here is: No matter how well you know the waters and how long you’ve been runnin boats, you are not immune to a tragic accident. Please be careful, and slow down, especially at night or in crowded waterways.
Sorry to hear about Tow Boat’s loss. You are spot on. I wish that everyone would at take, at the least, a basic boating course. There are plenty to available, US Power Squadrons, Coast Guard and on line. Though I hate that it has become a necessity, I have advocated for years that a boating license become mandatory to operate a vessel.
“Without theism…the only arbiter of morality is power.”
As an ex-Coastie I can say that I have responded to many boating accidents…some quite horrific. Usually they involved alcohol or lack of sense (or both). One of the worst cases I saw was when I was attending MUSC College of Nursing and pulling a rotation in the trauma unit, 1 West. A young newlywed drove his boat at high speed under a dock. End result : wife decapitated, wifes best friend dead from massive head trauma, driver suffered severe head and face trauma but survived. I was told by some Coastie friends charges were filed and he did prison time. Accidents do happen.Some are preventable. Be prepared out there.
We were almost hit on July 4 one year…over 300 yards out of the channel, across from the N. Chas. waterfront park. We were anchored by an old pier in about 8 ft. of water and if we had not flashed our spotlight (which was ready for such an incident), we would have been hit by a 18-20 ft. boat travelling at about 30 mph. with no obvious spotlight in use. We were just waiting for the crowd going up the channel to clear out a little before we made our way back to Bushy Park. That was our last voyage at night on the 4th…it is getting way too crazy out there for us.
Please be careful out there folks. Stay at least 50 ft. away from any anchored boat while on a plane…that is the law…but it seems that too many folks are ingnoring that one lately.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
It has happened again. Approximately midnight Sat/Sun a vessel with 2 occupants collided with the fendering system of the Maybank bridge by St John’s on the Stono. The owner was thrown from the vessel and incurred minor injuries. His passenger is still in the hospital; he struck the bridge fender after dislodging the console with his body. His wounds made the responding EMT’s vomit. We were on scene and assisted with the recovery of the severely damaged and blood covered boat. Please slow down, especially at night! Unfortunately the one who is in the hospital is a well known professional in the Charleston marine industry. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE! Be careful out there. Please keep them in your prayers as they recover.
If everyone would slow down a bit and exercise a little caution you would see fewer accidents like this. Being from Columbia and not anywhere near as familiar with the waters down there as i would like to be, I am always ultra cautious (even in the daytime) until I get to know the waters. I remind myself every time we go out that I am responsible for everyone in the boat.
Hearing the news of that awful accident really shook us up - we saw and heard all the sirens and all from our house at Headquarters. We’re keeping the Contender at St. Johns Yacht Harbor in a lift slip during offshore season - headed down to fuel up the boat Sunday afternoon as we went offshore on Sat., and there was alot of blood on the fuel dock. The owner/captain of the boat involved in the accident had just been released from the hospital and showed up at the marina in scrubs to find out where his boat had been taken. Although I’ve never been a fan of jet skis or whatever they’re called nowadays, thank goodness for the transient who had one, saw the accident and used the jet ski to rescue the victims from the water to bring them to the marina.
I didn’t find anything in the news about this accident - this site is the only mention of that accident.
Said they saw the boat pass and then heard the impact. If you’ve never heard “that sound” you know what its is, and you’ll never forget it. Initial report was that everyone on board was deceased. Thank God that wasn’t the case. They are very fortunate to survive and to have been within earshot of the marina which expedited the response.
Roger Steve, so sorry for your loss and seeing the messyou have to see. Spending time in a war zone I know your meaning of ‘sounds you never forget’, if we had a mandatory course and those sounds were played for the students we would see much more courtesy and decency on the water.
My closest encounter was in fog, I was at no wake or barely wake speed when I ‘heard’ an engine approaching so I stopped, thank God, because a cuddy running about 20 knots intersected me from my starboard about 20 ft. ahead of me, close call for sure; would have t-boned me in my cpts. side.
Your report about the man doing prison time should help, but the right people don’t read the right posts. I REELY think it’s time we get tough on this site with those inconsiderate ‘clowns’ who want to take chances offshore and state it on this site, because they put your life and others in danger needlessly.
And the mention of ‘adult beverages’, ‘kool-aid’, ‘beer’ etc. should get condemned by all on here.
I am a CG certified Cpt. like you, and we both are probably the safest users of the water, NOT the risk takers because we think we can “handle any emergency”. Being properly prepared means being SAFER, not being just more experienced.
Tragic information. People lost, people and families scarred for life. I’m for boat operator licensing and mandatory boating safety courses.
If the Blue Angel day was a preview of upcoming 4th of July, then I’m going to have a nice backyard cookout - - no driving, no boating.
be safe, NaClH20
Thanks for the reminder Steve. Sorry for the loss of a fellow Captain. Inshore/Offshore(See It’s a BIG Ocean) don’t matter, PAY ATTENTION & Have a safe weekend.
GW 232GT Gulfstream
150Yam x 2
“3rd Day”
Gen. Chap.1 Vs.9-13