Bass Boat Accidents

[SHAFT]

After reading the posts on this site in the past year or so regarding boating accidents at what point do you just need to slow down ? They all seem to have one thing in common 60 plus MPH . I am not a tournament angler and I do understand while in a tournament time is of the essence and first to the honey hole is the goal but I can't help thinking that reduced speed would have been beneficial in every case regardless of the cause , mechanical failure , wind , rough water, human error , at absolute minimum you have more reaction time to deal with the situation . This in not just a safety issue for the anglers in the boat but what about the safety of other boaters on the water ? I'm not trying to bust anyone's balls here I'm just curios as I read these accident posts and the cause why excessive speed is not brought up as the cause or part of the cause .

[492slayer]

Shaft, You make a valid point with your post. Of the few reports that I have read, almost all accidents involved the boat(s) entering into another slough or a blind spot along a bank in the Delta. I don't recall any accidents (Not that they did not occur) where the boat was running WOT across a body of water and was involved in a wreck or with another boat. Having said that, I believe the combination of operator error, location and speed contributed to some of these events. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out if you are running balls to the wall through a tule berm, that you may encounter another boat or obsticle that is going to ruin your day (or life). I suggest people heed on the side of caution when running in and out of different sloughs on the Delta, but see no real issue when running all out across an open flat or lake. Most boats are designed to handle speeds in excess of 60mph, and with the proper equipment and training should perform fine.... One final suggestion: If the big motor is running, have your PFD on and Kill switch connected.

[mark poulson]

And don't over trim, where you're right on the edge. A little more hull in the water is good insurance against the unexpected, like someone's wake coming out of nowhere.

[rangerz20]

To me it seems over the last few years the trend has become 250hp on almost every boat. Most boats can run over 70+ without much problem. I don't recall as many incidents back whan the average horsepower on bassboats was 150-200 hp. these boats are so fast and running on the edge right now there is less room for error. Average speeds going up at least 10+ mph is a lot on the water. I enjoy having a 20' Ranger but at top speed it definitely requires more attention than my old 461 with a 150. My partners 521 with a 250xs is an absoluite screamer (the fastest Ranger I have ever been in), but it's definitely one to drive.

[adman]

Just yesterday at the FLW someone (can't remember his name) told how he just flat lost control of his boat, landed in his partners lap, and thanked god it wasn't worse as it could have been.

In auto racing we called it the "red mist", where some competitive drive completely obscures common sense or even self-preservation. We've all seen it, even in little club tournaments on small lakes, guys blasting around acting all "pro" like.

If we don't rein ourselves in, some government lunkhead will try to do it for us, and that never goes well.

[Otay Michael]

Seems to me that these organizations (FLW etc.) should put a cap on HP right now before it gets even worse (at least for tournaments), and then the manufactures will quick trying to outdo their last motor or someone elses. You know folks must have the fastest to beat someone else that just started out ahead of them to some spot.

Anybody have some clout with this recommendation to them? Gary, Bobby?

I saw a couple of folks, thank God not many, whipping around the delta at full speed through the sloughs, unbelievable.

[Greg_Cornish]

In some midwest states there is a 55 mph speed limit on all lakes. Step out too the shore on tournament day and you'll see all the contestants doing 60-70 mph on the way to their holes.

[Dewayne]

FLW and BASS do have HP limits. I know FLW is at 250hp currently. You have to remember though people will always have the desire to go faster. There are some very light boats built that will do 80+ with a 200hp motor. Personally I would rather be in a heavy boat with a 250 than a light boat with a 150. My old Ranger 481VS with a 175 ran 60mph. My latest Ranger 520 with a 225+hp does just over 70mph. I feel much safer in the 20 boat which is faster HP limits may help, but common sense is a better solution.

I am not sure what happened this week. I did not hear of any serious incidents which is quite an accomplishment when fishing 120 boats on the Delta in 30-45mph winds. Without common sense you can die in a 12' aluminum boat with a 15hp motor.

The answer is not that difficult. When it gets rough, slow down. When you are in a area with cruiser traffic stay allert for rogue waves. When in low visibility such as blind corners or fog, slow down. These apply whether your in a 115 HP boat or a 300hp boat as both can make you just as dead.

[kb]

FLW does have a hp limit on their tournaments it is 250. Not that many years ago BASS had a 150 hp limit no matter what boat you ran. This left boats underpowered as the anglers either ran boats that were too small for the waters they fish or underpowered and dangerous to run in big waves as they didn't have the horsepower to push the bigger boats in the big stuff (like the guys saw this week in the Delta).

When BASS made their first move to the West Coast they lifted the 150 hp limits as they knew they would not pull many of the western anglers to ttheir event as they ran larger boats and motors.

In 2008 we have motors that run more efficient, cleaner and on boats that can not only handle big water they can do it safely. Yes they are faster. A 370 Series Ranger or Skeeter Starfire 175 were both rated for 175hp motors, carried 28 gallons of fuel and ran 24 volt trolling motors, your battery charger was 3 ten amp chargers hooked to an extension cord in your truck. Those motors came with a 12 month warranty and were like riding a plank down a flight of stairs.

I am not a fan of speed limits, hp limits or going back to the smaller boats. The manufacturers do not even build more than one or two models and these are their entry level boats. I am a fan of guys using some common sense and more importantly I am a fan of high speed driving classes or training. I know many of you say "I don't need no damn high speed training". It is funny that so many times when I get a call from Triton to go out and run a boat with a customer because they have a problem with the handling of their boat and after a few passes we figure out it is operator error and we fix the problem with some driving tips and training.

There were boating accidents and deaths when we all ran 17'10" boats with 150's too this in not a new thing. Take a look at the number of hours spent on the water every year by tournament bass anglers from club anglers to FLW and BASS elite pros and you have a very small percentage of accidents but they will happen. Ask the boat dealers that frequent these boards how many times one of you have left with your new boat and were more concerned on how the GPS worked than knowing how to drive your new boat. How about it Rick G. Mike Van Wagner or Ryan White how often you all get asked that question and for help. I sell a boat every year that I guarantee you is dialed in and can run on the edge but rarely does anyone want a driving lesson.

One of the other problems is guys running over their ability to drive. Funny that happens when they put $4000 entry fees out and fish for $125,000. Maybe all the guys would go back to running slower if there was only $400 for the winner........doubt it!!!

The marine industry has given us boats that not only run faster than the old days but they are way safer, ride better and treat our enviroment bettter than we ever did. We have creature comforts in our boats that I am not willing to give back. The bottom line is guys need to use some common sense and understand that hundreds of thousands of hours fishing every year will result in some boating accidents, hopefully they will not be you but accidents are going to happen and many times they are just that accidents. They happen on the road and they are going to happen on the water......fact of life. How many of you reading this have been involved in a auto accident that was the fault of not paying attention or driving too fast for the conditions.

We don't need speed limits or horsepower limits and I am afraid if we put a IQ limit on bass tournaments the fields are gonna have a huge fall off in attendance.

The bass boat industry is building the safest boats they have ever built. Bow hooking, hitting levees, getting tossed out of boats, losing control has been going on for years and years. Wear your lifejackets and kill switches!!!!!

kb

[bassindon69]

Going slower in your bass boats? Common sense?
Joke right?

Don.

[185vsfrog]

We don't need speed limits or horsepower limits and I am afraid if we put a IQ limit on bass tournaments the fields are gonna have a huge fall off in attendance.

kb

Kent, You are funny and hit the nail right on the head Sad part is why can't I go out and beat these guys on a regular basis?????????Maybe I'm alot dumber than I think????

[tunaman]

One of the other problems is guys running over their ability to drive.

BINGO!!! Give that man a CIGAR!

Not unlike driving a car, operators need to know their limitations and stay within them. Many just don't seem to acknowledge that fact, even though they might not drive over their abilities (or the conditions) on the road. I see it a lot down here - street racers taking themselves, and innocent bystanders, because they cross their limits in one way or another.

Bottom line is that folks need to drive within their capabilities, within the prevalent conditions, and be ever-watchful. Aside from that, take care of the equipment and the rest is up to the Lord.

Roger

[j10b]

Its straight out guys not knowing how to drive a boat. You dont just trim up till the speed stops climbing and you NEVER drive through CHINE

Ya'll need to speed some in KY, TN, and FLA. Lots of guys run 90+ and quite a few in the 100's Legitimate GPS speeds. Its called know how to drive the boat and grasping that you need to constantly look at the water and plan way ahead. Oh yeah and not overtrimming. To squeeze the last drop out of my boat I have to trim DOWN as I get the speed up.

As far as a light boat goes you have no idea what you are talking about unless you have been in a "light boat" a 21'10 foot Bullet 21XRD, Allison 21pro or a stroker will run circles around your heaviest boats in bad water.

Not trying to be a jerk but until you have actually spent the time on the water in fast bass boats, most guys who drive them know the rules of the water and are VERY SAFE, you really don't need to be preaching about the finer points of a high speed boat.


EDIT: Im not saying Dobbins, Newman, Bolivar , etc don't know how to drive. I havent ridden with them. I will say that it most likely ws caused by something with their boats. I just cant sit here and thing in all the miles those guys run that they all the sudden forgot what they were doing on a perfectly clear and smooth day.
They could have hit something in the water but there is something that is unsettling the hulls they are driving. They could be built to the point that any unsettling of the running surface will cause it.

That would be my concern. Figuring out what X boat or X prop or X gearcase keeps hooking..... For what seems to be NO good reason