Speaking of a bad day...

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Feb 15, 2004
735
Hunter 37.5 Balt/Annapolis/New Bern
This month's issue of "Prop Talk", a local powerboat rag here in Annapolis, has the story of accident with a good sized commercial fishing boat (I'm guessing 36' or better.) Skipper of the fishing boat was anchored with others (typical on the bay) off the Choptank River (one of our best cruising and fishing areas - see the problem already?) Seems that 2 large cruisers approached, at high speed, a little too closely, and giving no signs of altering course. Realizing there was no one on the bridge of the 46' aft cabin aimed at him, and after using the horns, etc, the skipper ordered his guests to "hit the deck" just seconds before the 46' made a direct hit on the transom of his boat. Because they were anchored, there was nothing else they could do. Captain said it was the "most bone crushing impact I have ever experienced." Appartenly everyone survived, but the article reports lots of flying debris, glass and wood everywhere, with one of the guests thrown overboard. Four crewmembers were evacuated by helicopter to the hospital. Point is, we can complain about rules of the road, etc., but so many boats now are being operated by a/p and/or inexperienced skippers, all you do is stay or get out of the way as soon as you think there may be trouble. Sure made me think. Size does count, unfortunately not for most of us.
 
D

Dre

Tough to control

Not long ago a 16-year-old girl towing a water skier plowed into an inflatable with a family of five on board, the youngest was a boy of ten months, on Lake Pearl, Wrentham, MA. Like the rules of the road, you have to look out for the "other guy." Problem was, this family were sitting ducks. How can you stop such a thing? BTW the girl, Chabot, was or is a contestant on a reality show about out-of-control teens sent to an Oregan camp because their parents are lame ducks without a spine. This is what you get.
 
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