PropellerSafety.com

Archive for September 2013

BBC to Broadcast Boat Kill Cord Video Monday 30 September 2013

We discuss and review the actual broadcast at BBC Kill Cord Investigative Report. This page announced the program and covers how to “watch” the program until approximately Monday October 7th, 2013. ******************* We just heard the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will be broadcasting their boat kill-cord / lanyard kill switch short documentary film tonight, Monday […]

Study Advises Boat Manufacturers to Prevent Exposure to Propellers

An August 2013 academic study of children water-associated trauma (WAT) advises the boating industry to prevent exposure to boat propellers with this statement: “manufacturers should be strongly advised to consider redesigning some of the components of watercraft known to induce major injuries in victims in these accidents, including preventing exposure to propellers for instance.” They […]

USCG Cadence Contest 2013 honors Terrell & Rachel Horne

U.S. Coast Guard Senior Petty Officer Terrell Horne III was second in command aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut the night on December 1, 2012 as they encountered suspected smugglers off Santa Cruz Island, California. Very early December 2nd in an encounter in which the alleged smugglers purposefully rammed a 21 foot RIB with four […]

Tyler Murphy, Baseball Recruit, Struck by Boat Propeller on Tulloch Lake CA

Tyler Murphy, a recent graduate of Turlock High School, was on Lake Tulloch near his parents home in Turlock California on August 8, 2013. He and some friends were with a boat. Tyler’s right leg and hand were struck by the boat’s propeller. Details surrounding the accident are still very sketchy. Tyler Murphy wrapped up […]

Rating Propeller Guards per USCG’s New Propeller Test Procedure: the Numbers

We examine the propeller guard Rating system and the numbers and data behind those Ratings as defined by the new U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) / American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Propeller Guard Test Procedure. The new propeller guard test procedure (originally called the Propeller Guard Test Protocol) assigns ratings (typically 0,1,2,3) to prop guards […]

The Media and Boat Propeller Safety

Media (television, printed, radio, online, movies, etc.) all have an impact on public perception of the danger of boat propellers, on the public’s awareness of steps to be taken to improve their safety, on public awareness of potential solutions, on public awareness of regulations and proposed regulations, and on the ability of both sides of […]

Blunt Trauma & Biomechanics of Boat Propeller & Propeller Guard Strikes: Part 1

Introduction The boating industry often cites the dangers of being struck by a propeller guard as a reason for not using them. They claim boat propeller guards exhibit a much larger cross sectional area than an unguarded propeller and as a result those in the water are much more likely to be struck by the […]

Blunt Trauma & Biomechanics of Boat Propeller & Propeller Guard Strikes: Part 2

This post is Part 2. Please view Part 1 first. Biomechanics Per Biomechanics of Chest and Abdomen Impact. Chapter 53. David Viano and Albert King. Biomedical Engineering Fundamentals: “The biomechanical response of the body has three components: (1) inertial resistance by acceleration of body masses, (2) elastic resistance by compression of stiff structures and tissues, […]

USCG Propeller Guard Test Procedure – an initial review

USCG released the new Propeller Guard Test Procedure / Propeller Guard Test Protocol earlier this week on September 11, 2013. We have since had time to quickly read through it and have a few comments: 1. The entire document appears to have been re-written since the October 2012 version. A quick comparison of page 3 […]

Tribute to Rescuers, First Responders, Paramedics, Surgeons, and Others

We frequently read of people making great efforts and sometimes even risking their own lives to save the lives of boat propeller accident victims. A recent propeller accident re-enactment spurred us into action to recognize the pilots, EMT’s, paramedics, doctors, nurses, bystanders, and others that often come to the rescue. They often represent the difference […]