On June 30, 2012 Mr Feasel and Mr Martinez were fishing. They were in a Tracker bass boat powered by a Mercury Marine outboard motor on a Utah reservoir. The boat swerved and both men were ejected. The unmanned boat circled in the Circle of Death. Mr. Feasel, the passenger, was repeatedly struck the propeller.
Feasel Case Before Utah Supreme Court 12 May 2021
While additional issues were raised in the legal case arising from this accident, this post purely focuses on warnings. Read More →
Kill Switch Regulation Details announced by U.S. Coast Guard today, 10 March 2021.
USCG News Release
News Release
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Contact: Headquarters Public Affairs
Headquarters online newsroom
U.S. Coast Guard Announces New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-off Switches
WASHINGTON – Operators of recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length will be required to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated ECOS link (ECOSL) as of April 1, 2021, as the U.S. Coast Guard implements a law passed by Congress.
The ECOS and ECOSL prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to a switch that shuts off the engine if the operator is displaced from the helm. The ECOSL is usually a lanyard-style cord that attaches to an ECOS either in close proximity to the helm or on the outboard motor itself if the vessel is operated by a tiller. When enough tension is applied, the ECOSL disengages from the ECOS and the motor is automatically shut down. Wireless ECOS have recently been developed and are also approved for use. These devices use an electronic “fob” that is carried by the operator and senses when it is submerged in water, activating the ECOS and turning the engine off. Wireless devices are available on the aftermarket and are beginning to become available as manufacturer-installed options.
Each year the Coast Guard receives reports of recreational vessel operators who fall or are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown out of their boat. These events have led to injuries and deaths. During these incidents the boat continues to operate with no one in control of the vessel, leaving the operator stranded in the water as the boat continues on course, or the boat begins to circle the person in the water eventually striking them, often with the propeller. These dangerous runaway vessel situations put the ejected operator, other users of the waterway, and marine law enforcement officers and other first responders in serious danger.
Section 503 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 required manufacturers of covered recreational boats (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. of static thrust) to equip the vessel with an ECOS installed as of December 2019. Owners of recreational vessels produced after December 2019 are required to maintain the ECOS on their
vessel in a serviceable condition. It is recommended that recreational vessel owners regularly check their existing ECOS system to ensure it works, following manufacturer’s instructions.
Section 8316 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. of static thrust; 3 HP or more) to use ECOS “links.” Using the ECOSL is required only when the primary helm is not within an enclosed cabin, and when the boat is operating on plane or above displacement speed. Common situations where ECOSL use would not be required include docking/trailering, trolling and operating in no-wake zones.
The Coast Guard believes that the overwhelming majority of recreational vessels produced for decades have had an ECOS installed, so this new use requirement simply obligates recreational vessel operators to use critical safety equipment already present on their boat.
Seven states currently have ECOS use laws for traditional recreational vessels, and 44 states have ECOS use laws for personal watercraft (PWC).
This paper develops a new mathematical model for how boats accelerate during a high speed test run. The process divides a top speed run into two segments, namely a displacement segment and a planing segment. The equation only requires three coefficients for each segment. Each coefficient is independent of the others. Additionally, each coefficient has a meaningful value tied to an attribute of the data. A version of the same model applies to boat coast down data. Previously, some have used polynomials with meaningless coefficients to curve fit coast down data.
This work has been a monumental project on our side. I worked on it off and on for over thirty years.
We hope this report brings new insights to the math and physics behind how recreational boats accelerate and coast down (decelerate). Applications include comparing performance of one boat to another or to itself with modifications. The model identifies differences in performance and the magnitude of those difference. It can also be used to show when those differences occur during a top speed run.
Only a small fraction of the entire report is discussed in this post. We encourage you to read the entire report which is available below.
About This Document Itself
Note: Coast Down Testing is sometimes spelled as Coastdown Testing or as Coast-Down Testing.
This work recently inspired us to digress and take on a spin off boating safety project. Hopefully it will inspire others to do the same.
The document itself is 142 pages in length and about 5 megabytes in size. It contains over 50 images, many of which portray data from actual test run data.
The full paper is best viewed on a large desktop computer monitor.
FLIR was awarded U.S. Patent 10,931,934 for Watercraft Thermal Monitoring System and Methods on 23 February 2021.
This patent teaches the use of one or more imaging modules on the vessel scanning one of more areas around the vessel using thermal or non thermal imaging to detect people, debris, or docks in the water near the vessel. Once the object is detected, the operator can be alerted to its presence including its heading, distance, what it is, and could even be shown an image of it.
The control system can take that input (sees person, debris, or dock near the vessel) and automatically steer the vessel, accelerate or decelerate, or stop the propeller depending upon the object and situation.
FLIR describes the system as having an imaging component and a control component. The imaging component is referred to as monitoring modules. They specifically note one or more monitoring modules may be placed at the stern (one place to monitor people near the propeller). Each module may include thermal imaging, non-thermal imaging methods or both thermal and non-thermal imaging capability.
The system may include perimeter detection, meaning it can recognize when someone goes overboard similar to systems on some cruise ships.
The system can take control of the vessel when swimmers or a man overboard situation has been detected, as well as assist in various modes of operation such as docking or tactical debris avoidance.
National Boating Industry Safety Awards 2020 emblem
Fell Marine, manufacturer of the MOB+ wireless lanyard kill switch, received the National Boating Industry Safety Award sponsored by Sea Tow Foundation in the Top Gear & Equipment Manufacturer category for 2020.
PropellerSafety would like to thank Sea Tow for sponsoring these awards and especially for recognizing the impact a for profit firm, such as Fell Marine, could have on overall boating safety. For profit firms can not only impact boating safety by launching innovative products, but also by their efforts to spread broader boating safety messages than just, “buy our products”.
The Executive Director of Sea Tow Foundation, Gail Kulp, said:
Fell Marine logo
“FELL Marine knows its core demographic and provides outstanding demonstrations on their website to educate customers on how to install and use a wireless man-overboard device.
They provided a diverse selection of many high-quality advertising materials to review and outline future business opportunities to increase the adoption of their product and further promote boating safety.”
The origins of OSCAR, a collision avoidance system for boats from Austria, unfolded when Raphael Biancale, a European automotive engineer and founder of the BSB Group, was returning from a 6 month sailing trip in 2013. He searched for ways a sailor could safely navigate at night. His work on intelligent systems for automobiles led to OSCAR.
OSCAR stands for “Optical System for Cognition And Ranging”.
OSCAR is made in Austria by BSB Artificial Intelligence and its sister company BSB Marine.
In 2017 Mr. Biancale joined with sailings offshore racing’s IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) 60 foot class to further test and develop OSCAR.
His efforts were successful. In December 2020 OSCAR won runner up in the annual METS (METSTRADE) DAME R&D Excellence in Adversity Award.
Recent events led us to publishing this update on the Ethan Isaacs accident.
Event 1 – Isaacs family files lawsuit
A wrongful death suit was filed 28 December 2020 in behalf of Ethan Isaacs.
Malinda Martin Isaacs as Personal Representative
of the Estate of Ethan Max Isaacs
vs.
Sarasota Youth Sailing, Inc. and
Riley Baugh, an individual
Filed in the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit
in and for the County of Sarasota State of Florida Circuit Civil Division
Case Number 2020 CA 005516 NC
Jeffrey “Jack” Gordon of Maney & Gordon, P.A. represents the family
David Neal Gambach of Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP. represents Sarasota Youth Sailing
Mr. Baugh, a sailing coach, was the boat operator of the 20 foot Caribe RIB powered by a 90 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor that struck Ethan Isaacs after Mr. Baugh was ejected.
The suit reports Mr. Baugh was leaning out of the RIB to bail water from an Optimist sailboat (about an 8 foot long sailboat used for youth instruction). The RIB engine was running, the kill switch lanyard was not attached per the suit. Mr. Baugh unintentionally leaned into the shift-throttle, the boat began to move, ejecting Mr. Baugh. The unmanned boat continued to run striking Ethan Isaac, multiple Optimist sailboats, and some other boys.
The suit says Sarasota Youth Sailing had a duty to install or equip the Caribe with available throttle safety options that would prevent the unintentional shifting of said throttle into gear.
They point out Mr. Baugh was an employee of Sarasota Youth Sailing and thus Sarasota Youth Sailing is responsible for all damages, negligent acts, and failures to act of Mr. Baugh.
The suit also includes claims relative to weather and seas conditions.
We were a bit surprised by the absence of propeller guard claims give the aftermath of the 2017 Centerport Yacht Club accident in New York in combination with previous statements made by Yamaha in support of propeller guards in applications like this.
Attorneys requested production of a list of 82 documents including photos and videos of Mr. Baugh and all others operating any power boats at their facility. One suspects this is an effort to find photographic evidence of them not always attaching kill switch lanyards or other safety issues.
The case is being overseen by Judge Stephen Walker. Read More →
Auto detection of floating or submerged hazards using sonar, radar, infrared, fish finders, depth finders, lasers, computer vision and other technologies combined with the potential to automatically take evasive action such as raising the drive, tilting the drive, raising the stern using trim tabs, slowing the boat, killing the engine, and steering the boat
Predicting imminent impact based upon previous impacts in the area and/or gps location vs nautical chart depth readings
Counting impacts and their severity to determine amount of life remaining in the outboard motor and to gather data for identifying hazardous areas
Brunswick Corporation announced their new BoatClass on water boating training program to assist boaters in gaining confidence on the water and to teach proper boating safety practices.
Brenna Preisser, Brunswick Corporation President – Business Acceleration & Chief People and Strategy Officer said, “Safety is the number one priority for all boaters on the water and BoatClass provides an opportunity for new and seasoned boaters to receive world-class training and learn the necessary skills to make the most of their time on the water.”
BoatClass Brunswick on water training
Certified Coast Guard Captains will provide beginner and intermediate three hour courses. Techniques taught will include: shifting and throttle control; turning, stopping, backing drills; 360- to 720-degree pivot turns; docking drills; crossing wakes and wave; speed zone adjustments; anchoring theory and techniques; utilizing boat trim; ferrying; and returning to the slip. Read More →
