PropellerSafety.com

Propeller Accident Statistics Comments – Page 4

2012 Public BARD Released – Our lists updated

U.S. Coast Guard sent us a copy of the Public Release version of their 2012 Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) in late May 2013. We were busy with a few other projects at that time, but recently had some time to look more closely at the database. The big news is more states allowed their […]

Our List of Outboard Motors Flipping Into Boats Was Updated Today

Several recent boat accidents in which outboard motors strike submerged objects and flip into boats, often with the propeller still turning have caused us to update our previous post listing these types of accidents. The spreadsheet on Outboard Motor Struck Submerged Object and Flipped Into Boat was updated today (22 May 2013) to include a […]

USCG Releases Recreational Boating Statistics 2012

U.S. Coast Guard released their annual recreational boating accident statistics report on Monday May 13th. The total fatality count for 2012 was 651 deaths, a record low. USCG reported 181 propeller accidents, 187 propeller injuries, and 19 propeller fatalities. For a more in depth historical comparison of propeller accident data, please see our Propeller Accident […]

Pontoon Boat Bow Riding / Bowriding / Over the Bow Propeller Accidents List

The April 2013 Sarah Roderick pontoon boat propeller fatality on Lake Havasu once again turned our focus to all the people going over the front / bows of pontoon boats and being struck by the propeller. Many victims were bowriding. They sit on the front deck and dangle their feet and legs in the water […]

Medical Care Advances Influence Trends in BARD Fatalities

The U.S. Coast Guard has long touted the downward slope in annual BARD (USCG’s Boating Accident Report Database) fatalities as a measure of improvements brought about by: Regulations Law enforcement presence Boater education Boating safety programs Improvements in boating equipment USCG reported 1,754 recreational boating fatalities in 1973 (the highest number of fatalities since 1970). […]

Casey Schulman Was Not the First: Catamaran Dive, Snorkel, & Party Boat Propeller Accidents

Casey Schulman’s Anchorage Dive Center charter boat propeller accident in Dominica was not the first one. The recent Casey Schulman propeller accident in Dominica involving a large Sail Cat on a Snorkel & Party charter has been called a “freak accident” by the media and even by the tour boat company involved. Anchorage, the charter […]

Tourists Being Struck and Killed by Boat Propellers in Diving / Snorkeling Areas

The recent December 2012 Casey Schulman propeller accident is reminiscent of many other diving and snorkeling tourist prop strikes in diving / snorkeling areas. These regions of the world often lack quick emergency response teams, paramedics, life flight, trauma centers, advanced medical care, and blood supplies. Boats are usually not registered and no boating safety […]

Boat Propeller Accident Statistics / BARD Database: Historical Calls for Improving Completeness, Accuracy, and Ease of Use

Many have called for improving the completeness, accuracy, and ease of use of the records surrounding boat propeller accidents. Those seeking to prevent or mitigate propeller accidents are generally forced to rely upon the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Annual Boating Statistics report for propeller accident frequency data. For example, we covered the release of the […]

Updated list of Dredge Pipe Strikes and Updated List of Houseboat Propeller Accidents

With the U.S. Coast Guard’s recent release of the public Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) for 2011 we spent some time updating our list of boats striking dredge pipes in response to the recent Mark Barhanovich fatality. Dredge pipe strikes are a rising concern with the Laass vs. Storm Lake case (death of David Paul […]

Boat Kill Switch Wear Rate Estimated from U.S. Coast Guard BARD Data

In June 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) titled Installation and Use of Engine Cut-Off Switches on Recreational Vessels USCG-2009-0206. Among other things, the ANPR requested public comments concerning a potential future proposed rule requiring operators of certain boats to wear kill switches (like lanyard kill switches that […]