bluejaykaren
Contributor
Daily news for
marine industry professionals
September 16, 2013
A new propeller guard test developed by the Coast Guard and the American Boat and Yacht Council seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of various guards.
There really wasnt anything out there that portrayed the performance or maneuverability of a boat, with and without a guard, ABYC president John Adey told Trade Only Today. This test serves as a baseline that all device manufacturers will use to evaluate their products. Were hoping it will help consumers. Everyone just automatically thinks that a prop guard will save your life in all situations.
The purpose was to test the viability of propeller guards across several scenarios, Adey said. Its a non-accident-specific test and first of its kind. The idea is that the guard manufacturers would test their guards before putting them to market. Everyone gets evaluated the same way, which is a breakthrough.
Engine and boat manufacturers have defended themselves against lawsuits in instances of people being injured or killed by boat propellers. In a high-profile case from 2010 a federal jury ordered Brunswick Corp. to pay $3.8 million to Jacob Brochtrup after he lost part of his leg while wakeboarding.
Because propeller guards can compromise the safety of a boat, the National Marine Manufacturers Association initially opposed the test, director of environmental and safety compliance John McKnight told Trade Only.
If you go over 15 mph on the boat, propeller guards create a very dangerous situation and it says that very clearly in the report, McKnight said.
The guards, typically large pieces of metal added around the engine, can create buoyancy and steering issues, as well as compromising a boats ability to get up on plane and maintain plane, McKnight said.
marine industry professionals
September 16, 2013
A new propeller guard test developed by the Coast Guard and the American Boat and Yacht Council seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of various guards.
There really wasnt anything out there that portrayed the performance or maneuverability of a boat, with and without a guard, ABYC president John Adey told Trade Only Today. This test serves as a baseline that all device manufacturers will use to evaluate their products. Were hoping it will help consumers. Everyone just automatically thinks that a prop guard will save your life in all situations.
The purpose was to test the viability of propeller guards across several scenarios, Adey said. Its a non-accident-specific test and first of its kind. The idea is that the guard manufacturers would test their guards before putting them to market. Everyone gets evaluated the same way, which is a breakthrough.
Engine and boat manufacturers have defended themselves against lawsuits in instances of people being injured or killed by boat propellers. In a high-profile case from 2010 a federal jury ordered Brunswick Corp. to pay $3.8 million to Jacob Brochtrup after he lost part of his leg while wakeboarding.
Because propeller guards can compromise the safety of a boat, the National Marine Manufacturers Association initially opposed the test, director of environmental and safety compliance John McKnight told Trade Only.
If you go over 15 mph on the boat, propeller guards create a very dangerous situation and it says that very clearly in the report, McKnight said.
The guards, typically large pieces of metal added around the engine, can create buoyancy and steering issues, as well as compromising a boats ability to get up on plane and maintain plane, McKnight said.
