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02/22/2023
Insurance Insights
Collision Caution!
Without a doubt one of the most common claims we see at Pantaenius are for collisions. The claims range from of a bit of paint damage or some bent davits, all the way to huge holes in the hull, total losses, and in some instances some pretty severe injuries and even death to crew members. Unfortunately in a lot of the cases we see, extra caution could have eliminated or at least greatly reduced the damages the boat owner faced. Want to avoid future collisions? Read on…
Tips for experienced and not so experienced boaties:
Collision can come in many forms but collision with other boats, marina berths, jetties and submerged objects are amongst the most common. These collisions are mostly due to inexperienced skippers, lack of attention or awareness of what’s going on around the boat, inappropriate speed or the absence of required communication. Remember- just because someone has their boat license it does not mean they are qualified to skipper a boat, they just have the legal rights to do so. Most new boat owners do little more than a multiple choice test to obtain their license which can have a big impact on how they handle their boat and they rarely take weather conditions into account! This in turn affects everyone on the water, not just the described newbie boatie. Here are our top tips for those not (yet) so experienced on the water, as well as refreshers for experienced boaties!
- Remember that yachts and cruisers do not have brakes!
For this reason you should not rush things when entering a marina, a bay, or when travelling in close proximity with other boats. If you need stop in a hurry the only way would be throttling the engine to idle speed and then shifting into reverse. Shifting the engine in speeds other than idle runs the risk of damaging the gearbox (something that is generally not covered under you policy). Keep it slow and steady so there is ample time to make necessary adjustments and so that nerves and rash decisions can be kept at bay. When stress kicks in, or when a skipper gets over confident, collisions become an imminent risk.
- Educate your crew
As a skipper you commonly have guests on board who have limited to no experience with boats. Your guest should know where to hang out whilst your manoeuvring the boat so that none of your vision remains unobstructed. Have them assist with tying off the boat, putting out fenders prior to docking or mooring with another boat, and aid you where else possible so that you can focus on manoeuvring the boat. Remember to remind then to never put any part of their body outside the boat or between the boat and the dock or another boat!
- Use the accurate zoom factor
This is a big one which will help you avoid groundings and collision by allowing you to keep your boat on the safest path to its next location. Digital charts won’t always show the detail of hazards unless the zoom factor is high enough. Therefore always zoom in to see if there is a big underwater rock or a shallow bank coming up. That being said, you should also be conscious of ‘over-zooming’ which will again not show the potential hazards on your course.
- Always follow the COLREGS
These are the rules of the waterways- who has right of way, when do you need to stay port or starboard, which way should you turn if you’re on collision course, and so forth. Being very familiar with these will really help you act safely when on the water, and allows other boaters to read the way in which you are going to manoeuvre your boat. On top of this, if you are found to not be following the COLREGS and you end up in a collision with another boat, it is more than likely that you will be held responsible for all damages caused to those involved in the impact. This can be extremely expensive so be sure to always follow the rules!
- Don’t drive by yourself at night!
In general, avoiding cruising at night is going to be the safest option for avoiding collisions but sometimes a drive in the dark is necessary. Firstly, if you are new to boating then do not sail at night, and definitely not by yourself. Always motor and have at least one crew member on board with you to help keep a lookout for hazards, the more eyes the better. Ensure you have strong communication so that a call from your crew member can easily be responded to, rather than it becoming a source of stress.
