Power Turns Can Be Dangerous

[ddutcher]

I was on the lake on friday just chillin with a couple of buddys when we saw a flat botton jet boat come out of a cove with two people sitting on the bow with their feet daggling in the water. The nose of the boat couldn't have been more than 3 inches off the water, in fact each time a little chop would hit the two riders got soaked. I couldn't believe what I saw, of course they were wearing jeans pulled up to their knee's and wife beaters. Oh, the boat was doing about 15 mph.

[Tequilasun]

Originally posted by talltigeguy
Now her leg is sturgeon food because she did not keep her seat on the seat.

Well stated!

[Coop]

Originally posted by dogbert
The almost never do a power turn. I throttle back and once I come off plane, I turn to my right or left and give it a little gas. This turns my boat almost 180 and my wake passes me by. I can get back to the rider fairly quickly, but occasionally I'll go back at higher speed if there's a boat coming towards my rider.

It keeps my boat dry and my passengers comfortable. Even if everyone's in the boat, you'll toss them around pretty badly during a power turn. If someone's not paying attention, they get hurt.

Unless there are other boats to worry about, I try not to power turn. Even when I don't, though, I still end up going over my own wake on the way back and have to hit the gas briefly to avoid dipping the bow. Am I missing something? I just kill the throttle, let it come off plane, turn the wheel, and give it a little gas (like no-wake zone speed). Do other people just do it slower and miss the wake completely? It'd be nice to miss the wake for reasons dogbert points out, but I don't want to leave the rider (particularly the new ones) hanging too long.

[NICKYPOO]

I think what you're doing is just fine. I usually power up just a bit coming back through the wakes in order to keep the bow up enough then back to idle. I don't like keeping them back there too long either.

Tip,

I can sympothise, but it's not your resposibility. This was driver error. she should have never pulled a power turn with people on the gunnel. That's just common sence.

As captain of my craft, the safety of my crew is my first resonsibility.

[chpthril]

from www.kgw.com

Gates said no citations were issued and investigators did not believe the boat operator, Carla Dee Bowman, 36, of Vancouver, had been drinking or driving recklessly.

Since when is 'riding on gunwale' not reckless. IMO, the boat operator is responsable for the passengers, regardless of age.

[Tip]

I was also surprised that the driver was not cited for not keeping her passengers in the boat while underway.