Biggest reason for capsizing?

[tuffr2]

As a novice just curious what you think are the biggest reasons for capsizing a power boat.

[goat]

Overloading passengers.

[denverd0n]

Yep. I would be willing to bet that the number one reason why power boats capsize is overloading.

[Hydra]

Another reason is being rolled by a big wave coming from the side in case of insufficient speed.

This can result from propulsion failure (engine failure or fouled propeller) or from fishing at the wrong location in the wrong weather. Some shoals on the French coast are known to kill at least one person every year. Not always from capsizing: sometimes, they just fall overboard.

Alain

[tuffr2]

Humm...not rouge waves or boat too small for conditions?

Where do most of capsizings happen? Open ocean or inlets?

[Tetepare]

Anchoring from the stern while fishing. Waves pick up, swamp boat, boat capsizes.

[GILow]

Turning too hard while under power. Don't ask me how I know.


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[tuffr2]

GILow - what size and type of boat did you capsize? Did the boat catch a wave the wrong way helping the boat to capsize?

[GILow]

Just a brain fart moment. 8 foot tender, 3.5 HP in a strong current. Turned too hard, over I went. Funny now, not so funny then.


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[tuffr2]

An 8' tender with 3.5HP motor barley counts.

How hard is it to capsize a 21' - 24' CC type fishing boat?

[Hydra]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Humm...not rouge waves or boat too small for conditions?

Where do most of capsizings happen? Open ocean or inlets?

If you wait for long enough in a location, you will get from time to time a few waves much bigger than average but still within the statistical distribution: big waves, not rogue waves. So, yes, boat too small for the use: sometimes, it is safe to keep going at medium speed, not to stop without a sea anchor.

Some bad places are not really open ocean, just shallow areas off the coast. If the waves are long and high enough, they break over such places. On some charts, there are mentions "breaks in gales" on shoals, but there is often a lot of fish in such places...

Alain

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

An 8' tender with 3.5HP motor barley counts.

How hard is it to capsize a 21' - 24' CC type fishing boat?

You've got to try....imho if you capsize a 21-24' production boat you're either sinking, unfortunate, or a prime candidate for a Darwin Award.

[Lepke]

Stupid people and inexperience. Whether it's overloading or out in the wrong boat in heavy weather. Many boat owners are blissfully ignorant about safety. Very few are truly prepared for weather changes or equipment failures.
Everyone here has probably seen too many people in a small boat. The Coast Guard probably rescues some dummy every day.

[tuffr2]

I am not a boating novice but rather an ocean novice. Barring any brain farts and picking days without small craft advisories I am now thinking a 21' - 24' Center Console built to fish on the ocean should be as safe as driving a car.

Thanks for your input.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I am not a boating novice but rather an ocean novice. Barring any brain farts and picking days without small craft advisories I am now thinking a 21' - 24' Center Console built to fish on the ocean should be as safe as driving a car.

Thanks for your input.

Please don't kid yourself. A boat is never as safe as driving a car. Totally different risks. Weather advisories are just that. Advisories. They are not infallible and when, not if, the weather goes to crap you can't just pull over and wait for it to pass. An electrical/engine breakdown in a car is usually just an inconvenience, the same failure in a small power boat can be fatal.

But you are not a boating novice, so you know this already.


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