Netted launch area

[Grimracer]

I'm trying to visualize a safety net in the pits and can't see it working. It seems like it would hamper the boats coming in parallel and they'd be forced to come in straight which would be more dangerous.

Boats do not come in parallel to the shoreline as it stands now. If they did go parallel, then by definition alone they would never land. Every boats goes left to land. A net needs to only extended 2-3 feet further than the area where people would be. So in the worst case you might land your boat a few feet further left of the net.

106848[/snapback]

​

What... do we need to define the exact angle that we approach the dock?.. :blink:

I approach the launch area parelell or as close to parelell as needed and AFTER i shut the engine off i turn the boat to dock...if need be..

Grim

 

[Preston_Hall]

OK, HAHA!

The point is a couple feet of net will not hurt anything. We have the retrieve boat parked beside our dock. Including the motor it extends 2 feet past the end of the dock/launch area. Boats have been stopping in the same spot they were launched for years.

Like I said, go back and read. Nobody's trying to build a coral here.

And come to think of it, what does landing the boat have to do with anything? Dock you stuff on the right side of the net. That was a little too easy.

 

[bzubee]

You've got it correct Preston! That is how we have our site set up too! Although we are talking about installing a 2X12 inch board on the front section of our launch area to stop wild boats from coming onto the launch area. Of course we have used Chain link fence on the right side that extends out in the water to stop some boats from coming into the launch area but the 2X12 will stop boats coming head on into the launch area. We are even looking at installing chain link fence the whole length of the right side of the course and maybe even the left side. NO boats will get through that in one piece at least!

 

[Preston_Hall]

You've got it correct Preston!  That is how we have our site set up too!  Although we are talking about installing a 2X12 inch board on the front section of our launch area to stop wild boats from coming onto the launch area.  Of course we have used Chain link fence on the right side that extends out in the water to stop some boats from coming into the launch area but the 2X12 will stop boats coming head on into the launch area.  We are even looking at installing chain link fence the whole length of the right side of the course and maybe even the left side.  NO boats will get through that in one piece at least!

106867[/snapback]

​

THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AFTERALL! :lol:

Before installing a board, and also to remind others why a dock is no good, I'll tell a little story. A few years back a rigger came around 6 at maybe 70mph. Off the water it came and did it ever fly. This thing went further than any other airborne boat I have seen. It caught the wind just right and came down on the side rail of the Jon boat. Now, the boat could have easily been a board or dock. The next thing you know this boat breaks into pieces and comes hurling through the pit area that is 6 feet above the water level. So my point is to install nets or something that a boat cannot bounce or deflect off.

 

[bzubee]

We'll have netting also but the board is a last resort right in front of where we launch and at 12'' it should stop most boats right now. It would be about the same as any rasied launch area. i.e. Atlanta or SGRA sites.

 

[John Knight]

You've got it correct Preston!  That is how we have our site set up too!   Although we are talking about installing a 2X12 inch board on the front section of our launch area to stop wild boats from coming onto the launch area.  Of course we have used Chain link fence on the right side that extends out in the water to stop some boats from coming into the launch area but the 2X12 will stop boats coming head on into the launch area.  We are even looking at installing chain link fence the whole length of the right side of the course and maybe even the left side.  NO boats will get through that in one piece at least!

106867[/snapback]

​

THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AFTERALL! :lol:

Before installing a board, and also to remind others why a dock is no good, I'll tell a little story. A few years back a rigger came around 6 at maybe 70mph. Off the water it came and did it ever fly. This thing went further than any other airborne boat I have seen. It caught the wind just right and came down on the side rail of the Jon boat. Now, the boat could have easily been a board or dock. The next thing you know this boat breaks into pieces and comes hurling through the pit area that is 6 feet above the water level. So my point is to install nets or something that a boat cannot bounce or deflect off.

106871[/snapback]

​

Preston,

That boat you mentioned landed within 3 feet of my son standing in the pit area over 25' away from the retrieve boat. I cannot remember who it belonged to but think it is Mark H. His 60 rigger just got loose on the front straights veered left into the jon boat and came ashore in many pieces. We were thankful that we were not hit and Mark was almost beside himself. It happened late afternoon on Friday's open water and it spoiled his weekend for sure. I see more accidents and near misses during open water days because it is a zoo out there. CONTROLLED open water by a CD should be mandatory for all races. One of my district clubs quits controlled open water at a certain hour and let's all continue to run unabated until dark. A MAJOR accident will happen at some time and then the club will have to answer for it.

Just a reminder that no one should be in the water or near it unless it is absolutely necessary. And I cannot see any reason that a person NEEDS to be in the water while a boat is running. Check the safe boating operating procedures on that point. A 12" tall net would not have caught that boat. A 2' tall one may have. We use a 2.5' one at our lake and a taller one would even be better but then you are getting into some serious money for a local club.

IMPBA has a great opportunity in just a few weeks to lasso in the clubs that do not adhere to the published safety rules. We have enough rules but very lax enforcement at the club level in my opinion. Going overboard with restrictions will drive racers and clubs away and will be another nail in the boating coffin. Common sense please.

 

[Preston_Hall]

And there is a witness to why a net is neded.

I was thinking of a net 6 feet tall.

 

[bzubee]

No matter what rules we implement we will always have boats surpassing what we set as goals. The idea is to learn from past mistakes and try to limit that type of accident happening again. Setting common sense rules for netting is a goal that is easy but setting rules clubs can accomplish fairly easy and inexspensively is the hard part but Brian Nelson the IMPBA safety director is working on just that. One thing I would like to see is the netting removed from the water except in key areas. For the most part netting in the water was implemented to protect boats from hitting the shore not to protect boaters/spectators. The shore should also be used as a barrier in conjunction with a good quality netting system.

The goal is to protect people not the boats.

 

[Bob Nauss]

Why is it that every problem has to have a overpriced and over engineered answer.

6 foot high super safety nets running the length of the shore

Custom docks

NASCAR Crash barriers

How about being a bit more realistic here. Someone has to pay for, setup, and maintain all of this. And none of this stuff is free.

Steve got hurt because we are all to complacent at the pond and literally no one was watching his back.

With all the jawing about boats flying god knows how far on shore it amazes me that not one person has figured out the simplest and cheapest way yet to keep the spectators from getting hurt.

Back them up from the shore. $5 worth of police line tape and your done.

If you want to be safe in the pits then everyone needs to pay attention. Since the boat launcher is in a vulnerable position how about having a "Safety Spotter" stand near him and watch his blind side for him.

If you want to set up a high performance net put around the pits.

There was that so hard.

If after that you feel things are still unsafe then maybe you need to realize you take a bigger risk of getting hurt driving to and from the race the do being "at" the race.

I'm sure I just ticked off a bunch of people and that's fine. Safety is important and it's good that people finally are interested in it. But I think people need to be thinking of simple and realistic solutions.

 

[gene gager]

no way at club level can we afford to put up 6' fences at all the different ponds we run at. as Bob Nauss said "simple and realistic" police tape beach, and as I said, fast boats must be at a controlled throttle from right turn apex to just past the launch area until the beach is clear. Not saying this is the full cure we are looking for, but its simple and realistic for club level safer racing. geno

 

[Don Ferrette]

Why is it that every problem has to have a overpriced and over engineered answer.6 foot high super safety nets running the length of the shore

Custom docks

NASCAR Crash barriers

How about being a bit more realistic here.  Someone has to pay for, setup, and maintain all of this.  And none of this stuff is free. 

Steve got hurt because we are all to complacent at the pond and literally no one was watching his back.

With all the jawing about boats flying god knows how far on shore it amazes me that not one person has figured out the simplest and cheapest way yet to keep the spectators from getting hurt.

Back them up from the shore.  $5 worth of police line tape and your done.

106938[/snapback]

​

I got news for you the "$5 worth of police line tape" ain't worth s#!t!! I can't tell you how many times I've been to races that tried this stuff & watched people go right under/over it like it wasn't even there.

I you want to be safe in the pits then everyone needs to pay attention.  Since the boat launcher is in a vulnerable position how about having a "Safety Spotter" stand near him and watch his blind side for him.

106938[/snapback]

​

That's supposed to be happening anyway, it's called a PIT BOSS.

If you want to set up a high performance net put around the pits. 

106938[/snapback]

​

Seems that's what we've been talkin' about, a good netting to protect the pit area.

There was that so hard.

106938[/snapback]

​

Nobody is trying to make it hard, people are trying to make it SAFE.

If after that you feel things are still unsafe then maybe you need to realize you take a bigger risk of getting hurt driving to and from the race the do being "at" the race. I'm sure I just ticked off a bunch of people and that's fine.  Safety is important and it's good that people finally are interested in it.  But I think people need to be thinking of simple and realistic solutions.

106938[/snapback]

​

Simple & realistic solutions are fine as long as they solve the problem at hand.

And as for the "fast boats must be at a controlled throttle from right turn apex to just past the launch area until the beach is clear" statement the incident Preston referred to happened with NOBODY EVEN CLOSE to the launch area, everyone was up the hill 6 feet above the water. Also, what do you propose to do once the race starts?? Someone starts telling me to slow down during a race & I'm going to tell them where they can put it.

These fishing nets being talked about are not that expensive & they do work. It's seems more like people are being lazy. <_<

 

[Bob Nauss]

Police line tape is like any other type of barrier. It needs to be maintained. If someone crosses the line then ya put them back on the right side of it.

This is not that difficult.

 

[Preston_Hall]

Some peeps are being a little thick here. I feel so sorry for the people who try to do anything in the IMPBA.

NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT A 6' FENCE THE LENGTH OF A SHORELINE! IT'S A NETTED LAUNCH AREA! 15' MAX! GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!

"Controled speed", yup that's a good one. Anybody volunteer for a 20mph hit from a boat?

Keep fussing about cost and hassle. It just proves that you don't know what you are talking about. :angry:

We have set 600+ feet of net at SAWs for years now. It takes maybe 30 minutes.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Police line tape is like any other type of barrier.  It needs to be maintained.  If someone crosses the line then ya put them back on the right side of it.
This is not that difficult.

106962[/snapback]

​

That's a load of BS. You talk about how people can't even watch the pits & now you want them to "police" the police tape??? Gimme a break!! <_<

 

[Grimracer]

Steve got hurt because we are all to complacent at the pond and literally no one was watching his back.

106938[/snapback]

​

Bob.. is this true.. Were you there?

Grim

 

[Bob Nauss]

Grim,

No I was not there. I talked with quite a few people who were there and saw what happened. The thought of it is just plain scary.

The complacently in the pits I think is something we are all guilty of. I know I am. Just about every race I have gone to is the same. We all stand around waiting for or getting ready for our next heat. The pit boss is dealing with 20 things at once. Its not that people don't care, it's just that we are doing something we love with our friends and we are enjoying the day. It's just like we always have done it. I'm not saying it's safe. It's just the way we have been.

So we need to start covering each others back every race, every heat. It's not complicated, it cost nothing, and it's not perfect. But it will work most of the time. There is no perfect.

I honestly think the special fencing at the pits will help some. But it's not a cure. A good 4 foot fence will stop most boats most of the time. But I went to Preston's web site last night and I have to say that some of his boats will clear just about any fence we can put up.

So that puts us back as actively watching each out for each other.

And Yep keeping spectators back from the shore will be a pain sometimes, but we need to start doing it.

And anyone who says we don't have enough people to do it is incorrect. Gary Girvin us to tell me that at races in the "Old days" the club putting on the race weren't the only people helping out. The people from out of town use to help too. If everyone helps out with this stuff at a race it helps all of us.

 

[Grimracer]

Grim,
No I was not there.  I talked with quite a few people who were there and saw what happened.  The thought of it is just plain scary.

The complacently in the pits I think is something we are all guilty of.  I know I am.  Just about every race I have gone to is the same. We all stand around waiting for or getting ready for our next heat.  The pit boss is dealing with 20 things at once.  Its not that people don't care, it's just that we are doing something we love with our friends and we are enjoying the day.  It's just like we always have done it.  I'm not saying it's safe.  It's just the way we have been.

So we need to start covering each others back every race, every heat.  It's not complicated, it cost nothing, and it's not perfect.  But it will work most of the time.  There is no perfect.

I honestly think the special fencing at the pits will help some.  But it's not a cure.  A good 4 foot fence will stop most boats most of the time.  But I went to Preston's web site last night and I have to say that some of his boats will clear just about any fence we can put up.

So that puts us back as actively watching each out for each other.

And Yep keeping spectators back from the shore will be a pain sometimes, but we need to start doing it.

And anyone who says we don't have enough people to do it is incorrect.  Gary Girvin us to tell me that at races in the "Old days" the club putting on the race weren't the only people helping out.  The people from out of town use to help too.  If everyone helps out with this stuff at a race it helps all of us.

106997[/snapback]

​

Thanks for the info bob.. good stuff too..

grim

 

[Bob Nauss]

A couple of last thoughts.

If there is a setup for the pits that people like, then it's going need to be tested. I'm not saying that as a negative. I would see that as part of the process.

And I may be a "Thick Peep" and if you consider people who have a different opinion "Thick" that is your right to think that. I see it as the part of the process where everyone speaks there piece and at the end of the day hopefully some sort of plan comes out that addresses the issue.

I think this can be done with not much cost and minimal amount of extra effort by the people setting up the races. To me that would make a plan that people will buy into.

 

[Don Ferrette]

And I may be a "Thick Peep" and if you consider people who have a different opinion "Thick" that is your right to think that.  I see it as the part of the process where everyone speaks there piece and at the end of the day hopefully some sort of plan comes out that addresses the issue. 

107000[/snapback]

​

Being "thick" has nothing to do with it, being realistic does.

Once you've been to a couple different race sites, watch people completely ignore the "police tape", seen that orange fencing have a 50mph boat go through it like it wasn't there & then witness the fishing net set up bring a 100mph record trials boat to a complete stop with basically no damage you might understand where some of us are coming from.

 

[gene gager]

lets see some pictures or drawings of how to construct a fence that moves from site to site even in bank drop off situations. monkey see monkey do. but intill I see a fence at our "problem ponds" the fast boats will back off the throttle while people are on the beach. 80 90mph riggers 20 feet off the beach where they launch boats won't happen again on my watch. excuse me but this is my first year of CD'ing really fast boats and can see it's a learning curve, but did see a real problem so going to fix it my way unless someone does somthing better, then I will run with that. whats wrong with backing off the throttle on the frount stright until the beach is clear with the fast boats? , Mike Bontoft (85mph) gas rigger said he plans on doing it just for peace of mind, until the beach is clear of people. and again at the 30 second mark anybody still on the beach must leave now. remember I am talking about problem ponds, we have some ponds that don't need anything to be safe. new subject for me, we all need pictures, advise, new ideas, fence construction drawings, etc. we have this thing called a computer to bring good ideas from one division to the next, lets use it friendly and wisely to come up with some really good, easy set up, low cost , fenceing, etc. geno