Netted launch area

[Preston_Hall]

We can work out the details later.

 

[Brian_Nelsen]

We can work out the details later.

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I would like to be directly involved in the details on this.

Brian

 

[Preston_Hall]

It seems the Internats would be the place to start and it sounds as though you would be a good point man. I only wanted to present a netting method proven to work while being concious of costs and maintenance.

 

[Brian_Nelsen]

Ya I can be the point man on this. Just need to see what would be best. Maybe a best practices display type thing. Ig you could bring a sample of the neeting you use thats good. I would love to get pictures of what the clubs are doing. I would be willing to work up a display and maybe a presentation as to what we see working and what does not.

Club Presidents:

Can you please take pictures of your ponds netting? I would love to see things like water depth at the end of the net. Height above the net. While you at it how about pictures of the pit lay out you use.

This could be very usefull to all the clubs. I will put the information I recieve together into a presentation and send it via e-mail to the clubs for there use and review.

just a thought.

Brian

 

[Preston_Hall]

And what possible reason could there be not to want a net? It wouldn't effect anything that happens now except you probably wouldn't have to worry about being maimed.

 

[Mike Menter]

Preston,

Im all for it. I guess you can never have enough safety devices to help protect against injury's! The more safety features,the less likely a mishap would occur.

Mike

 

[Eric Bourlet]

And what possible reason could there be not to want a net? It wouldn't effect anything that happens now except you probably wouldn't have to worry about being maimed.

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Well the best one I can think of is a false sense of safety. I seriously doubt you will find a net that will stop any of the big hydros or for that mater most of the boats we race. Most likely it will just cause the boat to change course slightly or even cause it to become airborne. We need to keep the launch areas clear of people and make the people that are launching boats PAY ATTENTION ! If you get hit by a boat while you are launcing you were not paying attention to the boats like you should. I am shocked at how many "experienced racers" I have seen that fail to pay close attention to the boats on the water when they are launching boats. I have seen many clubs use that orange fencing that is common around construction sites and I know that stuff would no way stop a boat. If you put up a net that is anything less than cyclone fencing you're just going to have more people being more complacent about paying attention.

 

[Joe_Knesek]

And what possible reason could there be not to want a net? It wouldn't effect anything that happens now except you probably wouldn't have to worry about being maimed.

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Well the best one I can think of is a false sense of safety. I seriously doubt you will find a net that will stop any of the big hydros or for that mater most of the boats we race. Most likely it will just cause the boat to change course slightly or even cause it to become airborne. We need to keep the launch areas clear of people and make the people that are launching boats PAY ATTENTION ! If you get hit by a boat while you are launcing you were not paying attention to the boats like you should. I am shocked at how many "experienced racers" I have seen that fail to pay close attention to the boats on the water when they are launching boats. I have seen many clubs use that orange fencing that is common around construction sites and I know that stuff would no way stop a boat. If you put up a net that is anything less than cyclone fencing you're just going to have more people being more complacent about paying attention.

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Eric, I'd disagree with you on this one. The net Preston is talking about will stop a twin rigger in it's tracks I've seen it happen in New Iberia La. For that matter, I've seen a 25 foot 5000 pound fishing boat stop in it's tracks when it smagged a pipeline while trawling. If you set it up loose and have part of it under water, it works like a catcher's mit. Think about it, if a net can be dragged miles with thousands of poundsshrimp in it, it will surely stop a 20 pound boat. The beast part is that it usually doesn't even damage the boat.

 

[Keebibear]

We have one of those stupid orange construction fences in the water at our pond and I personally think it was a waste of time.It wont stop a large scale hull beit gas or large rigger or even those little missle hydros and I am more concerned about the guys that have to drive around it and steer straight for the dock than before the net.I have been on the target end of not one but 2 different flying boats during launch and pitting and neither would the fence have stopped.Keep your eyes open and use your judgement.Just my opinion.

 

[David Homer]

I'm trying to envision how such an arragement would work out... Everyone knows the safest way to bring in a live boat is parallel to the shore. Would setting up these nets interfere with that, forcing us to adopt a less-safe method of bringing in live boats? I also thought part of the solution was to keep people out of the water.... picking boats out of that net constantly wouldn't help that...

 

[Joe_Knesek]

I'm trying to envision how such an arragement would work out...  Everyone knows the safest way to bring in a live boat is parallel to the shore.  Would setting up these nets interfere with that, forcing us to adopt a less-safe method of bringing in live boats?  I also thought part of the solution was to keep people out of the water.... picking boats out of that net constantly wouldn't help that...

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If the pond could be shaped in a way that would allow launching from the left of the pits like this I think the problem would be solved. You would be able to bring the boat in along the bank and the pit would be 99% protected. Unfortunately, it's not practical.

 

[Preston_Hall]

Well the best one I can think of is a false sense of safety.

Is that better than no safety?

make the people that are launching boats PAY ATTENTION !

So an individuals reaction time is faster than a 50 mph boat?

Everyone knows the safest way to bring in a live boat is parallel to the shore. Would setting up these nets interfere with that,

You are correct. And no, the net would only be required to extend past a dock or boat 2-3 feet. No big deal.

I also thought part of the solution was to keep people out of the water

Being in the water is a mute point as I have seen boats hit the dock and retrieve boat and go places that are out of the water. Do you really think a 6 foot tall shore line is 100% safe? Don't kid yourself.

We have one of those stupid orange construction fences in the water at our pond and I personally think it was a waste of time

It's better than nothing but not the best.

From some of the comments I can see people are voting without a full understanding of what is being discussed. You should go back and read the many posts about these nets.

ODMBA will be hosting a race at the end of August. We WILL have a netted launch area. Pictures will be posted and hopefully this will help lead the way through the darkness.

 

[Ron Olson]

The problem dosn't lie on boats returning to shore but those that have lost control for whatever reason.

Dave, remember that little incident years ago at the Grand Rapids Wave Runners race? The one where that OOC 'rigger almost got you? It came up I think right where the retrieve boats were docked or the pit area.

I can see where a launching dock would help, either above the water or on floatation such as foam blocks.

 

[shoboat]

Boaters,

Good netting and a watchful Pit Boss is the key to safe and successful

launching at any race. And Ron I remember a 21 Hydro going though the

crowd in G.R., it never hit anyone,but it was close to quite a few people.

The tree divot was at the Marshall, MI race at the Elks club way back in time.

Dan's 67 Piranha hit a tree and it was incredible the damage on that tree.

A lumberjack would of been lucky to do that much damage with quite a few

swings of an ax. I will never forget the damage on that tree,and Dan's boat

never ran the same again.

Be Safe,Not Sorry,

Mark Sholund

 

[Ron Jefferson]

Ron O: "The problem dosn't lie on boats returning to shore" is a crock. I once seen a boat 15ft from shore have the throttle break and suck wide open. Luckely the boat hit the dock square and missed the 4 guys standing around because the boat was destroyed. The problem with safety measures is there usually has to be an accident before people look hard enough into them. Then, once there are procedures in place it usually takes other mishaps to refine the origional rules. Bottom line... There isn't enough safety at any of our lakes to stop all accidents. And that's a fact!

Inactive RJ

 

[gene gager]

Joe Knesek, that is a great race coarse drawing you laid out and would be practical on some ponds. In div. 8 we have a couple of ponds we use that are a real problem when you fire up the open/open 70 to 90 mph 15lb. heat boats. what I am going to do as "race director" (we all know that what the race director says is law ) the next time at our problem ponds is demand that the open/open boats control their speed on the "front stright" until the beach is clear, and at the 30 second, demand all people leave unstarted boats and clear the beach. nascar does it and so do indy cars. we are no different, if it don't look safe , "FIX IT" better safe than sorry. :blink: geno

 

[DON MAHER]

Guys,

All of the ideas & sugestions are great and should be implememted into every race. The only problem I see is TESTING, too often safety is totaly over looked.

In my 30+ yrs of boating most of the accidents i have seen or heard of have been during testing.

Unless you have 24-7 security at your pond, leaving safety nets or anything else unattened could be very costly. Hope someone has some ideas along these lines. I know putting netting in place & removing every time you want to test ,would not get done 100% of the time. IDEAS??? <_<

Don

 

[Glenn 787]

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. The people in the pits and the race CD need to pay attention to the boats on the water. Seems the only fool proof method would be to clear the pit area. Not likely to happen in our district.

We do have one lake in our district shaped like Joe K's diagram....works very well.

 

[Preston_Hall]

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.

 

[Glenn 787]

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.

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I was keeping it simple parallel as opposed to vertical.....next time I'll try to describe the optimum angle you should approach the pits.

The lakes we race at the pit and launch areas share the same space and installing a net even just 3 ft out would be more of an obstacle than anything. One because of the steep drop we'd have to throw the boats that 3 ft.