Click for Glendinning Click for YF Listing Service Click for Westport Click for Burger Click for Ocean Alexander

Large center console crashes on port Everglades jetty

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Capt J, Jan 1, 2020.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Messages:
    969
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay
    Not unusual when there's high $$ peoples involved. I'm sure -private 24/7 on retainer- counsel was on the scene very quickly to do damage control if needed, and/or to gather evidence for the law suits. They tend to muzzle the information flow, or at least try, so those releasing the information are careful.
  2. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2017
    Messages:
    1,149
    Location:
    Florida
    Cameras everywhere, maybe they can get a video to see the collision. Read the USCG is investigating whether the jetty was properly marked/lighted. Had red lights over the flybridge console on our last SF. They did not blind you at night.
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,546
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Red lights are ok and don’t affect night vision as much as others but they still do. I have two of them above the helm on the Lazzara 84 I run and I see better when they re off

    another issue is how more and more center consoles have a glass windshield in front of the helm which makes it more difficult to see at night.
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,530
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The glass windshield is a double edged sword. If the console is very dim it doesn't effect night vision any worse than plexi or strataglass. During the day with spray or rain, it does a much better job with visibility, also as well as keeping the wind out of your eyes when running or in windy conditions day or night.
  5. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,546
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    They re great but unless all the lights on the hard top and behind are off, the glare is terrible.

    and unfortunately the average boater doesn’t get it. The more lights the cooler they are
  6. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Messages:
    969
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay
    When you're standing behind a wheel at night you KNOW whether you're seeing or not. And if you're not, driving on, especially at high speed is lunacy. I have many, many hours at the helm at hull speed at night and especially on dark waters ANYTHING glassy/plexy between my eyes and the world greatly reduces perception and ANY lights on electronics do the same thing. I cover most of them up with a cloth unless I need to take a peek. I've also put computer screen glare cutters on chart plotters to reduce the amount of light coming off as LOW isn't ever low enough. Approaching a lit coast it's even worse. While you may be able to easily make out the coast line and lights, anything, or anyone, in or on the water between you and the coast are even harder to spot. I've had to flash other vessels with a search light at night because I KNEW they weren't seeing a thing, myself included. Flying my airplane at night the cockpit goes as dark as it will go on approach.

    Navigating at night requires as much darkness as you can manage.
  7. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,546
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    A few years ago I almost got hit head on by some guy in a Sundancer in my marina channel. I saw him coming and moved as much to the edge as I could but ran out of space. 5 blasts didn’t make a difference and he passed about 6’ off my port side.

    at that point I noticed he had a bunch of lights on around the helm, open cabin door, white lights on the arch. Blind as a bat.

    Sea ray vs Old Hatt... I probably wouldn’t have felt it :)
  8. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Messages:
    969
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay
    No but it would have left a lot of trash floating in the water......
  9. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,011
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    We had a similar accident which happened on the same day in the Red Sea just before sun set. The skipper was too fast in an area with a lot of uncharted reefs. He was blinded by the glare of the setting sun and probably not looking at the chart plotter. The accident could have been easily avoided if he took a regular and slightly longer route clear from any reefs and was cruising at a speed adequate to the prevailing light conditions. Over confidence and not adhering to basic rules and regulations led to the accident. No one was hurt but the yacht was seriously damaged.

    IMG-20191228-WA0034.jpg
    IMG-20191228-WA0036.jpg
  10. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    Any update on the facts?
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,439
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Facts?
    Yep, More SFBs on the other side of the world.
    I wonder about the first pic? Need another fender?????

    Or more; Lets open the transom door and look cool...
  12. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    Sorry I wasn't clear. I was asking about that center console? There was some early indication that there was no serious alcohol involved - just wondering whether all the lighting is now the leading culprit?

    BTW, why would that door be raised on that express. What's in there? Is that access to the bilge area?
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,439
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I assume that is bilge and engine room. What a faster way to help your boat sink??:eek::eek::eek::eek:
  14. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,439
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    The lighting issue is a red hearing IMO. It still goes back to proper operation of the ship. SFBs on this side of the world.
    It will be a while (if ever) we hear about this again or who was (NOT) drunk..
  15. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,011
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    The transom door gives access to the crew cabin. I saw the yacht when it was hauled out of the water. The complete port transmission was pulled out of the hull. It broke off the engine and broke through the hull.
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,439
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Ah, The mother in law cabin.
    Near sank one of my boats also.

    Was the fender (pic 1) meant to be the in laws PFD?
    I offered my in law a long lead (to the anchor).
  17. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    Maybe he/she figures the rocks (?) will hold him up, and if he just wait for ebb tide the water will run out.
    Do you know what's under the water? A bar, rock, wreck? Is it well charted? I was teasing before, but "perched " like it is, maybe the damage to that boat is at or below the water line, except for the transom area. Bad for the insurance claim, since the insurance company could claim it's not a total loss
  18. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,011
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    The boat is sitting on a reef. It is the reef which kept it from sinking. The boat should not have been in that area in the first place. It is a well-known dangerous area with a number of uncharted reefs. Some local skippers still take the risk thinking it is a short cut back to the marina. The damage to the boat is at the port stern tube. The port transmission was pulled out of the hull creating a 15 inch hole where once was the stern tube.
  19. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    WOW the whole tranny came out - that had to be a lot of reverse G's while he was busting along. Is he a local guy who should have known better?
  20. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,011
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    He's a local guy and certainly knows the area. We all know it. It is overconfidence and stupidity which led to the accident. The skipper took an unnecessary risk.