| Unfortunately, boating novices usually | | | | when the lawsuits start flying, if the |
| aren't aware of the dangers that a boat | | | | surveyor has had any involvement with |
| designed like an automobile or a space | | | | the vessel (like doing a survey on it), |
| ship can present to themselves and their | | | | he is very likely to be named in the |
| passengers. This is a perfect example | | | | suit. The lawyer is likely to say, "Mr. |
| of what I call an entry level boat | | | | Surveyor had an obligation to warn his |
| because the designers prey on the | | | | client of the inherent danger of these |
| potential buyer's ignorance, whereas | | | | curved, slippery decks." I do not like |
| more experienced owners begin to | | | | to see this sort of thing for the |
| understand why boats should have flat, | | | | completely selfish reason that it puts |
| not round decks. | | | | me at risk as well as the passengers. |
| It is what I call a bubble boat, the | | | | But that is not the ONLY reason. Another |
| name borrowed from the reference of | | | | reason is depicted in the other two |
| today's automobile styling frequently | | | | photos. One is a 30' Chris Craft with a |
| referred to as bubble cars. It is indeed | | | | similar bubble deck which caused me to |
| unfortunate that some in the marine | | | | fall in such a way that it could have |
| industry saw fit to borrow this styling | | | | cost me my life. Trying to get to the |
| from the automotive industry for one | | | | bow, I slipped on the curved deck, but |
| very important reason. We don't try to | | | | what happened next still gives me goose |
| stand up on the outside of bubble cars, | | | | bumps. As I slipped, one of my legs went |
| but on boats you do have to stand up on | | | | under the railing while I fell over |
| the decks. And if those decks are round | | | | backwards, off the boat. My leg was |
| and slippery . . . well, the potential | | | | levered between the railing and the rub |
| end result should be pretty obvious, | | | | rail and why this didn't break my leg, |
| should it not? | | | | I'll never know, because it should have. |
| Are you beginning to see what's wrong | | | | To make matters worse, the boat was on |
| with this design? Can you imagine what | | | | land with a nice twelve foot drop to the |
| would happen, say, if you're trying to | | | | ground. But my leg being wedged between |
| dock in a tight slip and suddenly the | | | | rail and gunwale prevented me from |
| boat is not going where you want it to | | | | falling to the ground. Miraculously not |
| and you tell your wife or daughter to | | | | seriously injured, I was able to pull |
| run up on the bow deck and try to fend | | | | myself back up. |
| off? To try to negotiate the 4" wide, | | | | While I'm not the sort of person who |
| curved side decks is next to impossible. | | | | looks to the courts to right any wrongs |
| True, the builder did give you a nice | | | | against me, had I been seriously injured |
| hand rail . . . . located down around | | | | I wouldn't have hesitated to seek out |
| your knees (the one below the windshield | | | | the most viscous bulldog personal injury |
| wings). But even if one did manage to | | | | lawyer I could find, and several of the |
| get so far as the bow railing, you are | | | | all-time greats live right here in my |
| then faced with the prospect of | | | | home town. |
| negotiating the rounded foredeck. One | | | | While I have always been a critic of |
| wrong step and its . . . . oops . . . | | | | poor design, mainly because bad design |
| possibly one very nasty fall. | | | | is dangerous, this incident really |
| Hopefully, the victim won't get tangled | | | | brought the issue crashing home to me. |
| up with the propeller as the boat runs | | | | Remember that I spend my life on boats, |
| over him. | | | | was nearly born on one, and am extremely |
| Of course a safer way would be to go | | | | safety conscious; I have to be to avoid |
| through the cabin and up through the bow | | | | being frequently injured. Well aware of |
| hatch. But given that it's an emergency | | | | the danger of the deck of this boat at |
| where time is of the essence, by the | | | | the time, and doing my best to NOT slip |
| time someone got up there, your bow | | | | and fall (realizing that this was |
| pulpit is probably stuck through the | | | | possible) it happened anyway because |
| side of another boat. And even when they | | | | there was no place to stand except on |
| do get up there, the poor soul is still | | | | the curved deck. |
| faced with the prospect of having no | | | | So whether you're and old salt or a |
| place to stand except on the rounded | | | | novice, look a little closer before you |
| deck. What is your crew going to have to | | | | become smitten with that rocketship |
| stand on while having to fend off coming | | | | styling. A boat is not a spacecraft or |
| in contact with another vessel? Well, | | | | an automobile, but a platform that |
| there's nothing there but an 18" | | | | should carry you safely on the water, |
| triangle of horizontal space. Try | | | | water that more often than not is rough |
| standing on a 18" triangle anywhere, yet | | | | rather than calm. The designers are |
| alone on a moving boat. | | | | selling you gorgeous interior space, but |
| True, maybe emergencies won't happen | | | | a boat is not a floating cocktail |
| very often, but what about normal | | | | lounge. Think through the functions that |
| docking requirements? Obviously, it is | | | | not only yourself, but your family |
| completely unsafe to send someone up to | | | | members or friends will have to perform |
| the bow to handle the docklines, as | | | | like fending off, docking and anchoring. |
| boaters are wont to do. Apparently the | | | | Or what if your child just wanted to go |
| crew is just supposed to stand in the | | | | up there for the ride, sat down on the |
| cockpit and hope for the best. But what | | | | bubble and slipped quietly overboard, |
| about anchoring? How would you like to | | | | unnoticed? |
| go up there when the water is not | | | | The bulldog lawyers can't restore a loss |
| exactly calm? | | | | of life or crippled limbs. And unless we |
| This is just one of the important | | | | want the government designing our boats |
| considerations first-time boat buyers | | | | for us - like they do with our cars and |
| need to be aware of. Its the question of | | | | homes - it is we, the public that needs |
| racy styling versus safety and | | | | to force the industry into sensible |
| practicality. The principle of law is | | | | choices. The best way to prevent this |
| that a boat is not seaworthy if the | | | | kind of foolishness is to be aware of |
| vessel is not safe, and whether the | | | | the danger and simply not buy these |
| design of this one is safe is surely | | | | dangerous products. Designers design |
| open to debate. As one who is frequently | | | | them that way because they know that's |
| involved with litigation, I have no | | | | what you want. They know its not good |
| trouble coming to my own conclusions | | | | for you, but they do it because that's |
| about that: Its just plain dangerous. | | | | what sells. And if you don't buy into |
| Why would a marine surveyor care if you | | | | it, believe me, those folks will change |
| or one of your family members fall and | | | | their ways faster than they'd change |
| break your leg or neck? For one thing, | | | | their shoes after stepping in . . . . |