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