One boating mistake that people make, which can lead to serious accidents, is they forget that boats do not have brakes. You cannot drive a boat the way you would drive a car. If you do, you may find yourself in a position where you suddenly can’t stop or avoid an accident.
For example, an inexperienced boater may come into the harbor at a high rate of speed. As they near the dock, they cut the throttle to slow down, but then they suddenly realize they can’t hit the brakes like they would if they were pulling their car into a parking spot. The boat needs a substantial distance to slow down on its own. If it’s already too close to the dock and not dropping speed fast enough, the collision becomes inevitable.
What should boaters do instead?
The best thing to do is to reduce throttle and slow down in advance. When you do this, the back of the boat sinks lower in the water and the front end rises up. This creates substantial friction and the weight of the water pushes against the bow. The boat then slows down and can be brought into the dock slowly and carefully.
In some cases, the person operating the boat may also be able to put it in reverse. This can certainly work, but it’s the type of maneuver that usually has to be planned in advance. Once the boat is already approaching the dock, there may not be time to shift gears.
Unfortunately, these types of mistakes do lead to accidents where boats strike docks, other watercraft, swimmers or even the shoreline itself. This often happens when people have little experience, such as when a tourist rents a boat for the weekend. They may be unfamiliar with the process, and they will instinctively drive the vehicle like a car.
If you have suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.