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May 2002
A propeller strike is among the most gruesome of injuries. Rotating at hundreds and thousands of revolutions
per minute, a boat propeller slices and gouges through the human body - leaving disfigurement, amputation
and death.
In the late 1970s, outboard motor manufacturers introduced an emergency stop switch as a feature of their
product line. The "kill switch" as it is commonly known is tethered by a short lanyard to the boat
operator and effectively shuts down the engine when the operator is thrown or moves away from the helm. Most
outboard motors sold today contain this feature.
Propeller guards or shrouds have been proposed for use on boats that move at displacement (normally below
20 mph) speeds. At higher planning speeds, the current generation of propeller guards reduce propulsive
efficiency and fuel economy, adversely impact boat handling quality, and substitute blunt force trauma
for cutting and gouging trauma. Outboard motor manufacturers provide propeller guards as options for slow
speed applications but are concerned about resale that results in a high speed misuse.
Within the past decade, boats driven by water jets have entered the market place. The jet boat, which does
not use an exposed propeller, is new technology and issues of cost, reliability and handling quality exist.
A victim's rights organization, Stop Propeller Injuries Now (S.P.I.N.), has done extensive lobbying of the
Coast Guard and Boating Industry to create regulations associated with propeller strikes. It appears that
S.P.I.N has achieved an initial success as the Coast Guard is considering propeller strike regulations for
rental houseboats.
About Dr. Robert A. Warren has earned the nationwide reputation as an expert in the
legal arena. Since starting his own accident reconstruction business in 1968, he has been involved in more
than 200 ship and boat accident investigations and testified extensively at depositions and trials.
Dr. Warren has designed ships, conducted ship trials and tests, and worked on a wide variety of aviation,
advanced weaponry, robotics, and biotechnology endeavors for commercial and governmental entities.
Dr. Warren can be reached at 757-564-9333 or
raw1@aol.com.
See his Listing on Experts.com.
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DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION BY AUTHOR.
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