Seat belts?

[ricky_s]

Was thinking this morning, why are seatbelts not fitted on motor boats?

It would seem one of the greatest risks on fast boats is getting thrown forward or out of the boat if you hit something or even catch something round the prop.

 

[Poignard]

Does it happen often? Unless it does (or is likely to) there's no point in imposing yet more rules and regulations on this over-legislated country.

 

[fireball]

It doesn't need to be legislated to fit/use them does it?

Don't some of the racing mobos use seat harnesses ... ?

 

[ricky_s]

Does it happen often? Unless it does (or is likely to) there's no point in imposing yet more rules and regulations on this over-legislated country.

I wasn't saying they should be compulsory, though I think I would make the kids wear them if my boat had them.

Not sure how often it happens, but a quick google found some examples, here is one http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8075201.stm

 

[rafiki_]

You would not want inertia reel belts as these will probably tighten with the motion of the boat. Fixed belts can be really painfull unless you have a properly fitted racing seat, moulded to your own contours.

if you have very young children, what is to stop you using your child seat from your car?

 

[[2068]]

I'm not sure they would help much.

On a typical RIB, a lap belt would just mean that rather than being catapulted into the water, your lower body would remain secured to the boat, and your upper unrestrained body would be free to move and cause spinal injuries.

On offshore racing boats, they do use seat belts with quick release buckles, but that's with seats that support all of the body, with multiple attachment points for the belts.

 

[Nick_H]

Was thinking this morning, why are seatbelts not fitted on motor boats?

Because with cars the major risk of serious injury is from crashing into something. With boats you're far more likely to be injured by fire or drowning, so boats are fitted with auto extuinguishers, and people wear lifejackets.

 

[Searush]

I would also think that most MoBos would hold on very tight & slow down in the sort of conditions where one was likely to be thrown violently around. If one is deliberately going fast in rough conditions it is probably a short-term thrill seeking situation & no belts makes it more fun.

The concept of kill-cords suggests that ejaculation (or should that be ejection?) is a common problem. And racing boats do have full harnesses & form fitting seats.

 

[rbcoomer]

Not for me...

I think the answers are above! Unless traveling at very high speeds, the risks in a boat are very different to a car. Apart from hitting another vessel or something like a breakwater/rocks etc, the biggest risks are drowning or being trapped in an upturned hull and both would increase significantly by adding a restraint. For racing the risks are very different and the possibility of a boat being smashed to bits having left the water are increased - thus the survival cell, restraints etc.

Many would argue that it's not so clear cut even in cars and that they should be discretionary! A guy I worked with many years ago lost his brother in a car accident 'because' of a seat-belt (in very traumatic circumstances). They had a high speed accident (drink related I think) and the car was smashed beyond recognition - he and another lad were thrown clear of the wreckage but his brother was burnt alive. The brother was the only one wearing a belt and the inquiry found the belt clasp was crushed under the seat which had been pushed sideways and that he had little/no chance of freeing himself. The other two were battered and spent a long spell in hospital (one with life changing injury), but alive. Unfortunately for the guy I worked with, he was conscious throughout and I don't think he's ever escaped the event.

That's probably the exception to the rule however and on balance seat-belts in cars probably save more lives than not, but I'm not sure that would be the same on the water?

In all probability in the event of an accident, kids are almost certainly safer clear of any wreckage - provided they are wearing a well fitting, 'self-righting' life-jacket. The only exception to this would be if the boat was still upright, running and unattended - thus the importance of using a kill-cord!

All IMHO of course...

 

[Marinerman]

Nope!

Having traveled for many hours in Ribs, a seat belt would be suicide.

For me being in a small boat is a cross between rock climbing and scrambling- Keep your body relaxed and hang on.

 

[Scubadoo]

Many would argue that it's not so clear cut even in cars and that they should be discretionary! A guy I worked with many years ago lost his brother in a car accident 'because' of a seat-belt (in very traumatic circumstances). They had a high speed accident (drink related I think) and the car was smashed beyond recognition - he and another lad were thrown clear of the wreckage but his brother was burnt alive. The brother was the only one wearing a belt and the inquiry found the belt clasp was crushed under the seat which had been pushed sideways and that he had little/no chance of freeing himself. The other two were battered and spent a long spell in hospital (one with life changing injury), but alive. Unfortunately for the guy I worked with, he was conscious throughout and I don't think he's ever escaped the event.

That's probably the exception to the rule however and on balance seat-belts in cars probably save more lives than not, but I'm not sure that would be the same on the water?

All IMHO of course...

And that is one of the reasons why I carry a seat belt cutting knife in my car for the fear of being trapped in the car by the belt.

I don't think belts would work very well at all, do more harm than good. In fast boats you tend to move your body with the boat.

 

[Bajansailor]

The RNLI fast afloat boats used to have seat belts on the seat in the wheelhouse - I wonder if they still do?
About 20 years ago I went out on sea trials once on FAB 3, which was the prototype for the Severn class - the coxswain had basically been told to flog it as hard as possible, and we had a classic SW 7 blowing - so we punched into it at 25 knots.
And we definitely needed to have seat belts on, as without them we would have been hitting the roof when she fell off the waves.....
And this was in spite of having the most amazing shock absorbers / damping on the Bostrom seats.

Bostrom do not mention a marine type of seat here on their website http://www.bostromseating.com/products.htm so maybe the lifeboat seats were custom built for the RNLI.

 

[Volignyt]

I have bought a 1982 vw bus and the seat belts are missing on the middle bench seat and I don't know what type they were, over the shoulder or round the waist if you know tell me where the seat belt attaches to.