Bad bass boat accident. :-(

[Redlinerobert]

A friend's uncle fishes tourneys with these guys. I hope they recover well.

http://www.susquehanna5.com/fullstory.php?97463

[Glenn]

Here's the latest info I have from Dave Kilby, U.S. Angler's Choice Region 4 VP.

While competing in the Chesapeake Fall Pro Teams tournament on the Chesapeake Bay this past Sunday Walt Ross and Willie Barrett apparently hit an underwater obstruction shortly before weigh-in. The boat stopped immediately and the hydraulic jackplate separated causing the 225 E-Tech to recoil back into the cockpit hitting both anglers. The impact sent the Ranger into a 360 degree spin and ejected Willie while the motor crushed Walt against the driver's console.

Despite his injuries, Walt had the presence of mind to grab onto Willie and somehow locate his cell phone to call 911. He held Willie to the boat while rescue boats responded immediately. Willie sustained numerous severe lacerations to his hand, arm, and leg as well as hypothermia due to his 20 minutes in the water. He was put into a drug-induced coma and flown to ShockTrauma in Baltimore. As of Tuesday he has had surgery on his arm which included the insertion of plates and screws. He also had his hand reconstructed on Monday. As of this memo the severity of his leg injury is the main concern. At this point doctors have been unable to stop the bleeding and are considering all options. As far as we know he is still in a drug-induced coma.

Walt, the driver has a fractured sternum, fractured clavicle, broken ribs and cuts and bruises as you would expect. He remains in intensive care at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, also in Baltimore. In addition to his pain and serious injuries he is guilt-ridden regarding the condition of Willie, his best friend and longtime tournament partner.

Walt Ross and Willie Barrett will obviously out of work for a long while. In addition their spouses have been and will remain at the hospitals with their guys eliminating their household income.

In response to the literally hundreds of requests nationally we are setting up a “Help Fund” for Walt, Willie and their families. As we approach the holidays it means even more to have the opportunity to help out fellow Angler's Choice family members at this time.

If you wish to contribute to this fund please make your check payable to Angler's Choice DelMarVa and put “Walt and Willie Fund” on the memo line of your check and send to Dave Kilby/Angler's Choice DelMarVa, 1713 Beechbank Way, Bel Air, MD 21015. If you wish to be put on AC address book to receive updates on their conditions and progress, please include your e-mail address or e-mail me at limitfinder@yahoo.com. Upon request a receipt will be sent to you. If you are unable to send a financial contribution please offer prayers for Walt, Willie, and their families.

Thanks and I wish you and your family a joyous holiday season.

Dave”

[FD.]

That's scary, it could be any of US.  My thoughts, prayers and a check goes out to the family.

[ArcticCat500]

Amazing, somehow it never hit the butt seat on the back deck,  god be with them, prayers.

[CJ]

Man that is sad news.

The same thing happened to a local pro here on Ky. a couple years ago. He hit a stump and the motor flip into the cockpit breaking his back. I wonder if their isn't anything manufacturers can do to prevent this from happening? Some way to redirect the motor away? It may happen with any boat/motor make but, David Young's boat was a Ranger w/ an E-tec.

[done]

Wow, that is like the second time I heard that happening in the last couple months.

It is good the dude had the clarity to pull his bud to the boat and call on the cell. Probably saved both their lives.

Just goes to show, you never know what is going to happen.

[Helluva_Engineer]

This is very sad and unfortunate. I wish these guys a speedy recovery.

I hope they were able to recover all of the parts that gave way so that a fatigue and stress analysis could be performed and taken into account in future designs.

[b.Lee]

Prayers are with them

[Sam]

Yamaha 250 flew off a Skeeter on the Potomac this summer in our club's bass tournament.

Lucky for the two guys in the boat the motor went into the water, where it bobbed for about 20 seconds and then went under.

One guy suffered a gash on his leg. The other guy was fine.

The Skeeter looked like it came from the dealer without a motor. There were no marks on the hull.

Seems the owner installed a jack-plate with brass screws and overtightened them causing the screws to fail.

It is fun to go 60 MPH on the water but it is also very dangerous.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Man that is sad news.

The same thing happened to a local pro here on Ky. a couple years ago. He hit a stump and the motor flip into the cockpit breaking his back. I wonder if their isn't anything manufacturers can do to prevent this from happening? Some way to redirect the motor away? It may happen with any boat/motor make but, David Young's boat was a Ranger w/ an E-tec.

Braided cable leashes.  One on each side, cam anchored internally to a piston type absorber.

[cart7t]

Man that is sad news.

The same thing happened to a local pro here on Ky. a couple years ago. He hit a stump and the motor flip into the cockpit breaking his back. I wonder if their isn't anything manufacturers can do to prevent this from happening? Some way to redirect the motor away? It may happen with any boat/motor make but, David Young's boat was a Ranger w/ an E-tec.

Braided cable leashes. One on each side, cam anchored internally to a piston type absorber.

Good idea and similar to what many race sanctioning bodies have with wheel tethers to prevent loose wheels from going airborne into the grandstands.

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around a V6 outboard motor at WOT suddenly winding up in the cockpit of the boat!   

[Fishbone]

I heard today that it was a jack plate failure (Bob's?) which has triggered a recall.

The fellow in the water is said to have loss a leg below the knee.

Both are improving.

I guy in the boat that held onto him, even with all his broken bones, must be a tough dude.

[I Love BassResource]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1260458295

More pics/posts and links

[brushhoggin]

man thats rough. i often see people on the rez in my town hualin *** outside of channel markers cause they think they know the area so well, but i worry for them cause there are trees everywhere in that thing and hittin one just sorta peddlin along can jolt you pretty good.my prayers go out to these guys

[Redlinerobert]

Spoke to my friend, just confirmed that Willie lost his leg.  They could not stop the bleeding. 

Be careful out there guys!

[South FLA]

I heard today that it was a jack plate failure (Bob's?) which has triggered a recall.

The fellow in the water is said to have loss a leg below the knee.

Both are improving.

I guy in the boat that held onto him, even with all his broken bones, must be a tough dude.

I run a Bob's Jack Plate on both of my boats  , can you confirm where the recall information is?

[Redlinerobert]

I just realized...I have the same jack plate.

[South FLA]

I heard today that it was a jack plate failure (Bob's?) which has triggered a recall.

I called Bob's Machine Shop and spoke with a tech there by the name of Robert and he informed me that there is retro fit kit that has been in production for pre 2007 models, basically its a stop that prevents it from dropping to much, therefore there is NO RECALL!  Call the tech line and ask if your model jack plate is eligible for the retro fit kit, be prepared with the serial number.

(813) 247-7040