Our 3270 hit by jet-ski!-gctid821352

[Guest]

Last Saturday, the 12th, we were heading inbound under the Duluth Ariel Lift Bridge off of Lake Superior and into the Bay. After clearing the bridge with about 10 other boats we were in the clear. There is a slip where a company rents jet skis. Two females, on a rental, ran into our starboard side just aft of center. They were traveling at roughly 20-25 mph. Both girls slammed into the hull. I radioed the coast guard who was a few hundred yards to the station as a crow flies. Once on scene, they rescued the girls and got a line on the sinking jet ski. As they were towing it in, it was completely submerged. After roughly 2 hours of paperwork/inspections, and questioning, we were released. The girls were checked out medically and were cleared to walk away. They are extremely lucky. 12 feet back from where they hit was our dinghy line, which would line up close to neck high. As bad as accidents are, there were a couple miracles. From the outside, the boat looks fine, other then some "buff able" scars from the jet-ski. There is one very very minor scratch. I have a licensed inspector/surveyor meeting tomorrow night to do a hull sounding and some detailed camera work from the inside. It's in an area where you can get half a look at. I'm concerned about de-laminating with the glass. Any body think af anything to question? I'm not signing off on anything til my bases are covered. By the sheriff report, I was not at fault and only traveling at 3mph. The party that rented the jet ski is. I don't want to see spider cracks a year or two from now. Our 3270 is a 1984, but is pretty flawless and structurally sound. If there is nothing wrong, Baliner makes one heck of a side wall! It's gotta be 700lb jet ski travel at 20-25 is quite a force. Once again, I'm happy the girls walked away. Also, organization paid off with all my CG documentation, my Power Squadron inspection, insurance, and everything else in place and up to date. A great day on the water can go south in the blink of an eye, and it's so rare, "it's never gonna happen to us!"

[floatyerboat]

I'm happy no one was seriously hurt. Just curious, what was the girls excuse?

[Guest]

Girl checked off at least 20 hours of practice on a jet ski prior. Report said she was unfamiliar with how fast it was. Problem was, they were traveling faster about 30-50 yards away. Once they realized the severity, they backed off the throttle, which in my experience, you loose steering.

[floatyerboat]

Never been on one, never wanna try. Down here if you throw any kind of a wake those things are on you like flies on chit.

[Pcpete]

It's been some years now, but coming around Point Elliot at Mukilteo on Puget Sound was like flying a bomber into a pack of fighters. Their goal was to hit my "rooster Trail" which meant they were within ten feet of my stern as I stayed my course, as appropriate. I got so I would just stop my boat and wait them out. My oldest son got me on one, and at a break he commented about really getting out there and playing around more than he would. I told him "now you know why I don't have a motorcycle."

[RPrather]

Glad to hear everyone is okay. We were anchored by bay front park when we heard the call over the radio.

[metz123]

I can't fathom the laws of Washington. You have to have a boaters license to operate a PWC or boat you own, but anyone can rent one with just a signature. I stay away from the end of Chelan because of the # of rented jet skis tearing about. The Lady of the Lake operators are getting pissed at the skis jumping their wake way too close to the boats.

Yes, I own one myself but me & anyone that operates it has to have a boaters license and understand I will not tolerate them being stupid on the ski.

[Guest]

I've ridden a jet-ski several times, and owned one for a summer (got bored with it). The biggest problem I see where I am is jetski rental places renting to young people who have never been on a water craft before...these riders generally think the entire surface of the water is fair game (and it isn't). Nowadays on the motoryacht, I have almost been hit by jet ski's on a few occasions (I'm pretty sure the 38xx and it's occupants would survive that incident MUCH better than a jet ski and it's rider(s)). It kind of escapes me how someone on something as small as a jet ski can't *see* something as large as a 32 (or 38) foot yacht...really? Can't that see that then you ain't lookin'.

I'm glad no one got hurt...but I do hope the financial penalty of destroying a jetski and potentially damaging your motoryacht is enough to teach her a lesson.

Dave