Boat hits jetski...who's fault is it ?

**noli** · 07-15-2022, 08:40 PM

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Video shows multiple angles of the accident

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**powerabout** · 07-15-2022, 08:47 PM

port stb

**Dave S** · 07-15-2022, 09:02 PM

If ya want to Play.... ya going to pay.......Slow boats get the Thrill out of Rufff water......Fast boats look for nice conditions......

**Jim Speros** · 07-15-2022, 09:34 PM

I've lost count of how many jet skis have suddenly turned without looking directly into my path. I assume EVERY ONE OF THEM is gonna try to hit me. The problem is that its pretty likely be seen as speed boats fault. I stopped going out on holiday weekends in part because of wrecko jet skiers.

**rgsauger** · 07-15-2022, 09:45 PM

Dittos, Jim. Years ago, I almost drove right over the top of a jet skier who turned to port and literally pulled right in front of me and then saw me and panicked and took his hand off the gas. Something in me literally “knew “that he was going to do it so I was as prepared for it as could be. I agree, very few of them understand the rules of the road and operate their watercraft accordingly.

**TraceF3** · 07-16-2022, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by rgsauger

Dittos, Jim. Years ago, I almost drove right over the top of a jet skier who turned to port and literally pulled right in front of me and then saw me and panicked and took his hand off the gas. Something in me literally “knew “that he was going to do it so I was as prepared for it as could be. I agree, very few of them understand the rules of the road and operate their watercraft accordingly.

I feel like I was with you because the exact same thing happened to me. Ski going probably 40 went right under us but luckily missed the lower unit. Rider was unhurt and mad as hell. Was wanting to pick a fight. The 4 of us coming back from offshore fishing said almost in unison "you turned right in front of us without looking". He was still screaming at us so we waved "goodbye" and drove off. End of story.

**1954bmw** · 07-16-2022, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by TraceF3

I feel like I was with you because the exact same thing happened to me. Ski going probably 40 went right under us but luckily missed the lower unit. Rider was unhurt and mad as hell. Was wanting to pick a fight. The 4 of us coming back from offshore fishing said almost in unison "you turned right in front of us without looking". He was still screaming at us so we waved "goodbye" and drove off. End of story.

Aren't you supposed to stick around for the cops or Coast Guard, render aid??? Could he have got your FL number and caused some kind of legal problem??

**TraceF3** · 07-16-2022, 07:30 AM

Yes you are. He wasn't hurt. Just scared the sheet out of all of us. There were probably a dozen witnesses. Ponce Inlet (Daytona / New Smyrna) is a pretty crowded place. While he was screaming at us he climbed back on the ski and it started right up. Lucky all the way around.

**H2OPERF** · 07-16-2022, 08:16 AM

The boat on your right has right of way when converging, the jet ski is obviously doing what jet skis do making turns in the channel, jumping wakes and not watching where hes going. Yes your supposed to stop and render aid but they were in moving boat traffic soo... that would be my reason for not stopping and causing further problems.

**Chaz** · 07-16-2022, 09:32 PM

We should give everyone the proper respect they are due ... we call them "SEA LICE"

Like everyone else, I have stories of erratic behavior of "squid" on "sea lice". If they have the right of way ... then I have to bear with it.

If they don't, then they get looked at on a Go-Pro while they get air horned.

Normally they don't have time to argue .. they are too busy looking for a place to go wash their drawers out ...

**Jim Speros** · 07-17-2022, 09:17 AM

Right of way rules assume boats are on a heading traveling on something that resembles a course. The lice swarm is circles and figure 8's with little intention of holding a line.

There is no rhyme or reason to their operation. Simply just a dangerous nuisance.

**transomstand** · 07-18-2022, 09:00 AM

Jet ski had right of way technically, even though it was retarded maneuver. The person in the other boat was a complete idiot as well, very rough crowded channel passing and accelerating. Too much speed for that situation.

**powerabout** · 07-18-2022, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by transomstand

Jet ski had right of way technically, even though it was retarded maneuver. The person in the other boat was a complete idiot as well, very rough crowded channel passing and accelerating. Too much speed for that situation.

What rule gave right of way to the jet ski?

**Jim Speros** · 07-18-2022, 09:07 AM

I haven't referred to the Chapmans book in a long while. Memory suggests when ever you change your heading you yield.

**Turtleherder** · 07-18-2022, 09:35 AM

If this was an overtaking situation then the offshore boat has a duty to stay out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. But the overtaken vessel also has a duty to stay on course. It may have been that the jet ski was originally going in the same direction as the off shore boat before turning. From what you can see it looks more like a crossing situation. In that case the vessel to the starboard side has the right of way and the jet ski should have given way. Also, in all cases there I’d a duty to practice good seamanship. You are required to exercise ordinary skill and ordinary intelligence as required by the ordinary practice of seaman or by the special circumstances of the case. I would say the jet ski had to give way and in any case completely failed in the ordinary skill and intelligence department.