From looking at the photos, the boat just eased into gear, not heavy throttle, or they pulled it out of gear very quickly, as with a 355,000 pound boat (half load as full is 390,000 and light is 325,000) and 5200 hp, heavy throttle would have left a far worse picture. The damage seems to just reflect the size of the attacking boat.
Note an article says 260 tons but that's GRT tonnage, not weight. Supposedly the boat moved about 300 feet.
Check out the video in the other thread. It was tied to the dock, then goes in gear with a bunch of throttle and prop wash. Don't know how much throttle, but way more than idle. I suspect the only reason it stopped when it did is because someone got to the kill switch.
Short of a device failure of some sort, my first guess would be a wing station what had been left in gear at elevated throttle, and that somehow it became selected and the boat took off. I had a fly bridge station where the stick always ended up forward as a result of installing and removing the canvas cover. But the selector control shouldn't transfer unless the old and new stations are either in neutral or matched in settings. At least that's how Glendinning, Mathers, and Twin Disc do it. But I know Westport does a lot of their own controls, and maybe this is part of it? Either way, it would be really interesting to hear what actually happened. Still got contacts at Westport who would know?
Lot to be said for cable driven controls and a neutral detent switch to prevent accidental in gear starts.
Ted
Lot to be said for cable driven controls and a neutral detent switch to prevent accidental in gear starts.
Ted
Lot to be said for cable driven controls and a neutral detent switch to prevent accidental in gear starts.
Ted
Most cable failure accidents are a result of the "Accident Chain". The concept is that there are 2 or more problems that each by themselves don't cause an accident, but combined, snowball.Been a lot of people to have trouble with cables over the years too. I suspect this boat was already running, just not planned on going into gear and we have no idea why or how it did.
How about "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?"
https://komonews.com/news/local/125-foot-yacht-slams-into-dock-at-port-angeles-marina
"Self Starter" ?
"Leaper" ?
"Cruncher" ?
Fenders? We don’t need no stinking fenders...