The Qualified Captain warns of dangerous waterway mistakes ahead of busy weekend
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With hot temperatures expected to bring more boaters and swimmers out on the water this weekend, boating safety expert Chris Juall is warning captains to stay alert after highlighting a dangerous close call involving a boat, swimmers, and personal watercraft.
Juall, known online as “The Qualified Captain,” reviewed a video showing a boat traveling through extremely shallow water toward a group of people in the water.
“You’re going to see a boat who’s coming towards a bunch of swimmers in super shallow water,” Juall said. “The boat has no business being where it is.”
The video shows the vessel continuing toward people on jet skis and others in the water before making contact.
After watching the video again, Juall emphasized how serious the situation could have been.
“Wow. These people just watched their life flash in front of their eyes,” he said. “Thankfully, all were okay.”
Understanding the Difference Between Boats and Jet Boats
Juall said one possible factor in the incident was the operator’s unfamiliarity with how the vessel handles.
“These boats behave like jet skis. They’re not like traditional boats,” Juall explained.
Unlike traditional boats that use a fixed propeller and rudders or engine steering, jet-powered boats rely on a stream of water for steering. That means operators can lose control if they reduce power at the wrong time.
“With a jet ski or a jet boat, if you’re not powered, then you can’t steer, because the direction of the jet coming out — the jet of water — is what actually steers the boat,” Juall said.
Juall believes the operator may have panicked after getting too close to people in the water.
“My guess is they got so close to the people, they panicked, and they just kind of let off the throttle,” he said. “But then when you do that, they lost steering.”
Juall Shares Three Boating Safety Tips
As waterways become more crowded during the summer months, Juall said boaters should focus on three important safety practices:
1. Know the boat you’re operating
“When you’re on the water, it’s very important that you understand and know the boat you’re operating,” Juall said. “You have to be familiar with that boat.”
2. Pay attention
Juall said operator inattention is one of the leading causes of boating accidents.
“You gotta pay attention,” he said. “This is the number one reason why boat accidents occur all over the place — it’s because of operator inattention.”
3. Control your speed
Juall said speed is one of the first things investigators examine after a crash.
“Speed is so important,” he said. “If you get in an accident, the investigators are going to 100% look at your speed.”
Juall reminded boaters that a few simple precautions can help prevent dangerous situations.
“This is Captain Chris, and as always, you do not want to end up on the Qualified Captain social pages,” he said.
The boating safety segment is part of an ongoing partnership between WWAY and The Qualified Captain, providing education and real-world examples to help boaters make safer decisions on the water. Learn more on The Qualified Captain’s website.
