Ho-boy, the floodgates have been opened for idiotic law suits galore, because Brunswick has been found liable (partially, anyway), for a propeller injury accident that took place back in 2005.


Here’s the scoop, as told in Boating Industry News (read their article here: http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=2485225this) this morning: an 18 year-old named Jacob Brochtrup was wakeboarding with three friends. When the tow rope popped off the back of the boat, he  jumped out to grab it. The driver, another teenager (Patrick Houston) put the boat in reverse while Brochtrup was in the water, and the prop caused him serious injury.


Well, duh – this isn’t a case of a defective or abnormally dangerous item, it’s a case of bad seamanship on the part of an inexperienced captain. What, are we going to start to sue bicycle manufacturers when someone takes a spill on their bike? Sue the hammer manufacturer when we smack a thumb? Sue a restaurant when their coffee is served too hot… oh yeah, wait a sec, scratch that last one.


According to the suit, the manufacturer of the boat did not have safety devices including guards or covers. Nor, shall we add, do 99.9999-percent of the other boats on the water. Fortunately past suits like this one have been defeated, and this marks the first successful suit against a boat or motor manufacturer by a person injured by a swinging prop. Unfortunately, this couldn’t come at a worse possible time, as Brunswick and every other company in the industry is merely doing its best to survive the economic downturn. This won’t help. Brunswick has stated that they’ll consider their options before deciding what to do next. Let’s encourage them to appeal this decision, and keep the fight going. Let this suit end in victory for Brochtrup, and it’ll only encourage similar suits in the future. And in the meantime, here’s a mariner’s tip for all of you who might disagree with my take on this matter: Don’t drive over your buddies with your boat. As surprising as this may be to you, it could hurt them.


Written by: Lenny Rudow
With over two decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to publications including YachtWorld, boats.com, Boating Magazine, Marlin Magazine, Boating World, Saltwater Sportsman, Texas Fish & Game, and many others. Lenny is a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and he has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.