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Author Topic:   Unsafe Boating Commercials
PGIC posted 02-12-2014 05:30 PM ET (US)   Profile for PGIC  
We posted images from several boating commercials, print ads, and websites portraying unsafe actions or behaviors.

http://www.propellersafety.com/9348/propeller-guard-thoughts/unsafe-boating-ads/

Several from outside the U.S. are hard to believe. Lots of wine, women, and song. Or as Yamaha Durban South Africa puts it, they like boats, beer and babes.

Do you think the industry should be promoting dangerous behaviors and actions? especially in developing counties?

gary

Tom W Clark posted 02-12-2014 09:14 PM ET (US)     Profile for Tom W Clark  Send Email to Tom W Clark     
Gary -- You have been flapping your wings since the mid 1990s. When are you going to bring a "virtual propeller guard" to market?

From Gary Polson's web site:

Polson Enterprises also provides new product development services to companies developing propeller injury avoidance devices. We also provide information support and expert witness services to legal professionals working on propeller injury cases. If you should need any of these services, please contact us.

www.propellersafety.com

PGIC posted 02-12-2014 10:00 PM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
To Tom - how about we try to stay on topic (unsafe commercials) here.

If you are interested in the status of virtual guards, there is considerable information in the Technologies, Our Inventions, Research Projects, and Guard Tech sections of our site. You can also find several on the market under the Prop Guards tab (mostly wireless lanyards).

gary

fno posted 02-13-2014 10:01 AM ET (US)     Profile for fno  Send Email to fno     
Looks like we have another Troll amongst us. Gary has a website dedicated to propeller safety and seems to want CW people to jump on board so we can spend even more money to go boating. Best left ignored....
jimh posted 02-13-2014 10:16 AM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
There is a general approach to marketing recreational boating as a lifestyle, and the lifestyle does seem to involve a lot of babes and beer. The formal promotions in the USA seem to play down the beer part, but there certainly remains a lot of babes.

As for marketing boating in developing countries, I don't worry about it. If you have been to any developing countries you know that recreational boating is not an activity that is going to be available to much of the population. No matter how recreational boating is presented, they can't afford it.

There are certainly differences in what constitutes good taste in various countries. There are some great old print advertisements from Evinrude that ran in Australian boating or outdoors magazines in the 1970's that featured very attractive women in topless bathing suits posed with the outboard engines. The notion that I, as an American, ought to impose my views of what is proper taste and ethics in marketing on the population of another country is really quite a provincial attitude.

PGIC posted 02-13-2014 11:04 AM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
To: jimh

Thanks for your input.

My point was not about the babes in the commercials, it is about the unsafe behaviors and alcohol.

I agree we should not impose our views of proper taste and ethics on others. However, I feel we have some responsibility to prevent them from being lured into unsafe behaviors without understanding the risks.

Some boating ads outside the U.S. feel like those from cigarette manufacturers trying to reel in customers in third world countries without acknowledging the risks of the behaviors portrayed in their ads (smoking vs. boating drunk or boating in a manner people can be easily ejected).

gary

Buckda posted 02-13-2014 11:18 AM ET (US)     Profile for Buckda  Send Email to Buckda     
Beer in hand and having a good time does not equal drunk. It just doesn't.

Unless you are Baptist (I am from a Baptist tradition). :)

So...explain how having a pretty girlfriend/wife and consuming alcohol equals dangerous behavior?

Oh yeah, when you get yourself drunk as S*#! and back over your wife disfiguring her and then blame the propeller and engine manufacturers for your negligence.

Hope you guys weren't called to testify in that case.

Life is risk. Deal with it or don't.

*Hanging up now*

PGIC posted 02-13-2014 02:20 PM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
To: buckda

The thread is not about "how having a pretty girlfriend/wife and consuming alcohol equals dangerous behavior?"

Its about if you think it is appropriate for the boating industry to promote the behaviors shown in their commercials (including drinking) and on their web sites or not. Such as those in the link provided in my first post.

gary

K Albus posted 02-13-2014 02:47 PM ET (US)     Profile for K Albus  Send Email to K Albus     
This thread appears to primarily be about promoting your website.

Your questions are silly as I am certain that you don't really believe there's a chance that anybody thinks the boating industry "should be promoting dangerous behaviors and actions."

Most of the pictures on your website, however, do not depict "dangerous behaviors and actions." Many of the conclusions set forth on the webpage you have directed us to are based on speculation and unfounded presumptions.

Also, I disagree with your conclusion that any connection between alcoholic beverages and boating is "in bad taste." Perhaps your "questions" would find more traction on an internet forum affiliated with the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

gnr posted 02-13-2014 03:21 PM ET (US)     Profile for gnr    
If one allows the marketing efforts of a corporation the ability to "promote" or otherwise influence one's behavior one deserves whatever fate befalls one.

While that fate might not benefit one personally, society as a whole might gain in the big picture.


PGIC posted 02-13-2014 04:07 PM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
To: K Albus

Your quote,"I disagree with your conclusion that any connection between alcoholic beverages and boating is "in bad taste.""

The page in question said we thought that allowing a beer company to sponsor a national boating safety award was in "bad taste".

For example, if your child was killed by a drunk driver, how would you feel if you saw a beer company giving out safe driver awards?

I suspect you would think it was in bad taste. I suspect those who lost kids or other family members and loved ones to boats and alcohol would think the same.

gary

jimh posted 02-13-2014 04:15 PM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
Since our principal interest is in Boston Whaler boats, let me repeat an observation I have previously made (perhaps several times) about the way Boston Whaler depicts its boats being used.

In the present-day catalogues and advertisements of Boston Whaler one often sees a family engaged in boating activity, but at the helm there will be an adult. Often the adult is a female, too. There are children present, but they are mostly going along for the ride while the adult drives the boat. This is in contrast to older advertisements or presentations from Boston Whaler back in the good old days, when Boston Whaler often showed their boats being operated by young people, usually teenagers. Boys predominated in the earlier advertising, but younger girls began to be included, too. In the good old days, there were no adults along for the ride, just the kids out having fun in the boat on the water.

PGIC posted 02-13-2014 05:06 PM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
Yes, the target market and customers of Boston Whaler along with the characteristics, features, and experiences they seek tend to self police the ads and keep out the problems we have seen with ads from other boat builders and drive companies.

I suspect the more hip and radical the brand, the wilder the ads. The wake board boats are probably candidates for being pretty wild in their ads outside the U.S., but boarding has not gained much of a foothold in some of the countries that tend to get wilder with the ads.

That may change in the future.

gary

fno posted 02-13-2014 06:43 PM ET (US)     Profile for fno  Send Email to fno     
I have heard that recreational boating in Somalia has decreased drastically since several nations have deployed some of their naval assets to the region. A recent movie starring Tom Hanks lends some validity to Gary's argument that there is recreational boating in many third world and developing countries. I would have to think that todays pirates have pretty much the same regard for their propulsion choices as the swashbucklers of yore. Fast and Reliable!!!

Needless to say, there is nothing in Gary's original and subsequent posts that are Boston Whaler related. As far as I know there are no documented incidents regarding a Boston Whaler being involved in a propeller-person altercation.

bkjones posted 02-13-2014 09:28 PM ET (US)     Profile for bkjones  Send Email to bkjones     
While I don't get the link of the original message of this thread and Boston Whaler boats, I clicked the link in the original message. Curious PGIC, do you live in a bubble?

While a very (very) few of the images on your site show people demonstrating foolish behaviors, I do not see any misbehaving propellers. Growing up the son of a father that was a heavily involved officer of the Power Squadron, I think you're overreacting a bit. Be careful when you step outside of your home, I hear icy sidewalks can be very dangerous this time of year.

Get out, enjoy the water, live a little.

bkjones posted 02-13-2014 09:29 PM ET (US)     Profile for bkjones  Send Email to bkjones     
While I don't get the link of the original message of this thread and Boston Whaler boats, I clicked the link in the original message. Curious PGIC, do you live in a bubble?

While a very (very) few of the images on your site show people demonstrating foolish behaviors, I do not see any misbehaving propellers. Growing up the son of a father that was a heavily involved officer of the Power Squadron, I think you're overreacting a bit. Be careful when you step outside of your home, I hear icy sidewalks can be very dangerous this time of year.

Get out, enjoy the water, live a little.

PGIC posted 02-13-2014 09:31 PM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
To: fno

"As far as I know there are no documented incidents regarding a Boston Whaler being involved in a propeller-person altercation."

Woah there - while Boston Whaler ads may portray safe boating practices, there are still plenty of Boston Whaler propeller accidents.

A quick look at U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) for 2012 (latest issue available) identifies three Boston Whaler prop accidents in 2012.

1. FL-2012-0625 in Florida on 8 December 2012. Intercoastal Waterway near Hobe Sound on Peck Lake. 49 year old male in 14 footer built in 1997 with 25 hp motor. Ejected in sharp turn and struck by prop. Boat name - Mac's Out Jr.

2. FL-2012-0125 in Florida on 4 April 2012. Atlantic Ocean Oceanside Vaca Cut near Marathon. 21 footer built in 1973 with 225 hp. Male age 55, ejected in sharp turn, tried to re-enter the circling unmanned boat and struck by prop.

3. SC-2012-0020 in South Carolina at Isle of Palms on Morgan Creek on 3 May 2012. Dauntless model. 20 footer with 200 hp. Skier fell, circled around to pick them up, skier swam into prop thinking boat was in neutral.

No mention of alcohol in any of the instances and all three survived.

Before everybody wants to say 3 a year is not bad, only a fraction of the total number of propeller accidents are reported to Public BARD and some of them do not identify the boat manufacturer. See our iceberg graphic further info at:
http://www.propellersafety.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/bard-iceberg-chart.pdf

While propeller accidents are classified by BARD, they still share the rest of the problems listed there.

gary

wezie posted 02-13-2014 10:17 PM ET (US)     Profile for wezie  Send Email to wezie     
Just more PC garbage telling others what to think.
Troll,
Superior Attitude,

Political Censorship!

Whatever.

fno posted 02-14-2014 08:17 AM ET (US)     Profile for fno  Send Email to fno     
I realize that I am helping Gary contribute to the degradation of quality on this site by posting here. I am done. Lets this slide to the bottom....
PGIC posted 02-14-2014 10:17 AM ET (US)     Profile for PGIC    
To: fno and wezie

I can see how backing up one's statements with images, facts, U.S. Coast Guard data and accident reports could change the quality of the site vs.

1. Your misleading statements like,
"As far as I know there are no documented incidents regarding a Boston Whaler being involved in a propeller-person altercation."

2. Your attempts to bully anybody not sharing your views.

******

I appreciate all those who offered comments on the alleged "unsafe boating" images whether we agree or not. Their comments were very helpful.

fno and wezie can now get busy restoring the quality of the site.

Have a nice day

gary

deepwater posted 03-10-2014 12:38 AM ET (US)     Profile for deepwater  Send Email to deepwater     
Sooooo,,your saying your not a troll and you realy meen what your posting ^@^
pcrussell50 posted 03-10-2014 04:16 AM ET (US)     Profile for pcrussell50  Send Email to pcrussell50     
Gary,

South Africa is NOT a developing country. It has (or had) first world standards and capability in just about everything you care to imagine.

And the reason those ads depicting realistic boating behavior are run in those countries is that every other developed country in the world does not tolerate frivolous law suits. We are the only one that does. Companies here have to make their ads virtual public service announcements or be exposed to expensive liability suits... something that based on your web site, I'm going to say that you know a thing or two about filing.

-Peter

egres posted 03-10-2014 04:18 PM ET (US)     Profile for egres  Send Email to egres     
And there we are debating another interesting subject..
Correct me if I am wrong but
The "behavior" demonstrated here will usually involve a teenage to mid teen type of recreational boaters individuals
(Zero in on those Babes in bikinis)
In their Idyllic and "FUN" scripted moments.
These actual seconds long scenes will demonstrate; at the cost of up to three dozen takes; the benefits of "real"life in the use and ownership of such and such BRAND as in boats, motors, beers, sunglasses and other water related boating products.
This work will involve up to three to four dozen takes but will actually reflect poorly from reality.
A reality showing that anytime that we are out there boating and on the look out for anything worthy of our attention,rarely if ever are those teenaged antics being demonstrated by anyone...
It is all a "Hype" guys and just BS
Thanks to those smiling and scantily clad bodies to keep our eyes focused long enough to view the brand's logo and imprint itself in our mental files.
Got to love this site more and more
When I read about this type of self righteousness and intriguing subject propositions.
Re mind's me of the customs of the do es and don't of wearing hats in Church.
Really?
wezie posted 03-10-2014 07:26 PM ET (US)     Profile for wezie  Send Email to wezie     
Peter, I had not thought of the Knowledge of the OP.
This whole, thou should not have fun, do anything, or Think for yourself is just obscene.
Then there are the Trial Lawyers and their customers that keep beating the drum, so they can make money.
Apparently the populace has beed dumbed down enough to line up and take orders about Everything.
mikejana posted 03-14-2014 11:53 AM ET (US)     Profile for mikejana  Send Email to mikejana     
This is why I haven't been here in a while.

Jim- Thanks for hosting and the goal of promoting and preserving the Whaler lifestyle.

jcdawg83 posted 03-14-2014 02:04 PM ET (US)     Profile for jcdawg83    
I have a simple solution for those who are somehow "offended" or "concerned" by the behavior displayed in boating ads or who are very concerned about the safety of others. Boat how you see fit and let others boat how they see fit. If I am stupid enough to climb into a boat while the engine is running and in gear, I deserve to lose an appendage or be maimed in some way. If I want to drink a beer while I'm driving my boat, as long as I don't hurt anyone else what business is it of anyone else's?

All the PC, nanny state, busybody, dogooder BS the public is subjected to is ruining every activity that ever might have been considered fun. If you are one who lives in constant fear of an accident, stay home and lay in bed until you die. Of course, a tree could fall on your house or an airplane could crash into your house and you could still die in an accident.

Some people need to get a life.

pcrussell50 posted 03-19-2014 11:17 PM ET (US)     Profile for pcrussell50  Send Email to pcrussell50     
quote:
mikejana posted 03-14-2014 11:53 AM ET (US)
This is why I haven't been here in a while.
Jim- Thanks for hosting and the goal of promoting and preserving the Whaler lifestyle.

Agreed. I've dialed my participation way back for (probably) the same reasons as you have.

Back when Merrcury was sued and lost, (when the boat driver backed over his own swimmer, who jumped over the transom with a running motor), you should have seen the vigorous defense of that outcome right here on these very pages. Subsequent aquatic idiocy has also been vigorously defended. It's not just a head scratcher... it's fatiguing and depressing to be continuously reminded of what's coming as the snowball of idiocracy gains momentum.

-Peter

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