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The LEASH— Saving High-speed Boaters' Lives
PartVu Xchange Talks Boating spoke with Ryan Kirkpatrick, sales manager at Precision Sonar to talk about The LEASH, their latest innovative safety accessory for boats. The LEASH is a patented solution engineered to reduce the risk of an outboard motor flipping into the cockpit in the event of an underwater collision.
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What is The LEASH, and why is it so crucial for safe boating?
Ryan: The LEASH is a patented product that attaches to the boat via the transom or jack plate. The purpose of The LEASH is to prevent the motor from flipping into the boat in the event of a sudden underwater impact.
Hitting something like a stump, old dock piling, or floating debris can cause significant damage. Unfortunately, one of the results of these kinds of collisions is motor detachment, which can end in substantial damage and tragedy. The LEASH is designed to help to minimize the detrimental effects of that kind of on-the-water accident.
Are certain kinds of boaters more susceptible to this kind of damage?
Ryan: Yes. Tournament anglers are one segment that is prone to these kinds of issues. Competitive anglers often travel at high rates of speed, moving faster than most other boats on the water. Often, the move at more than sixty-five miles per hour. As a result, they are more likely to run into problems associated with sudden impact.
Inexperienced boaters or those who use boats sparingly are another boating segment prone to collisions. These boaters may be less familiar with waterways, so they are not as aware of potential dangers while moving through the water. They may not fully understand high and low spots in a body of water. That subjects them to greater risk while operating a boat.
Many recreational boaters pulling skiers or tubers are often distracted because they are paying attention to what’s happening behind the boat. One slight deviation from marked channels by the driver can mean danger in a hurry.
What are the physics associated with hitting a submerged object?
Ryan: Several different things can happen when a collision occurs.
One of the most common things we see happen is someone driving down the lake, hitting something underwater, and the motor flying up. When that happens, the piston can give out, which will cause damage.
The problem we see with most of these accidents is motor bracket breakage. Upon impact, brackets can break. That usually happens right at the bend where it goes around the back of the transom or the jack plate. That’s actually probably the weakest part of the motor.
Most manufacturers rate brackets for up to forty-five miles per hour. However, bass boats, for example, can travel sixty-five miles per hour or more, which is way past the rated safety point.
So, The LEASH is specifically designed to come into play when all else fails. It’s built to keep the motor down in the water in the event of an underwater impact that threatens the integrity of the motor or bracket.
What stories are you aware of that highlight the dangers of this issue?
Ryan: When I started at Precision Sonar, I didn’t have a LEASH on my boat. However, as I began to chat with other boat owners about this kind of danger, I quickly realized that it was far more common than I initially thought.
About a year ago, I received a call on a Friday morning that I’ll always remember. A guy called looking to buy a LEASH, and he was ready to buy but wanted to share a story with me first.
He told me about a tournament he had been fishing the night before. He witnessed a boat run across a flat, trying to make it back to a weigh-in. Then, suddenly, he heard a loud noise followed by screaming.
Unfortunately, the boat collided with something under the water, causing the motor to flip up inside the boat. The prop continued to spin after the initial impact causing significant injuries to the boater. The angler sustained injuries from his shoulder to his leg, including life-threatening lung damage.
Another incident involved a man who hit something underwater, causing his outboard to flip onto his boat. He incurred massive leg injuries from his propeller due to the accident.
Last year, on Santee Cooper, another accident ended in an ICU hospital stay for a boater after his sudden impact incident.
So, it happens all of the time. In a perfect world, the lower unit sheers off, resulting in a simple lower unit replacement. However, we live in an imperfect world where even the most experienced and responsible boaters are at risk of unexpected things happening.
How often do boat accidents like this happen annually?
Ryan: I don’t have an exact count, but they say there are five to six thousand boating accidents per year with several hundred fatalities. I know that this kind of sudden impact accident happened about a dozen times last year, at least.
Can people fabricate their own solution to prevent this problem?
Ryan: The most common misconception about The LEASH is that it is just a rope. So, they think they can head to the hardware store, buy the right rope and fashion their own solution.
However, our product is made from a material called Vectran, a handwoven material made in America. The manufacturer also produces all of the tethers for NASCAR and the racing industry, so they trust these tethers to hold cars together when they hit things at two hundred miles per hour.
The material we use in The LEASH is incredibly strong. In fact, it’s rated five times stronger than steel. So, crafting a DIY design that is strong enough to withstand the stress of sudden impact is more complex than it appears.
Ropes and other materials are also susceptible to sun and water damage, whereas The LEASH is far more durable. We’ve also designed The LEASH to fit each motor precisely. If they fit right and it’s tight enough, you can trim and use your engine properly. If it’s too loose, then you run the risk of it getting stuck in the prop. So, if you are purchasing a LEASH, be sure to carefully select the product that is the right fit for your motor.
What has the response been like in the boating community to The LEASH?
Ryan: We’re seeing more and more traction. We see it as a long-term play. For example, it took fifty-five years for seat belts to become mandatory for vehicles. In the long run, we see The LEASH becoming more standard equipment.
We currently have several professional anglers using The LEASH. We’re not paying them to use it, but they are doing it on their own to return home safely to their families.
For more information about The LEASH, check out our offerings on PartsVu.com or visit Precisionsonar.com for more details. Also, check out this great educational video about The LEASH to learn more about how it can help to protect you and your loved ones.
