Pontoon Boat and Houseboat Accidents

Pontoon boats and houseboats feel safe. They are wide, stable, slow, and full of seats. Families pack them with coolers, kids, and dogs and head out for the day. And because they feel safe, people relax the habits that keep them safe.

Many of the serious injuries I see on these boats happen at low speed, close to shore, in water full of swimmers.

Swimmers and the stern

The most dangerous place around a pontoon boat or houseboat is near the stern while the engine is running. The operator sits forward and often cannot see what is directly behind or below the back of the boat. Swimmers climb the ladder, kids jump off the back, someone drifts close while the boat is being repositioned. If the engine is in gear, a propeller injury can happen in seconds.

The basic practice is simple: count everyone aboard and in the water, and keep the engine off when people are near the stern. Whether the operator did that, and whether he could see what he needed to see, is usually the core of the case.

Passenger falls

Passengers stand, move around, and sit on rails and on the front deck. A sudden turn, a wake from another boat, or contact with a dock can throw someone into the water or onto the deck. Some pontoon designs and seating areas make that more likely, especially at speed. Operators are expected to keep passengers seated in safe positions while under way.

Wind

Pontoon boats and houseboats have a lot of area above the water and very little below it. Wind pushes them around, especially at slow speed while docking or beaching. Many allisions with docks, other boats, and swimmers happen when an operator underestimates how far the wind will carry the boat.

Overloading

Capacity plates show the maximum number of people and weight the boat is designed to carry. Overloading affects stability, freeboard, and handling, and on pontoons it can push the front of the boat down in waves.

Rentals

Many pontoons and houseboats on popular lakes are rentals operated by people with little experience. The rental company's briefing, its checks on the renter, and its rules about swimming and engine use all come into play.

Records and evidence

• Photos and video from passengers and nearby boats
• The capacity plate and the number of people aboard
• Rental agreements and briefing materials, if a rental
• State boating accident report and law enforcement reports
• Weather and wind conditions
• Witness statements from everyone aboard and nearby

The standard

None of this requires special equipment or training. It requires an operator who keeps track of where everyone is, shuts down the engine when people are in the water near the boat, keeps passengers seated, and respects the wind. Most cases come down to one of those basics being skipped.

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About the author

Captain Mitchell S. Stoller is a Master Mariner Unlimited, former Exxon tanker master, and former Los Angeles Harbor pilot. About Captain Stoller