Breaking boating rules with a leg of lamb in the name of safety

As temperatures rise recreational boaties will begin taking to the water. But as Seven Sharp reporter Lucas de Jong found, there are some simple rules that will help save lives.

I never thought a leg of lamb would be the tool I needed to make a point about boat safety. Or a perfectly formed head-shaped watermelon.

Both started the day as acceptable ingredients for a summer dinner party but by the end, they were destroyed – all in the name of safety.

Maritime New Zealand says an estimated two million people will take part in recreational boating this summer.

“There's jet skis, skiffs, boats, anything you can image is out of the water and they're all there at the same time,” said Waikato Harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck.

The busy waters of Lake Karapiro become a packed towing playground — a congestion that’s mirrored across the nation’s lakes and coasts.

But while most take home a heightened heart rate and a bit of sunburn, some don’t make it home at all.

“Every year 17 boaties don't come home from their trip,” said Matt Wood from Maritime New Zealand.

I was given permission to ignore basic boating rules to show what can happen if you break them.

While some rules, such as travelling five knots near another vessel or swimmer, may seem like simple etiquette, it's surprising how a little bit of wake can ruin the experience for those around you.

“All boat users have to travel at a safe speed and they cannot expose other boat users to unnecessary risk," Wood said.

Other rules have much higher stakes when you break them.

“Every person towing needs to have someone ten years of age and over in a position to let the skipper know when someone has fallen off,” explained Bredenbeck.

At high speed but at a safe following distance we ejected our first casualty into the water — a watermelon stand-in.

With only two seconds between it hitting the water and then the bow of a spotter-less boat it was a clear reminder about how little reaction time you have.

“When someone falls in the water they are quite hard to see. So unless you are travelling at a safe speed and have an observer you can miss them."

Life jackets will raise a body out of the water and give them the visibility they need to stay safe.

“Even in the lakes, you have little waves. People's heads are below the wave height,” added Bredenbeck.

What we found afterwards was a melon with a crack that travelled around most of its circumference. From one collision it was nearly ripped in two.

One of the most dangerous activities though – getting back on the boat.

“The prop turning under the water is invisible, you won’t see it.”

And so we subbed in a human body with a leg of lamb.

It took just a touch, a second and a dull thud and the lamb was gone. Ripped from its rope and sunken to the bottom of the lake.

After a quick dive rescue mission, the aftermath was astounding. What was once the smooth muscle of a roast had been torn through almost to the bone. Holding it, I couldn't help but compare it to a human body. Massive gouges line the meat that would result in a lifelong injury or very easily – death.

Maritime New Zealand wants anyone taking to the water this year to do a bit of homework before you head out.

“My belief is education finishes at the boat ramp. Once you are out on the water it is too late. Once you're out on the water you are putting people at risk,” said Bredenbeck.