Boaters: How often do you encounter partially submerged logs or “deadheads”?

[u/Ecstatic-Ability5242]

Hi everyone,

I’m a UBC Mechanical Engineering student working with a team on a design project focused on deadheads, meaning floating or partially submerged logs that can create a collision hazard for boats.

Our project is specifically looking at coastal British Columbia, but I’d be interested in experiences from anywhere, especially if this is also a problem in your area.

I’m hoping to hear from boaters about things like:

• How often you encounter floating or partially submerged logs
• Where you tend to see them and under what conditions
• Whether you’ve ever hit one or had a close call
• How difficult they are to spot, especially at speed, at night, in waves, or poor weather
• Any damage or safety issues you’ve experienced
• What you currently do if you see one
• Whether there is any system in your area for reporting or warning others about them
• What you think could be improved about how these hazards are detected, reported, prevented, or removed
• If a better system existed, what would you actually want it to do?
• Any ideas for potential solutions, even if they seem unconventional

We’re still at the problem-definition stage, so we’re not trying to push any particular solution. We’re mainly trying to understand what boaters actually experience and what would be useful.

Even short responses like “I see them all the time but have never hit one” or “I hit one once and damaged my prop” would be really helpful.

Thanks!

[u/Ok_Might_7882]

I boat in Georgia strait often. Grew up running a boat out from Steveston and all up the Fraser to hope. There is always debris in the lower river. Upper river tends to have massive logs floating, especially during freshet.

I fish the other side now, primarily Nanaimo and in Barkley Sound. There are often logs or small branches floating. They are normally pretty visible. There will be a ripple or a shadow created. Sometimes you’ll see a bird sitting on top of a log. I have never hit anything that did any damage.