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/PM_meyourGradyWhite]

Salish Sea boater (San Juan Islands, Bellingham Bay).

I see logs all the time. Bellingham bay can be bad after a flood event and outgoing tide.

I’ve learned to be extra cautious crossing tide rips where all kinds of flotsam gathers (eel grass, scum, twigs, kelp). Logs will be in there with them.

At night (morning before sun up) I go about half throttle. Depends on moonlight and or fog. Figuring at off-plane speed (13-17 mph) if I hit a log, I’m going to survive. Plus at that speed I have time to react and avoid it.

I have hit a few logs regardless. All have been in ideal visibility too. 🙄 All have glanced off the hull. I check my hull occasionally when washing and see a few nicks in the chines or strakes. Whatever they’re called.

When I took the USCG boaters safety course, the USCG auxiliary instructor said if we see a significant hazard, we can get on the VHF channel 16 and announce SECURITY SECURITY SECURITY (actually French Securité) and USCG will note it. But in the next breath said “no one’s coming out to pull a big log to the side unless they need training”

[u/WANGHUNG22 → u/PM_meyourGradyWhite]

I have considered shooting around my area of the puget sound and pulling logs to the shore. Maybe add a Facebook page for people to report them in my area so I can go grab them.