22/12/2025
December hasn’t even warmed up properly yet and boating season is already handing out klappe like it’s Black Friday at Makro.
Let’s rewind quickly.
A few days ago we had that ski boat on the 𝗞𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 that capsized... brand new Suzuki on the back, and yes, before anyone asks, 𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲. That one was avoidable. Full stop.
Then we’ve had 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 this week that we can’t even make public yet.
And then… 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱.
This one isn’t funny. This one is heavy...
On Friday afternoon on the 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗸𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗮𝗶, a couple from Centurion were reportedly ejected from their boat while it was underway. The motors were still engaged. The boat continued moving. The female ended up being struck by the propeller and sustained 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.
She was rescued from the water by a family on a private boat. Another boat brought the male to shore. NSRI Stilbaai, a local doctor, EMS, and the wider Stilbaai community jumped in and did what South Africans do best when kak hits the fan...they showed up.
She’s currently in hospital, serious but stable.
To the Good Samaritans, NSRI Stilbaai, the doctor, EMS, and everyone who helped... 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁. You okes are the reason people are still alive today.
Now… let’s talk straight, no sugarcoating.
Boating is lekker.
Boating makes memories.
Boating brings families together.
But when it goes wrong... 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁. Not slowly. Not politely. FAST.
The Kowie incident?
Could’ve been prevented if the 𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻.
This Friday incident?
Most likely hit a sandbank, people got thrown out, and here’s the part that makes your stomach drop... 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻.
That’s it. One little red string. One basic rule. Ignored.
Trust me…
If you’ve ever seen what a propeller does to a human body, that image 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
So before we get another “ag but it won’t happen to me” oke in the comments, let’s do this properly.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝘂𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 (𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝘁. 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝘁.)
𝟭. 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁
Not under the seat. Not “later”. ON.
If someone goes overboard, they float... simple. Panic drops by 90% immediately.
𝟮. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵
This one is non-negotiable.
If the skipper goes overboard, the boat must stop.
No runaway boats. No circling props. No horror stories.
𝟯. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀 (𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲)
Before you launch. Then again because you don’t trust yourself.
Dry floor > swimming lesson at the slipway.
𝟰. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿
That flat dam can turn into chaos in 20 minutes.
If the clouds look angry... they are.
𝟱. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘁
That plate with numbers on it isn’t a suggestion.
Weight matters. Balance matters. Physics doesn’t care how drunk you are.
𝟲. 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 = 𝗦𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿
Ja ja, “just one”.
Reaction time matters when a sandbank, swimmer, or floating log appears out of nowhere.
𝟳. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴
Float plan. WhatsApp message. Something.
If you don’t come back, people must know where to start looking.
𝟴. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁
Skipper drives. Someone else watches.
Skiers, swimmers, paddleboards... eyes everywhere.
𝟵. 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹 & 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸
Rule of thirds. Always.
Running out of fuel is embarrassing… until it becomes dangerous.
𝟭𝟬. 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘀
Radio. Phone. Waterproof bag.
Knowing you can call for help changes everything mentally.
Here’s the hard truth:
𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀.
Not bad boats.
Not bad motors.
Not “unexpected situations”.
Basics.
So please, for your family, your friends, and the oke boating next to you... 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.
And to the couple involved on Friday:
Our thoughts are with you and your families. No jokes. No bravado. Just strength.
Boating is supposed to be memories and sunsets... not NSRI calls and hospital visits.
Let’s keep it that way.
