Boat Accidents

Boat Accident Analysis





Engineering and safety in the marine environment has been a forte of the Miller Engineering staff members for more than two decades. Miller Engineering has performed the analysis and reconstruction of numerous boat accidents and is well-published in boating safety. Staff engineers hold positions of leadership and do volunteer work for various marine-related recreational and safety organizations.

Example areas of expertise include:

  • Occupant protection and ergonomics analysis
  • Personal watercraft design and safety
  • Accident reconstruction
  • Seating system evaluation and design
  • Handhold/boarding ladder evaluation and design
  • Operator visibility and vehicle conspicuity
  • Operator performance degradation and human factors analysis
  • Water skiing and diving safety
  • Water ski equipment and accessories design
  • Standards design and compliance
  • New product evaluation
  • Risk management
  • Litigation avoidance
  • Marine fire investigation and causal analysis
  • Carbon monoxide control and detection systems
  • FRP troubleshooting and quality control
  • Propulsion and vibration
  • Hull and structural design

Beginning with United States Coast Guard and Wyle Laboratories in the mid-1970’s, up through our most recent contracts with the Coast Guard through the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), the Miller Engineering staff offers a full range of engineering and consulting services to the marine industry. Some of our publications in this boating area are listed below.

References for Boating and Marine Applications

Boating Accidents

  • Main, B.W. (1995). Towards Reconstructing Minimum Speeds in Recreational Boating Accidents, SAE Technical Series Paper #950732. Presented at the Society of Automotive Engineers International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, MI, Feb 27 – Mar 2.
  • Miller, J.M., Main, B.W., Iqball, C.S. and Grieser, B.C. (1994). Occupant Protection in Recreational Boating, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard, September.
  • Miller, J.M. (1974). Identifying Human Factors Causes from Boating Accident Data. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 18th Annual Meeting (pp. 86-91). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society.

Boat Occupant Protection

  • Miller, J.M., Grieser, B.C. (August 1998). “Bowrider Backrest Height Variables: An Experimental and Simulation Study, Part II” Occupant Protection Phase III, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Miller, J.M., Grieser, B.C. (July 1998). “Boat Handhold Placement” Occupant Protection Phase III, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Miller, J.M., Grieser, B.C. (June 1998). “Boat Boarding Ladder Placement” Occupant Protection Phase III, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Miller, J.M., Grieser, B.C., Clark, D.R. ( April 1996). “Designs of Boat Handholds and Boarding Ladders: Principles and Examples,” DOTCG Grant No. 130202, NTIS PB96 195839XSP, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Miller, J.M., Grieser, B.C., Clark, D.R. (February 1996). “Bowrider Backrest Height Variables: An Experimental and Simulation Study,” DOTCG Grant No. 130202, NTIS PB96 195839XSP, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Miller, J.M., Grieser, B.C., Clark, D.R. (February 1996 ). “Experimental Determination of Lateral Boat Accelerations During Turns at Bow Seat Versus Stern Seat Locations,” DOTCG Grant No. 130202, NTIS PB96 195839XSP, Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Miller, J.M., Main, B.W., Iqball, C.S. and Grieser, B.C. (September 1994). “Occupant Protection in Recreational Boating,” Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Grieser, B.C., Arends, A., Minneman, G. (April.1994). “An Advanced… Propulsion System for a Tournament Inboard Ski Boat,” University of Michigan, BSE Senior Design Project.
  • Miller, J.M. and Wiker, S.F. (1983). Acceleration Exposures in Forward Seating Areas of Bowrider Recreational Boats. Human Factors, 25 (3), 319-328.
  • Miller, J.M. and Haas, T. (1980). Health Standards for Workplaces Aboard Inspected Vessels. Federal Register, 45 (29).
  • Miller, J.M. (1979). Human Factors Implications for Power Boat Design. In Proceedings of the Symposium on Power Boat Design, Boating Industry Association, Ann Arbor, MI.

Boat Operator Performance

  • Miller, J.M. with Clarke, R.M. (1974). Boating Operator Performance Stressors. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 18th Annual Meeting (pp. 512-522). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society.
  • Miller, J.M. and Gatchell, S. (1974). Boating Operators Maneuvering Responses Using Hand vs. Foot Throttles. Wyle Laboratories.
  • Miller, J.M. with Stiehl, C.C. (1974). Perception, Decision Making and Skill in Relation to a Boating Operator’s Performance. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 18th Annual Meeting (pp. 71-77). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society.
  • Miller, J.M. (1973). Human Factor Applications in Boating Safety. (Vol. I, NTIS #AD 780-988, Vol. II, NTIS #781-205). U.S. Coast Guard Contract.

Boat Operator Visibility

  • Miller, J.M. and Gatchell, S. (1977, February). The Visual Behavior of Recreational Boat Operators (Final Report to U.S. Coast Guard).
  • Miller, J.M. (1974). An Experiment to Test the Visual Detection Capabilities of Boating Operators Under Representative Stressors. Wyle Laboratories.

Diving

  • Miller, J.M. (1979). Educational/Scientific Diving (ANPR). Federal Register, 44(161).