Classic case of what can happen when you don't follow Collision Regulations - The sailboat clearly had right of way and the automobile should have taken early and substantial action to avoid the collision
The boat looks brand new. Wonder if they were towing it home after purchase?
It is a big one alright. Looks like the bow probably finishes in line with the front of the windscreen, and with the front of the keel hard up against the back of the car, that would be what 3 metres? So if the front of the keel is roughly 1/3 back from the bow, then the thing is something around 9 metres. Big boat.
Also, that fin keel would have to be ballasted, so a 9 metre keel boat would have to be at least 1.8 tonnes, plus say 700kgs ballast; so maybe 2.5 tonnes, plus the trailer at 400kgs for a dual axle job. All up a 3 tonne tow. Exactly what BMW were thinking when they put that model out, no doubt.
40Toes wrote:Classic case of what can happen when you don't follow Collision Regulations - The sailboat clearly had right of way and the automobile should have taken early and substantial action to avoid the collision
When interviewed, the driver said "Yeah, that S.O.B. was riding my bumper for *miles*... everywhere I went he just kept following me... I even pulled over a couple of times to let him pass, but noooOOooooo... I just finally got fed up and hit the brakes!"
Shiny new boat..... Shiny new car..... Massive self-inflicted FAIL.....
These are pictures of a French "biloup" sailboat that created an incredible havoc in a freeway.
The owner said:
2t de tracteur à l’avant (Patrol 6 cyl), une remorque de 600kg, un Biloup de 2500kg environ... une vitesse de 80km/h voila les données théoriques. Pourquoi????
J.Teixeira wrote:...The owner said:
2t de tracteur à l’avant (Patrol 6 cyl), une remorque de 600kg, un Biloup de 2500kg environ... une vitesse de 80km/h voila les données théoriques. Pourquoi????
Jose
Translation for those not speaking French:
"2-metric ton (4409 lbs) tow-vehicle in front (Nissan "Patrol", aka "Safari", 6 cylinder), a trailer weighing 1323 lbs, a boat (a Wrighton "Biloup" model) weighing approximately 5512 lbs... a speed of 50 mph. You see the statistical data. Why (did this happen)????"
OK, so he's towing a 6,835 lbs load with a 4,409 lbs Nissan Patrol/Safari, which has a rated tow capacity of 7716 lbs (3500 kg) braked and 1653 lbs (750kg) un-braked. Hmmm...
The total towed weight probably had little to do with the accident. Notice in the first picture that the rear of the tow vehicle is down and the front up, due to too much tongue weight. My bet is, that this lead to instability and lack of steering control. Balance is everything.