Safety Corner - 2014
By Lohring Miller
NAMBA Safety Chairman
With the winter building season behind
us it’s time for all the usual safety
reminders. Model boating is an
exceptionally safe sport. Because of this
it is easy to remember that once in a
while people are seriously hurt and even
die around R/C boats. NAMBA’s most
important safety rule is do not operate
your R/C boat while full size boats,
people, or pets are in the water. Model
boats have seriously injured people and
pets when this has been ignored. At least
two deaths have resulted. Fortunately not
by NAMBA insured boaters.
Another common incident is falling
out of the retrieve boat. If you’re
wearing a life jacket, this will be
embarrassing but not fatal. However,
falling into cold water like that in the
rivers and ponds in the Pacific North-
west will cause severe shivering. This
will make it impossible to swim after as
short a period of time as ten minutes.
Hypothermia takes a lot longer so
drowning is usually the cause of death.
That happens to one or more people
rafting or canoeing every year in my
area. I do not care if you are an Olympic
swimmer. Wear a life jacket.
Spinning propellers are another
hazard. I have personally watched
experienced boaters stick a finger in to a
prop. Boats dropped so a propeller hits a
foot can cut through a boot with serious
consequences. Even stopped propellers
on electric boats need to be approached
with caution. If the radio is on, the
operator may decide to test it by blipping
the throttle. When retrieving a boat the
ESC should default to the off state, but I
would not always depend on it.
Fires are the last serious hazard.
Modern balancing chargers coupled with
modern speed controls that have low
voltage shutoffs have made it hard to
cause lithium polymer battery fires.
Even so, it is still possible to defeat these
safety measures and either over charge
or over discharge lithium polymer
batteries. Overloading usually only puffs
the battery, but caution should be used if
this happens. Put a puffed battery in a
safe area or a sand bucket and watch it.
PROPWASH
8
April 2014
In Memory of Betty Overton
By Dave Rychalsky
NAMBA History Chairman
Our NAMBA
Propwash
is a good place
to read about model boat racing activities,
engine modifications, rule updates, and basic
interfacing within the various groups of
racers as well as the non racers. It is also a
forum that provides information on members
and unfortunately, too many times, it
provides sad information.
On Saturday February 15, 2014 NAMBA
lost one of it’s “sweethearts” of all time.
Betty Overton, wife of racer William
Overton passed away suddenly. Betty had
been an active NAMBA and club member of the Sky Hydro Model Boat Club for over
twenty eight years. She attended more races than most active boaters, yet she never
raced. In District One, William would come to every race with Betty at his side. From
the moment I noticed Betty and William pull up in their car, I would make my way
over to greet Betty with a big hug and a kiss. If I was having a tough time, or there
was some type of confrontation, I would spend ten seconds with Betty and life would
be perfect. Betty was the sunshine on a rainy day and the calm in the middle of a
storm. She had a magic about her that quickly turned peoples frowns to smiles.
William and Betty attended many NAMBA national events and EVERONE knew
William and Betty. The effect she had on some people even carried all the way across
NAMBA. Our NAMBA Executive Secretary claimed that she was the only person on
the east coast who could bake the most awesome maple bar cakes.
I received the telephone call from William on that Saturday afternoon and I was
speechless. I have known both of them nearly 30 years and they were our Ozzie and
Harriet. At every race, William would be working on a boat, replacing an engine, or
preparing for a heat. Just off to the side was Betty looking on. She sat there with a
smile and was as supportive as anyone could ever be. She had sandwiches and drinks
for William and anyone else for that matter. As a member of Sky Hydro Model Boat
Club, Betty would help William with many aspects of model boating. When Sky
Hydro sponsored a District One race, Betty sat at the CD table helping out and
organizing the paperwork. One of the toughest jobs at a race is manning the scoring
table. The CD table is the nucleus of a racing event and to sit there all day can be
exhausting. Betty was a trooper and stayed there with a smile the entire day. I looked
forward to spending time sitting with Betty talking, kidding, and joking with her. In
seconds I could tease her and we would have a great laugh together. I can not fathom
the thought of going to a race now and not seeing Betty. Especially for me, the passing
of Betty is devastating.
Every year, new model boaters join NAMBA. Some try other hobbies and move
on. We see that in every district in NAMBA. The longer people stay in NAMBA, the
more affect they have on the rest of the model boaters. In my years as a District One
boater and District One Director, I have met hundreds of people in this great hobby.
Model boating was a big part of Betty’s life and she was a big part of our District One
family. I adored Betty and loved every single minute I spent with her. Even though
Betty never competitively raced one boat in her life, she had such a tremendous effect
on our district and all of our boaters. When we lose a relative, friend, co-worker or
acquaintance, we experience a sense of emptiness and pain. With the loss of Betty, this
hurts and will leave a mark that will never go away. For those that did not have the
opportunity to meet or know Betty, you will never know how special she was.
In her life, Betty had eight children and all of them loved spending time with their
mom. At Betty’s funeral, each had numerous stories to tell about their mom. As the
packed crowd listened, we all knew that our lives would now have a void. We will
miss you Betty.