April 2022 Propwash Web

I think stands made from PVC pipe set in a concrete filled coffee can or similar base every 10 feet or so would work to support it. It may take a few stakes set in the pond as well as a secure anchor on each end. Of course, the PVC posts would fall over and sometimes break when a boat hit the net. However, the boat would be trapped undamaged and couldn’t go very far. I only observed two boats hitting the shore at this past year’s Nationals. Though Legg Lake is used as the example in this article, the same solution would fit other ponds with a low bank and close pedestrians. Otherwise caution tape or light duty orange construction netting can be used to keep pedestrians a safe distance from the pond edge. Secretary News By Al Waters NAMBA Secretary There are quite a few impactful rule proposals that have been passed. They are included in your Propwash packet. Be sure and keep your rule book updated. There are a couple of Gas proposals to currently vote on. You can log in to your membership portal account and vote or watch for the secure voting e-mail and click on the link. I send that link out every week until you vote, or the voting period expires. If you are a NAMBA member, you can vote. You may notice that there is not much in this newsletter about the 2021 50th NAMBA Nationals. Watch for an online photo version coming in April on the NAMBA web site and Facebook page. Winners, fires, and parties. We have it all. The 50th Anniversary of the NAMBA Nationals race entry form is included in this newsletter. The location will be in beautiful Seaside, California. Just separate the staples in the middle of this newsletter and remove the race entry form. Eeezy Peezy. See you in Seaside. Safety Corner Post Nationals (Continued from page 23) The first line of defense is the pond edge. If the bank is jumped, the boats usually don’t travel far. However, at Legg Lake there is a low bank combined with a large number of people close to the pond edge. In the past a boat has gone over this pond edge and seriously injured a pedestrian. A few similar accidents have happened at other ponds. PROPWASH 24 April 2022 Pond edge near right turn at the Nationals This situation can be a lot safer with a safety net. The most notable use of safety netting is at Lake Minden where the boating area is separated from other users by a net across the lake. This net has been used for years and is very effective. The net is supported by buoys and is tied on both ends. The Lake Minden net It’s made from standard sports netting like tennis nets, baseball batting nets. and similar. This netting is much stronger than the orange construction nets that are used to separate pedestrians from construction sites. This is not to be confused with safety netting on construction sites that is designed to stop debris. A simple baseball stop style net 4 feet high supported on stands placed around 10 feet from the shore should be enough. It should run from the driver’s stand right end along the right bank to the right shore. I priced a 4 foot by 300 foot net at $621.00 from Net World with 1-7/8 inch (48 mm) mesh and 2.5 mm twine. If you really want to be safe a 7 foot x 300 foot net costs $918. See https://www.networldsports.com/ball-stop-netting- multi-sport-custom-sized.html. The picture to the right shows a proposed location for a 300-foot-long net. Net Edge Net Location – Legg Lake