On Tue, 2 Aug 2011 14:09:56 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

Sunday, I watched a guy use a bow and arrow to shoot a mullet and
retrieve it on the Wakulla River here in N. FL. The Wakulla River is
spring fed and very clear so he had a good view of his target but it
was still a great shot yielding a very large mullet.
While going upriver at "no wake" speed, people were pointing into the
water ahead of me and I tried to turn and put the engine in neutral.
As we glided over, a manatee swam by only a foot beneath us looking
like an entire sand bar was moving. I can see how they can be
difficult to avoid even at very slow speed as they may not move as you
expect and they also change depth. They act as if they simply do not
know boats are there. Later, we saw a smaller one about 5' long and
watched it awhile and it seemed to be asleep not knowing of any of the
boats around.
I believe the manatees simply do not hear boats because they act as if
they are sleep swimming. Any possibility of a device similar to the
"deadman" device on a lawnmower that would stop a prop quickly?

==============

Mmmm, manatees, some say they taste like chicken, others say more like
eagle. What we really need are more, and bigger, alligators.

All kidding aside the manatees lack situational awareness just as you
say. Dolphins swim in and around boats all day long and almost never
get hit. Meanwhile down in SWFL if someone wants a slow speed zone in
front of their house, all they need to do is claiim that they once saw
a manatee there. It's good to see that they are migrating north in
the summer however. Now if we could just get them to go back to the
West Indies in the winter like they are supposed to.