Another Boating Nightmare

[Silvertip]

Here is yet another example of how things can go dreadfully wrong while boating. While it will take some time to sort out how and why this happened, I hope everyone takes to heart the reasons why life jackets should be worn under way and the safety lanyard needs to be functional and attached to the helmsman, Nav lights operational and their meaning understood. I'm intimately familiar with the Chippewa River and this is the second nasty collision that took lives. Just a couple of years ago a go fast boat landed on top of a pontoon with lots of folks aboard. Again it was at night and speed and alcohol were iinvolved. Common sense prevails folks. Boat safely and if you are the helmsman, leave the alcohol alone for the day. If I were a gambling man, I'd wager that alcohol and speed were involved in this crash.

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110725/ap_on_re_us/us_wisconsin_boat_crash

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

how terribly sad. no telling which operator was at fault, no point in guessing.

I suspect the mods will lock this soon; they have done so with recent posts of boat wrecks for some reason.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

This is from the Daily Mail (UK)

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Nothing to add accept just plain tragic. Operator error took lives.

 

[QC]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

I suspect the mods will lock this soon; they have done so with recent posts of boat wrecks for some reason.

We lock these for two reasons:

1) We don't want the forum to be obituaries, but we do appreciate the safety implications, and

2) Speculation about blame often gets nasty.

Pretty much it . . .

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

To the owners of the forum and to the moderators -- unfortunately the truth hurts so spread the word to those who think that overpowering boats is ok. Or that drinking and driving is ok. Or that wreckless disregard for safety is ok. Or that running without NAV lights is ok. Rather than blocking this stuff why not put it out there. Shielding the boating public from these events is like shielding kids from reality. This stuff happens. Be aware that it can happen and perhaps you might be able to avoid an incident like this. If posting this information saves just one life it is worth it even if it upsets some folks. Even the police subscribe to the "Scare them straight" policy.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Important threads like this need to remain open for a while, especially if it allows someone with accurate information to return and post findings. However, I would like to see individual posts that speculate fault or place blame edited or removed. Facts only, information disseminated, and condolences/prayers left.

 

[QC]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Rather than blocking this stuff why not put it out there. Shielding the boating public from these events is like shielding kids from reality.

Guys, nobody is shielding or blocking. The only reasons this type of thread ever gets locked are as I stated. The obit thing is much less the issue. Baseless speculation and the subsequent fighting usually kills them off. More up to you all than us

 

[Susquehanna Squid]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

All I can say is that, reducing speed after dark can and will save lives...... regardless of alcohol being involved or not.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

All I can say is that, reducing speed after dark can and will save lives...... regardless of alcohol being involved or not.

... and boating defensively (watching out for the other guy) is also a must, in the daylight or at night.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

As I stated in another post concerning saftey, the local lake that I primarily use is all within our village limits. Village has or had 2 patrol boats yet I hardly ever see them on the water. I myself would gladly welcome seeing them out more often. Even if it is only a few times each week, randomly selected times and days. Mornings, evenings, middle of the day!

Before they went under we had a local newspaper, come out once a week. It used to have a local police report and back then the number of tickets issued weekly on the two lakes was amazing! I would like to see it again and just maybe it would cut down on some of the nonsense! Suprisingly some of the waterfront property owners are the biggest culprits too!

 

[sdowney717]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

The speedboat had been at a bar

the person driving the speed boat might have been under the influence.
I wonder how that can be prevented.
We have a lot of freedoms that end up with severe consequences.

I dont think mandatory life vest wearing is the answer

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/514105-mraa-forms-opposition-to-mandatory-life-jacket-requirement
http://www.scma.com/newsletter/inde...ore-of-an-issue&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

For me as an adult, I want to be able to decide when and where to wear one.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Sad news. My reason for never owning a pontoon, they always loose.

 

[sasto]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

The title says it all "Nightmare"

What is starting to bother me is the fact that over the years, I have read and seen things like this happen, and it doesn't phase me anymore. I hope I'm not getting hardened at heart.

My thoughts and prayers to families and friends. That will never change!

 

[KermieB]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Put this accident in the same file as "Kids die in car while texting." As long as operators of motorized vehicles fail to be safe, these things will continue to happen. Tragic. Lives ruined needlessly.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

I know you aren't suppose to but just for this reason I leave all 3 nav lights on all the time, I fish a river with houses on both banks and it is way to easy to confuse a porch light for my all around but you aren't going to miss the LED red/green.

I night fish and speed in the dark is way stupid, everything looks different at night and you may "know" exactly where you are but not really be where you think you are adn you always have assume that some numb nuts is on the water with no lights, I see it all the time and they all get yelled at.

I came fairly close to hitting a pontoon a couple weeks ago, he was sitting in the middle of lake at 11pm with no lights on at all, got probably 10 yards from him before I saw him, had I been running faster than 10 mph I would have hit him, the night time speed limit in Indiana is 10 and that is to fast in some conditions.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

I know you aren't suppose to but just for this reason I leave all 3 nav lights on all the time, I fish a river with houses on both banks and it is way to easy to confuse a porch light for my all around but you aren't going to miss the LED red/green.

I night fish and speed in the dark is way stupid, everything looks different at night and you may "know" exactly where you are but not really be where you think you are adn you always have assume that some numb nuts is on the water with no lights, I see it all the time and they all get yelled at.

I came fairly close to hitting a pontoon a couple weeks ago, he was sitting in the middle of lake at 11pm with no lights on at all, got probably 10 yards from him before I saw him, had I been running faster than 10 mph I would have hit him, the night time speed limit in Indiana is 10 and that is to fast in some conditions.

5150afb,

You prevented a trajedy of which someone else would have been the cause. Your responsible boatmanship may have saved some lives that night. It certainly saved two boats some damage. Did you say anything to the person/people on the 'toon?

Oh, and by the way... Good job!!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

the person driving the speed boat might have been under the influence.
I wonder how that can be prevented.
We have a lot of freedoms that end up with severe consequences.

I dont think mandatory life vest wearing is the answer

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/514105-mraa-forms-opposition-to-mandatory-life-jacket-requirement
http://www.scma.com/newsletter/inde...ore-of-an-issue&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

For me as an adult, I want to be able to decide when and where to wear one.

It can be made mandatory just like seat belts in your car. No belt, I should not have to pay for your injuries in an accident regardless whose fault it is.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Silvertip, seeing as you are from that area what are the local boating laws on the Chip? I know that all the lakes down here in SE Wisconsin have "No Wake After Sunset". Yet day after day I see it ignored by all types of boats.

Believe it or not but it really upsets me when I see boaters out after Sunset with their running lights on and they are still pulling waterskiers! I've asked a few why and the answer I get is "because the water is calmer". DUH!!! Yeah, because everyone else has slowed to "NoWake". Yet they do not see how irresponsable that is. A skier down in the water under reduced light may not be seen! I know I would have a hard time living with myself if I were to hit someone in the water under those conditions.

I am also 50+ years old and have spent my entire life around boats and the water. I love it and want everyone to enjoy the pastime. But I also want them to do it responseably and safely! I would gladly pay an extra couple bucks at the ramp each time I used it or an extra twenty bucks a year for my sticker if all that money would go to better law enforcement on the water! And yes make the fines stiff and not just a slap on the wrist and you're on your way.

Fliing around on the water after dark in my minds eye is irresponsable. Dangerous even on wide open lakes such as Lake Geneva but when doing it on a river with blind corners it is suicide. I don't care how well one thinks they know the water!

A thought to ponder. Many people have reduced vision in the dark. Just because you can see them does not mean they can see you!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Silvertip, seeing as you are from that area what are the local boating laws on the Chip? I know that all the lakes down here in SE Wisconsin have "No Wake After Sunset". Yet day after day I see it ignored by all types of boats.

In WI the law is no wake 1/2 hour after sunset

In mn the law is no skiing 1 hour after sunset