Another boating no-no!

[Silvertip]

One adult and three kids under five in a boat does not make for a safe outing as the following story reveals. Kids are kids and they need constant attention at that age. I know this lake well. Fortunate for everyone they were seen.

Updated: 06/07/2010 09:04:14 AM CDT

A man who was boating with three children Sunday
morning on Lake Holcombe was flown to an Eau Claire
hospital after falling overboard and being struck by
the boat's propeller.

Around 9:15 a.m., a 1-year-old on the boat had fallen
overboard near Isle Bay Resort, according to a news
release by Chippewa County sheriff's Capt. Eugene
Gutsch.

The boat's operator, James Braaten, 31, of White Bear
Lake, attempted to grab the child as the boat was in
motion when he also fell into the water. Braaten
received a severe laceration to this leg after being
struck by the propeller of the 17-foot inboard boat.

A 3-year-old and 5-year-old still were in the boat at
the time of the incident.

After being struck, Braaten was able to hang onto the
back of the boat until the 5-year-old shut off the
engine by turning the key. People on shore at Isle Bay
used a pontoon boat and lifted the 1-year-old, who was
wearing a life vest, from the water. People on the
pontoon boat also brought the boat with the two
children and Braaten to shore.

Cornell Fire Department and EMS treated and transported
the Braaten to a landing zone, where he was flown by
Mayo One to Luther Hospital. The three children were
treated at the scene and released to their mother.

The incident remains under investigation by the
Chippewa County Sheriff's office with the assistance of
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the
Wisconsin State Patrol.

Braaten's condition was not available Sunday.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Another boating no-no!

wow bet that was scary. even if nothing bad had happened, that poor guy is either crazy or stupid for taking 3 kids that young by himself.

 

[convergent]

Re: Another boating no-no!

Wow... that does seem like bad judgement by that guy and think goodness it didn't end worse. At least they had life jackets on and he didn't lose a leg. At a minimum in that scenario I'd think the driver would have the kill switch attached to him.

But, its not just under 5 that are a problem really. Its all about the adults being aware and safe. I saw two things in the last week that made my head spin.

One was a guy in a jon boat going out with 5 kids fishing that looked to be about 8 and under. So six people casting and fishing in a jon boat... most of them under 10. If they made it through the outing without someone getting hooked in the head with a lure it was a miracle.

The other was a guy in a center console boat with 5 girls that looked to be 12-13. They were launching the boat. The dad was in the car, 4 of the girls in the boat, and one holding a rope on the dock. The problem was the girl on the dock was holding the very, very end tip of the rope and already leaning to reach it before he backed all the way in. The docks angled out from the ramp like a pie slice. I looked and thought ...is she going in the lake, or is she going to let go of the rope? (I was too far away to offer to help) The guy in the car yells, "have you got it?". She yells back, "Yep!". He starts to back and she immediately dropped the rope rather than fall in, and didn't say anything. A few seconds later he yelled again, "You got it, right?". She yells back, "Nope!". The boat was then drifting around with the girls in it while the man ripped off his shirt and shoes and waded out chest deep on the ramp to retrieve it. At one point he ended up with the boat backwards with the motor facing against the trailer before he ever got control and got it tied up to the dock.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another boating no-no!

I don't think it's a good idea to launch or retrieve with people in the boat, unless its an operator and circumstances make it necessary. Too many things can happen.

Lots of guys do whatever they can to get the children involved in boating. In principle, that is great. In practice, safety is paramount. One adult can't take care of a 1,3, and 5 YO in an emergency. But the five YO needs to kow how to yank the kill switch.

 

[lrlima]

Re: Another boating no-no!

wow, im so nervous that something would go wrong that i will not go out with my just me and my 3yr old yet unless my wife is with us. too much to deal with on a busy lake, launching, etc while ensuring our safety. Glad they are all ok...

 

[JimS123]

Re: Another boating no-no!

Boating is a family sport and should involve the kids no matter how young they are. Four cardinal rules:

1) always 2 adults on board
2) always use the kill switch lanyard
3) both adults need to know how to operate the boat
4) lifejackets for everybody when underway

 

[roscoe]

Re: Another boating no-no!

Lake Holcombe is about 50 miles from me. I was just there last Wednesday. A friend has had a cottage there for 40 years.
Won't venture out on the water on weekends, until October.

A go fast hit a pontoon full of people a few years ago, in the dark.
The pontoon was docked and the dock had lights on it.

It is a good sized body of water, but over crowded.
Apparently everyone from the cities has given up on MN lakes, and have moved east.