Another tragedy - disturbing!!

[QC]

This one has been hanging with me for over a week. Didn't want to post at first, but with the Swimming Around the Boat thread and the housebout tragedy, felt I needed to. We were near here and know that area well, so it was a little too close to home for us. Obviously someone made a huge mistake, but it just reminds me how quickly stuff can happen. I am requiring my 16 year old who is spending more time at the helm these days to read before next trip. I have looked for updates for over a week, but there have been none that I can find. I always require someone to look behind my boat before I put her in gear and I ask for a "clear". Usually count all passengers too, but when the wind is blowing and I am heading for trouble things happen pretty fast. Keep 'em all safe this season!!!<br /><br />I just can't handle thinking of this tragedy unfolding . . . <br /><br /> http://www.nps.gov/lame/05-029.html

 

[vipzach]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

God I hate to be rude in the wake of somebody's tragedy....what the hell was somebody thinking? "Hey everybody's back there swimming.....I think I will be cute and drive off with there boat."<br />That story just blows my mind how it could happen. Maybe it was nothing like that at all! I don't know.

 

[QC]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

I am with you Vipdude; more than one life was destroyed that day IMHO. It is so easy to eliminate that type of accident, but who knows, new boaters? Alcohol? Stupidity? Honest extremely dumb mistake? Who knows? That is why I keep looking for updates. Just imagine the horror though . . . It truly is eating me up!!

 

[Twidget]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

That is a really sad story. How does one 'accidently' turn on the motor and put it in gear? I really hate that the guy died for what was a bone headed move.

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Sad, sad! Maybe his neutral safety switch was not working or even connected, this is often an issue on used boats. Another good reason to be OCD about taking the keys out of the ignition even if just beached or anchored for a swim.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Truly a sad story, and we'll see many more as the season goes on. The more I see such things, the more I think some sort of license is needed for running a boat. I know...that smacks of government control...but what the heck!<br /><br />What I see most often right now is alcohol being part of the equation. That's already illegal, but there just aren't that many boat cops on the lakes.<br /><br />I boat and fish on weekdays, only. I just can't deal with the yahoos who are out on the weekends. From the ramp to the lake, they're out in force everywhere I go. So...I stopped going except during the week.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Quietcat raises a very good point with the article....how many of us have kids or grandkids that love to jump off the water craft for swimming? I got 4 that love the toon and look forward to a day on the river and swimming. <br /><br />Bet me the keys come outta' the switch from now on.<br /><br />Thanks for safer day on the water Quietcat...

 

[STRIPMINER]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Here in Connecticut we have mandatory permitting for the use of power boats. You must have a permit to operate any power vessel on a CT waterway. The class is safety oriented and uses tons of common sense. Permits are issued to those 12 years old and up. You only have to be permitted once, I firmly believe that my state has saved countless lives by teaching its residents how to use a boat safely. As you can imagine there is a segment within the class on alcohol and the water.... Such a shame. <br /><br />I have an old rule onboard my boat, ,anyone near the transom in the water, engine off, anyone doing repairs or inspection to lower unit, engine off ,, keys out

 

[QC]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

I actually don't require the key out for a swim. There are times that I need to start quickly and also may actually have someone else start for me if I am manning the anchor etc., so I don't want to be fumbling around for a key. Have decided this is a safety issue too. I do require key out like The Stripper when messing with the drive/prop etc.<br /><br />Again, what I do is yell "clear?" and wait for an acknowledgement "clear". Kinda like a propeller driven airplane pilot. With the heat where we boat (and where this traqgedy happened) we stop to swim a LOT. Also, we are skiers/wakeboarders/tubers, so I have always had to deal with people in the water. To be honest, I have caught myself when I see us blowin' into shore or a shoal where I have begun to get ready to start quicker than I should . . . That is why I mentioned that things can happen so fast even to a seasoned boater.<br /><br />BTW, I mentioned alcohol as a possibility with this accident. No confirmation of that . . . yet.

 

[wmteich]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

It was mentioned in these replies, but I must ask- What is a safety neutral awitch? What is it's purpose? How can one determine if their boat has one? How can you check if it is working properly? Thanks...

 

[QC]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

wmteich,<br /><br />It only allows you to start when the drive is in the neutral position. If it is not in place it is possible to start withthe drive in gear and the propeller would turn immediately upon start-up. A problem for the scenario we are discussing here and could be more than emnarrasing around the dock too . . . <br /><br />Pretty easy to check if you have it. Shut the boat off in gear and try to restart. If it won't start and then does when you move the shifter to neutral, then you have one.

 

[cuzner]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

First thing I tell people coming with me to tube, swim, or anything else with people in the water, motor is OFF any time people are entering, exiting or swimming around the boat.It realy sucks to hear about something like this, .<br /><br /> Jim

 

[beezee28]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

What about the kill switch? Shouldn't the kill switch and the key be taken out when there are swimmers at the back of the boat? That would be the first thing one should have done so that there are no accident waiting to happen. When I go boating and beach the boat for my kids to swim I take the lanyard to the kill switch off and also the key out so that no one can start the boat even by "accident". That is one saftey lesson and rule I learned way back.

 

[MudIsFun]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Darn... I was just at Telephone cove this weekend and it was disturbing watching how many people there really have no idea how to boat. Saw 7 trucks get stuck in a hole on the ramp and have to get towed out, watched a large group apparently not understand what a flat wake zone is or what those bouys even mean. After seeing the absolute lack of knowledge, concern and or common sense at Mohave I can understand how this tradgedy occured. <br /><br />Sad, just sad.

 

[tommays]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

it really doesent matter how many things you take out if you dont LOOK there could just as easly be someone from another boat swiming right up behind you<br /><br />its really no different than a car people have tragedies in there driveway everyday<br /><br />and it really points out the inportance of letting you crew no that theres no such thing as fooling around with the controls from the second they board your boat<br /><br />tommays

 

[jdizzil4shizzil]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

tommays... if thats a monkey bar on a 175 bayliner... 3.0 we got the same darn boat

 

[QC]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Yeah Mud, I actually hate Mohave. Least favorite of the four biggees; Mead, Powell, Havasu and we even like Parker still. Anyway, I am not a big fan of kill switches unless you are on those flippin' PWCs or maybe a bass boat or other 60+ MPH boat. Think they can even be a safety hazard in some cases, but that is another debate.<br /><br />I always say "there are only two rules on my boat: No sand and No drowning, listed in order of importance". I am guessing I need to start rethinking that . . . I actually show new passengers where I stow the PFDs, but I don't do any key or start-up discussions. I rarely leave the helm unless I am in the water. I'll mull this one over on Mead this next week.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Truly tragic, and preventable, I am sure. I have seen too many stupid things happen that turned a nice day (or night) at the lake ugly quickly. In most cases alcohol has been involved, but there have been some that were just plain stupidity.<br /><br />I always try to personally do a visual before starting, but I do always have someone check - for ropes, debris, shallow areas, or people, before turning key. It has saved props, tow ropes, fingers, toes, and maybe some lives.<br /><br />Common sense and a little patience and care go a long way in stopping accidents.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

I just about saw the same thing happen down a few slips from me this last weekend. A guy with a house boat was trying to get his shifter adjusted. Him in the water at the stern while his buddy was trying it while running. He was keeping himself about 8 feet away, but still if it engaged into reverse, it could have pulled him right into it. Another Darwin Award candidate for sure.<br /><br />Nobody swims behind my boat, too big of an oil slick!.........Jus kiddin

 

[Watercanuck]

Re: Another tragedy - disturbing!!

Very sad story. Whenever I take the family out swimming from the boat before anybody gets into the water I raise the sterndrive and the keys come out.<br /><br />We have new permits in effect here which I think are a good idea. http://www.boaterexam.com <br /><br />John