Safe Boating - a sad lesson learned

[Black_Diamond]

More reasons to take a boating safety class.  Mom runs over her kids on a tube while distracted.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110818/news/708189675/print/

[Le Meez]

So sad! It only takes a second!

[pepmyster]

Not good, very sad..............

[Rinker342]

Sad, sad story.

[DaleM]

They are friends of another family I know on another boating forum.  The boat was a rental and inexperience most likely led to the tragedy.  Very sad!!  Tubing/skiing with no spotter??  Things like this should not happen.   

[raybo3]

What a shame. Can never be to carefull on the water.......

[Capt Ron]

Very sad lesson, these things can happen so fast. This is why I shake my  head when I see people sitting on the bow of a boat or dingy while underway. A father recently ran over his daughter who was launched from the bow of the dingy when a large wave broke her grip. She lost an arm and was lucky. The same thing happened to some friends on their way for supplies on an dingy. Luckily the operator had the good sense to kill the engine when his friend went airborne. Where we boat, the police will pull you over for having someone riding on the bow while underway. I don't think there is a law, however, they will caution such a risky move.

[Gene]

Underway in the cockpit. On the hook party away! I have been idling in the no wake zone with a passenger on the sun pad and warned to have them get in the boat, so thats my rule now as well as no shoes on the boat.

[ruwallydog]

With young kids we have never allowed anyone on the bow while underway as it just seems like you are asking for trouble.

When registering my boat before moving to AZ they sent me a copy of the boating laws which states that no passengers on the bow, gunwale, etc. while at anything more than "no wake" speed. Violations start with a minimum of a $250 fine along with a mandatory court appearance.

Wake speed or not it is just too risky.

Best!

-Kurt

[Black_Diamond]

Yup..being on the bow while underway is a no-go on my boat at any speed.  Not worth the potential trouble.

And no black soled shoes.  or heels!  Actually had a friends wife show up in heels once.   

[oversee]

It seems like the greatest risk factor is inexperience. She should have hired a boat with a crew so she could give all her attention to her kids. Whenever my kids are in the pool, I never stop watching them for a second. Tubing in deep waters in 10 times more dangerous and requires even more diligent attention. It is a great tragedy that didn't need to happen.

What did you do about the lady in heels? Did you let her aboard?

[bachelordude]

You have to take a driving course and a test to get a license to drive a car which is not too difficult, but anyone with money can buy a boat and go right out on the water without any training or test. There needs to be a law that a license must be aquired before getting the registration for your new boat or something like that. I boat on a inland lake in Va. with a bunch a rich arrogant snobs who dont have a clue what the "rules of the road" (water) are. They cut me off, knock me over when I am anchored back in a cove with their wake and dont have a clue why you are yelling at them. One stupid idiot on Lake Anna even said, you dont know this lake very well, this is "wakeboard alley" and we do what ever we want here. You cant fish here, we will sink your boat. What an ASS!!! I was on the side of a cove fishing and he kept coming real close with a wake boarder and rocking me pretty good. I yelled at him calling him a few names and he came back and wanted to fight me and didnt have a clue that he is responsible for his wake. He said I was in the worng for being on "his end of the lake". You find em evrywhere. Its a shame. No common sense at all.

[Lifes Good]

Yeah we have the same darn clowns here too!  You are responsible for your wake and the damage it causes!... It's the law and it's that simple!

So the next time you are in that spot enjoying a quite afternoon bring some large sticks and scatter them around the area.  That will knock some sense into the goofballs!

Actually just video them and take it the authorities...

LG

[Capt Ron]

You can't stop the idiots. We have boating licenses here and if you don't have it on you its an automatic $350 fine. It still doesn't stop them. Cottagers and boat owners never mix. We had an jerk shooting golf balls out at us because we were anchored out about forty yards from the front of his cottage. Apparently he thinks he owns the water too.

[nhsd]

Yeah we have the same darn clowns here too!  You are responsible for your wake and the damage it causes!... It's the law and it's that simple!

So the next time you are in that spot enjoying a quite afternoon bring some large sticks and scatter them around the area.  That will knock some sense into the goofballs!

Actually just video them and take it the authorities...

LG

While the people the prior poster was referring to are rude jerks, I do not see where he said they caused any damage. I believe he said they came close and rocked him pretty good. While you are responsible for damages caused by your wake, it has to actually cause some damage and that has to be proven. On the other hand, if someone sees you spreading large sticks around where others are wakeboarding and someone gets injured, you will not only be financially liable, you will be criminally liable. It is all well and good to get the testosterone pumping, but please let's not take it to the point of violence and injury to others!