Duck boat tragedy "storm came out of nowhere" BS

[robbyr]

I think what would be even worse, is watching your loved ones panic right next to you, becoming completely disoriented, then popping up and having them gone. Just agonizing. I feel for that woman that lost 9 members of her family. I can't imagine the initial terror, then the hurt in your heart afterwards.

That’s exactly what I keep thinking about. Very sad.

 

[jerrybob]

Lawsuits are coming...problems know for a long time.

NTSB questions duck boat safety 2 years ago, recommendations ignored - UPI.com

 

[3Ts]

It needs to be the "end". Those things were built for war not for commercial use.

We should eliminate ALL the things that were originally developed for war! Like canned food which was originally developed for Napoleon's campaigns. And of course, there's also the internet which was originally developed by the special projects group (DARPA) of the military. What about airplanes? Now, they were not originally developed for war, but most of the advancements in aviation were developed for war. And what about anitbiotics which were developed to treat injured soldiers in WW1? I could continue, but I think you get the point.

To me the real key is how the machine or technology is used. Not why it was developed.

 

[3Ts]

Even a "War machine" can be beneficial. For example: During hurricane Katrina aftermath, there was a military ship that docked in New Orleans. It provided a hospital, food distribution, and all the other services that a city normally supplies that the hurricane had destroyed.

And an aircraft carrier? Normally thought of strictly as a war machine, but if there is a disaster in some remote area near the ocean (like a tsunami) the aircraft carrier provides all the services needed such as hospital, fresh water (they make their own fresh water), food stores and include an airfield so that supplies can be flown in for relief.

 

[k0ua]

Even a "War machine" can be beneficial. For example: During hurricane Katrina aftermath, there was a military ship that docked in New Orleans. It provided a hospital, food distribution, and all the other services that a city normally supplies that the hurricane had destroyed.

And an aircraft carrier? Normally thought of strictly as a war machine, but if there is a disaster in some remote area near the ocean (like a tsunami) the aircraft carrier provides all the services needed such as hospital, fresh water (they make their own fresh water), food stores and include an airfield so that supplies can be flown in for relief.

They can also make electrical power to power a limited amount of nearby onshore facilities.

 

[k0ua]

The Mauser 98 Gewehr was developed for war, but sure makes a fine civilian bolt action hunting rifle.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You guys must have better weather reporting than us Canadians. In the last three months Environment Canada has issued Severe Weather Warnings. DOZENS! Not one came to fruition, at least not where I am. When the skies are clear, there is a warning. When all heck is breaking loose, wondering if a Tornado might be possible, I check the site and it says no warnings in effect. If I was a tour operator, I'd go broke if I listened to them.

I personally think climate change is responsible for our very local and violent weather events.

 

[Liquidsilver]

I've ridden them twice at that location with big family gatherings and we had lots of fun and memories.

The kookiness of the driver and his personality is one of the main features of the ride. They spend lots of time talking about the nostalgia of the ducks and how they were used in war.

The driver gave us all turns steering it around. I can tell you it steers like an odd shaped boat dock, driven by a trolling motor. As a boat, calling it feeble would be generous. And I don't know if the thing could even do 2mph on the water. (just my guess) Being a boater, aircraft pilot and motorcycle racer... I would not have put that thing in the water if I had any idea waves like that could happen. Unfortunately, this driver probably has put in in rough water many times and became overconfident.

I almost cried when I saw the entire mobile video shot from the Branson Belle, because it's such a familiar spot and I boat around there, too.

I don't want the ducks to go away, but I understand why people think they will. I want there to be kooky, quirky, somewhat dangerous activities in life, if people choose to participate.

BUT, having had my little ones and elderly relatives on these boats multiple times... I am FLABBERGASTED that the ducks will capsize if swamped, I don't understand how you could have a canvas top (major drowning hazard), roll-up side windows (major drowning hazard), on a craft that doesn't float when swamped... and with no life preservers on (which might not have mattered under the top). I'm kinda mad that they had all those potential liabilities looming, even if the weather was a complete anomaly.

I had my family on a small ski boat in Illinois one day, maybe 25 years ago when an unpredicted black cloud rushed over and had big whitecaps before I could get back to the dock. In 20 seconds, we had 6-foot waves coming over the front of the boat. We put life jackets on everybody and got the boat closer to shore where we could swim for it, if the boat capsized. The boat had two feet of water inside and struck the bottom at least once, but we made it to shore. Storms can surprise almost anybody I guess.

 

[ruffdog]

Were they telling the people not to grab the life preservers because it would have been added work for the boat operators to re-stow them?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't know how stable these things are. Maybe people getting off their seats would raise the center of gravity. I think DUCK TRUCK would be a more apt description.