Duck boat tragedy "storm came out of nowhere" BS

[wagne223]

You can't assume cognizance...if accidents were expected they would not be called accidents...

This tragedy was caused by the culpability of the owners and operators of a vessel for hire It's their duty to inform passengers of conditions and safety measures...

I agree wholeheartedly. It was the operator's responsibility to avoid foreseen situations that endanger their clients.

 

[/pine]

As I previously pointed out...All vessels carrying passengers for hire must be equipped with Marine VHF radios...they all have WX channel capabilities...it is the duty of a captain for hire to be informed of the most up to date forecasts provided by the NWS...
The most compelling (weather) evidence will be the content of the (marine) forecasts that were being broadcast over said WX channels prior to the tragedy...

 

[wagne223]

It does beg the question. If those PFDs were not for a situation like that, what were they intended for? Maybe just To pass CG requirements.

In those final moments, with that Duck riding so low in the water, it MUST have been full of water. And that still isn't a reason to at least attempt to hand out the PFDs? AT least to children or seniors.

Just a note, in FL since I was a child it has been law that any person under 16 must wear a PFD at all times when on watercraft. For those over 16, there must be a PFD available for each person on the vessel.

PFD's are like seatbelts. Statistics show that a person is more likely to be saved by using the device then to become trapped by using it.

Not agreeing or disagreeing with government intervention in stupidity.....just stating what the law is.

 

[wagne223]

As I previously pointed out...All vessels carrying passengers for hire must be equipped with Marine VHF radios...they all have WX channel capabilities...it is the duty of a captain for hire to be informed of the most up to date forecasts provided by the NWS...
The most compelling (weather) evidence will be the content of the (marine) forecasts that were being broadcast over said WX channels prior to the tragedy...

I have no doubt that the weather radio was sending the warnings.

Whether the radio worked, and was set to give the emergency tone we may never know.

Most VHF radios offer the ability to turn off the alert feature.

We would always perform a radio check as part of our pretrip inspection.

 

[wagne223]

As I previously pointed out...All vessels carrying passengers for hire must be equipped with Marine VHF radios...they all have WX channel capabilities...it is the duty of a captain for hire to be informed of the most up to date forecasts provided by the NWS...
The most compelling (weather) evidence will be the content of the (marine) forecasts that were being broadcast over said WX channels prior to the tragedy...

Of course being on an inland water way, cell phones should have been within range.

There is really no excuse for the captain to have not known of the impending weather.

 

[Sigarms]

The report I have read was that when the DUCKs went into the water it was calm and then the wind and waves hit. It can be very difficult to turn in waves, and from the video I have seen, the operator of the DUCKS was trying to keep the bow into the waves. At the point, that is all they could do because if they turned they would have flooded.

If that kind of boat is that susceptible to flooding due to waves, I'm sorry, but if there is ANY chance of waves forming on the lake due to weather, the boat does NOT go out, no ifs ands or butts.

One thing when you're doing something on your own and you're responsible only for yourself. It's somthing entirely different when you have paying customers and it's your business.

 

[Sigarms]

Just a note, in FL since I was a child it has been law that any person under 16 must wear a PFD at all times when on watercraft. For those over 16, there must be a PFD available for each person on the vessel.

PFD's are like seatbelts. Statistics show that a person is more likely to be saved by using the device then to become trapped by using it.

Not agreeing or disagreeing with government intervention in stupidity.....just stating what the law is.

Couple of months ago we were down in Florida and went to St. Augustine. We took the state guided tour by watercraft to the one fort. Bunch of people and kids on the boat, and not ONE "kid" was wearing a life jacket. Both my boys are 13. What is this law you speak of?

 

[/pine]

FL law
Children under the age of 6 must wear a Type I, II or III PFD at all times if they are on a vessel under 26 feet in length unless the boat is "anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground." Outside of Florida state waters, children under the age of 13 are required to wear a PFD unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

 

[Sigarms]

FL law
Children under the age of 6 must wear a Type I, II or III PFD at all times if they are on a vessel under 26 feet in length unless the boat is "anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground." Outside of Florida state waters, children under the age of 13 are required to wear a PFD unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

I'm guessing the pontoon boat was around 40' in length, which is why kids didn't have to wear PFD's.

 

[wagne223]

FL law
Children under the age of 6 must wear a Type I, II or III PFD at all times if they are on a vessel under 26 feet in length unless the boat is "anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground." Outside of Florida state waters, children under the age of 13 are required to wear a PFD unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

Thanks for the clarification /pine.
I was recalling the 13 yo law but thought it was 16.