I’m Mad as Heck To See This Senseless Tragedy

I frequently write about boating safety and fear that my articles are often ignored.  This story is a prime example of why safety measures and warnings should not be ignored.  Safety saves lives!

It’s been just over  a week since the tragic Duck Boat incident at Table Rock Lake.  Many families lives were ripped apart due to the loss of loved ones during what should have been a nice boating experience.  A thunderstorm with gale force winds flew into the Table Rock Lake area last Thursday and while many boaters quickly headed back to the dock, the duck oat entered the lake and quickly was overcome by wind and high waves.

Ultimately the boat sank and 17 lives were lost.  Not a single person was wearing life jackets, not even the babies and young children. This is just part of the reason I am so mad. The captain knew about the storms and decided to go out anyway telling passengers they would not need their life jackets.
The other senseless part of this tragedy is not heeding the warning.  Thunderstorms had been predicted up to two hours before the boat sank.  As I said before, the captain knew there were storms coming and still chose to enter the lake. KMBC’s Bryan Busby reflects on how this all could have been prevented in his video. Weather forecasters do their job to keep us safe.   Our meteorologists have years of training and costly equipment to predict what may happen.  When they predict that conditions are ripe for bad weather and warn us to act appropriately there is valid science behind them.  Most times the warning pass and everyone is safe but not always.  This sad story is a reminder to take all weather warnings seriously.  

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends affected by this event.  A gofundme page has been started for the Coleman family survivors.

Too often these outings turn tragic

There have been awesome memories made out on the water with friends and family. Boating can be a great time whether you are spending a sunny day fishing, skiing or tubing.  While these events help us bond with each other, boating accidents from reckless or ignorant behavior can rip friends and family apart.

Here are some interesting statistics from the US Coast Guard:

In 2017, the Coast Guard counted 4,291 accidents that involved 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries and approximately $46 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.

81% of deaths occurred on boats where the driver had not received boating safety instruction. In contrast, only 14% percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator received a boating safety education from nationally approved institutions.

The top five contributing factors in accidents are:
  Operator inexperience
  Alcohol Use
  Improper Lookout
  Operator inattention
  Machinery Failure


There were 172 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller. Collectively, these accidents resulted in 31 deaths and 162 injuries.

So what can responsible boat owners do to insure safety out on the water?

Federal Safety Requirements for recreational boats are written and enforced by the US Coast Guard.  These regulations are detailed in a 82 page document called A Boaters Guide to Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats.  Page 42 of the document lists the requirements based on the size of your boat.  For our purposes, we are discussing boats up to 26 feet in length. Their list starts with reminding boaters that they need the required state numbering and licensing then the remaining 8 items are about safety.  Those items are included in our list below but please review their site for complete details.

We recommend all boaters review this document in its entirety as it address safety in operating your boat as well.  The US Coast Guard offers several courses in boating safety. More information can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/boating-safety-courses.php

In summary, take a few extra minutes this year before you get out with your boat to be sure you have the proper safety equipment.  Do it now and at the beginning of each season.  A few safety precautions can mean the difference between fun and disaster.

Boat Safety Items:

Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit
Life Jackets
Whistle or Air Horn
Flash Light
Electric distress signals
Flares
backfire flame arrestor for non-outboard motors
Gas Tank Ventilation
Navigation Lights
Screw Driver
Pliers
Spare Prop
Prop Nut Wrench
Duct Tape

Happy Independence Day

US Boatworks will be open this Tuesday, JULY 3 from 9-5 pm to serve you for the July 4th holiday. We may even be open a few hours on Wednesday, July 4th as our staff will be in during the morning hours to catch up on some work.  If you need us on the 4th, call before coming down.

This July 4th many families will travel to their favorite lake and take their boat out on the water. As usual, hours of preparation go into getting ready for an outing at the lake. Preparation most likely will include cleaning your boat, tuning up the engine and making boat repairs as necessary. Over the last few years, I have written many articles with tips on getting your boat out on the water.  You can find tips about boat engine preparation from the article I wrote this spring.  An important part of this preparation always should include safety items. Check out our list of boating safety equipment every boater should have on board.  We strongly recommend having your boat safety inspected by a trained professional to be sure you have covered all the recommended safety measures.  After all that hard work preparing for your day on the lake, we hope everyone has a great holiday and that your boat runs great.

We appreciate all of our valued customers and know that our success is only because you come back year after year.  Thank you for supporting US Boatworks.