That's what so tragic about this. If you look at the news video, the boat looks fine, and the engines are still idling as if nothing happened. Whenever you hear about a death, you at least expect to see some destruction of something. Yet two lives were gone in an instant. It's so easy to get complacent about safety issues and equipment, because nothing bad happens for such long periods of time. In fact, it's human nature.

My sincerest condolences go out to the families.

Michael

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It just taps into your ignition wires.

And I find it being more than typical.

Actually Chris Should be VERY Familiar at that particular place and it´s current ( I know I am years back ) so a lanyard or not does not help much if the persons are unconcius, they will drown there no matter what I´d say even with lifejackets..unless they are true offshore styles with big neck collars then they Might have a chance.

I was planning a stunt years back with a particular High Schools swim team to cross the might Ohio almost at that same point but found the stunt too risky because the current would take you sofar off that the distance crossing it might take you down..or a snag which I believe was the reason for this accident.

Mighty Ohio IMO is no place for a offshore boat speeding at that particular area.... It´s like running in Thames...

So does a brand new 35 Fountain (or any boat in the "right" conditions") at 75mph.... don´t ask how I know but I´m still writing.

On lanyards-

If you fall out and your boat keeps going, it makes it harder for rescuers to find you. You're also risking other people's lives with your now-unguided missile. As mentioned, it's also harder to climb back on board and rescue yourself, not to mention that being run over by your own boat. I keep reading comments about how lanyards may not help you save yourself, ignoring the obvious and most important function they have... keeping the craft from injuring others. This leads me to believe that there's not enough discussion about lanyards. So, what downside exists to wearing one?

On jackets- Do we really need to discuss why wearing one is important? Yet, many still don't. If you don't want to wear them, I really don't care. Unlike the lanyard, it's only you that you're risking. But maybe not- alot of the time I have less-experienced boaters or non-boaters with me. If I'm not wearing one, they'll likely assume they don't need one either. I think there's some implied responsibility there, but that's up to you. I know two people who drowned in separate incidents that 100% would have survived had they been wearing jackets. (one fell in after having a few and trying to take a leak standing on the sunpad- at night of course) I've been to the funerals and have seen their wive's and children's faces and I've seen the struggle they've put up to survive not having their husbands/fathers around. If you don't care about that or your own family, I don't know what to say.

Drinking? Picture yourself in an airport, about to put your kids on an airplane. As you're in line, the captain walks down the entryway, sipping on a Budweiser. Are you going to put your kids on the plane? Hey, he's only had a couple.

My comments are GENERAL and pertinent to so many of the stories we read about each and every season. You're right- no one knows yet why these people died. Since reports say the boat continued onward it can be safely presumed they weren't using a lanyard system. Since it took hours to find them, it's presumable they weren't wearing vests- or at least sufficient vests. If you feel that sensitivity will inspire or inform someone about the safety risks we all are exposed to, you continue on that path. Myself, I'd rather post something harsh and controversial that gets people talking. Sometimes it takes a slap to get someone to wake up. Many times on here it involves a newer boater or a guy moving from a bowrider to a performance boat for the first time. If they hit this thread and any of this makes them safer, then the rest of you can go right on thinking I'm an a$$hole.

These people dying is certainbly regrettable. If nothing else, I feel for their families. If it's determined that their own actions caused or contributed to their own demise, all I can say is that they made their own choices and they paid for them.

Your comments in particular struck me. You completely misinterpreted what I wrote.

To answer your question- no, you don't "deserve" to die. But what you do deserve to do is live with the consequences of your own actions.

I think often about my buddy who drowned. By himself, fell in off the back. Water was kind of cold. He had a few. I think about how he struggled to pull himself up but couldn't. Eventually he wore out and gave up. I wonder what those last moments were like- what he was thinking about. Of course he wasn't wearing a vest- he never did. We joked with him all the time about the coasties dragging the lake for his body. He'd either laugh or make jokes about being a strong swimmer. He was a guy who had gotten lucky so many times that he figured he was too skilled and too sharp to need the things others did. He was my friend and it was very sad but I still can't muster any real sympathy for him. I mostly feel anger about how it hurt his family and his friends.

[QUOTE=Chris Sunkin;2575430] being the insensitive a$$hole that delivers the message.

P.S. Cincy Enquirer confirms that boat was running in circles and that neither occupant was wearing a vest, per ODNR.

Rob is busy getting ready for the Aronow race. It's my week.

Don't know their situation, was not there and am not judging them. I do have sympathy for them. That was a horrible thing to happen to anyone.