Learning from a boating related tragedy.
 

Hi guys, sorry to dampen spirits on a Friday but i just returned from a b-trip and learned that one of my friends was involved in an accident last sunday. I'm sharing this story in the hopes that it may help our members to avoid similar tragedy.

Late (light but uncrowded) sunday on Beaver lake my buddy and his wife were out in their 27' Mariah with another couple and three children ages 9-15 belonging to the visiting couple. The 3 kids were on a tube, my buddy was driving. The driver apparently let his attention drift, either to the 3 adults or watching the fun the kids were having.

Last minute, he realized he was heading for the rocky shoreline, instinctively he cut hard to avoid a boat/shoreline collision. While the boat missed, the tube was swung into the shoreline with 3 kids aboard. The fifteen yr old died, one badly injurred and one bruised some. Obviously a terrible tragedy.

My friend was tested as part of procedure- he had a BAC of .008% which is barely on the map, well below limits etc. He had admitted to consumption earlier in the day but practiced moderation. He is not new to boating, and is a very hands on conscientious guy. I'm not trying to make excuses for him, just trying to illustrate that something of this magnitude occured under circumstances where you would not expect it. The state is charging him with various boating and negligence misdemeanors.

Please pray for these families and learn from this in your own boating safety practices.:( :( :( :(

That is terrible. I know the law couldn't do anything worse to him than he is doing to himself. My sympathy to all involved.
It shows my premise that on the water, things can go very bad, very quickly.

:( :( :( :(

Had my kids on the tube this weekend. Scary....

Sorry for their loss:( :(

My heart goes out to both of these families. We have 2 small children, and I can't imagine losing either of them. Unfortunately, this accident demonstrates something I have always felt to be true. Just don't drink if you are going to drive the boat...EVER! While the BAC was definitely off the map and most likely not a factor in this accident, it showed up and now causes questions to arise. What a bummer. Like Cuda said, there is nothing the law can do to him that could make him feel worse. I always tell my husband that it isn't worth the risk....If you have had a drink or two and are involved in an accident that isn't even your fault (ie: a pwc turns into your boat etc.), who do you think they are going to point the finger at first? Especially if you are driving a big expensive offshore boat! We have a bad rep, and I for one think it should be cleaned up. Why can't we just party on the dock, then if I fall in because I am inebriated, then it's my own fault.

Ok, remove the soapbox. Again, my sympathies to both of the families. They are going to need a lot of prayers.

I agree that a drink or two before an accident would look bad. I would even argue that it was a factor. But 0.008 is nothing... We've talking cough syrup dosage here. Alcohol was not a factor in this case, just a terrible accident.

:( :( :( :( :(

How terrible!!!:( :( They'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

It lets you know thhat speed is not the only thing that kills on the water. Have fun, but be careful!!!:)

Frequency,

Sorry if I was misunderstood:( I definitely agree with you...This was just a terrible accident. Just wish alcohol wasn't even mentioned.

:( What a Tragedy :(

:( My prayers and thoughts go out to the families and people involved.
I can't even bring myself to think what the driver of the boat must be going through right now.
I do appreciate the thread, becasue I have four small children that love to go tubing, jet-skiing, etc. and it really makes me stop and think.
Thank you for posting this and I hope you can convey the sentiment from this board.
John Fairleigh

No problem TBikini. A friend of my son was involved in an accident right outside my office this week. Chasing a buddy through a left hand turn at an intersection. Didn't see the semi right in front of him. He's broken up bad, but he will recover. On land or water, constant vigilence is required....

(Will I seen that new AT docked at Eastport any time soon?)

:( My deepest Condolences:(

Our hearts go out to their family and friends. Things can turn so tragic so quickly.:( :( We all enjoy the water and sometimes forget how fast things can happen. My thoughts and prayers for the family and the children recovering. Is there an email or address we can send some condolences?

Saw the coverage on the news the last couple days, made me sick to hear what happened, but yes, we can ALL learn several lessons from this...just a hard sad way to learn.

WM

That is so terribly sad. :(

Last weekend we took our boat out for the first time. Our boys (ages 5 and 8) were on the tube for the first time and having a blast.

Shortly after they came on back on board, we started to head out of the main body and into a narrower canyon ....there were several boats ahead of us, all heading the same direction as we were....

I was sitting in the back seat and my husband turned to look at me -- just for an instant. Suddenly, the pontoon on our right, decided to cut sharp to the left out of the blue -- directly into our path! My husband was still looking back at me, so I screamed "Look out!"..... at my scream, he suddenly changed course, and we were able to avoid a very horrible accident.

I thought how glad I was that the kids weren't on the tube at the time the pontoon decided to cut across!

Accidents can happen so fast.....
........Even when you've had nothing to drink.

I feel so badly for the families involved. :(

BK - you sound like on heck of a NAVIGATOR - keep up the good work.

Tragic:( :( :(

:( :( :( What a terrible tragedy.

This has a lot less to do with having a drink when boating than paying attention when driving. When pulling anyone behind a boat on a tube, skis, or whatever, you must have a driver and a spotter and both jobs are important and require focused attention. If the driver is watching the skier or tuber, he's not driving and may a well be sitting in the back of the boat. Same goes for the spotter. I saw a coupe of fishermen almost get their boat cut in two by a boat pulling a tube, with 4 people in it all looking back. Someone either heard them yelling or saw them standing and waving their arms and lifejackets at the last minute, because they did peel away just as we though we'd hear the impact. Everybody in or connected to your boat (and those in your path) has their lives in your hands. Be responsible and don't let them down.

I surrender the soapbox now. What a horrible accident for all involved and my condolences go out to both families.

:( :( :(

:( :( :( the worst thing I can imagine is losing a child. Our prayers are with all involved:( :(

:( It's sad when things like that happen, but especially when a child is involved. My heart goes out to all those involved.

Les

:( :( :(

Catitude, Thanks for the post. It sure makes one think how tragic things can instantly become. It can be very easy for the driver to glance back and look to see how much fun those who are on the tube are having (or for whatever reason).

I do most of my boating on Lake Michigan and have encountered several jet skiers and wind surfers who like to dart straight out from the beach/shore as I am cruising perpendicular to the shoreline. It seems as if they have tunnel vision and only look straight ahead instead of checking their surroundings---especially the jet skies because they can turn those things on a dime. They just seem to be in their own little world out there innocently having fun. Wind surfers are more predictable because they are pretty much at the mercy of wind direction but can't always see with the sail in their way. But it's mostly the jet skiers that are extremely unpredictable and the scariest. I almost nailed a jet skier last year and he was probably about 30-35 years old. I had five people aboard that day and was crusing at about 40-45mph. The water was practically flat and we were following a steady course when I could see this jet skier heading straight out from shore coming way out towards us. He was way ahead of us but I could see that we were on a possible collision course----and I thought for sure that he could see my 32 foot boat especially with it being on the horizon skyline/waterline silouette. But he continued to come straight out for us and as he did I slowly continued to pull the throttles back. I was off plane but throwing a large wake(about 2000rpms). Then we thought he saw us because he turned in the SAME direction that we were heading (with his back to us) but then he cut port across our bow (about 50 feet in front of us) and I began to steer starboard away from him but then SUDDENLY without looking over his right shoulder he turned HARD starboard (almost 180*)---right back into the path of my boat. By that time he was within 10 feet of getting nailed by my hull. I pulled all the way back on the throttles and came to idle speeds and just missed him. The turn of events of this encounter was astonishing---it all happend so quickly. It seemed that no matter what measures I took to avoid the situation that I could NOT escape it! He did NOT see us until he swung right in front of us and had I not been paying close attention he would be a dead man or at least seriously injured.

Also, most people are going to drink no matter what. They usually think that the bad stuff always happens to others. There's nothing wrong with having a good time, but they will continue to drink out there and want to party and I see A LOT of people who're "sloshed" while driving their boat. Sad but true and that's why accidents/trageties continue to happen. As for the rest of us we've all got to really pay attention out there.

Sorry to hear about the tragic events.

:(
Hearing that bums me out. It also brings a distant memory to mind.

The kids were having a good time behind the boat and we were in our little low traffic spot to tube.
I was "Mr Know-it-all" with my first fastboat and was liking being watched by everyone on shore tearing the kids up...as much as I was liking to see the kids have fun.
They had enough and as we came in, I went to spin my daughter around on the inside of the sandbar.

Both kids loved the trick.
It would send them up on shore (beach) about 3 feet with the tube. The people on the sandbar would actually whistle and some would clap when the kids would pop off the tube right onto sand. My 9 year old daughter had it down to a science. She could hop off the tube running. I thought it was the coolest thing. I could put the tube EXACTLY where I wanted to!

After all, I was superman.

There was only one problem. I forgot about the new tow-rope we put on that weekend...........about 10 feet longer than the old one.

When stuff like this happens, it seems to get burned into your memory forever. I remember as she whipped towards the rocks and exposed tree roots. Her mother screaming "HANG ON!!!!" The sound of the rope whipping off the weeds in the water, the roots coming closer to her, (about 3" diameter) and the s-l-o-w m-o-t-i-o-n that things seem to go into when you get REALLY scared.

When it was over, I could not bring myself to walk over to where she had just flown through at about 35 MPH in a full slingshot. But one of the people there did. She missed the roots by less than a foot. The water...hell...the puddle she flew through was less than 4 inches deep and full of exposed jagged rocks. All this happened after ice tea, not beer.

I remember shaking so bad I had a hard time shutting the key off. There were no whistles and claps happening on the beach. She certainly knew what had just happened.
We spoke about it this spring while she was away at college. She has not forgotten.

I know a little bit about BAL and the level posted here. I doubt that level had crap to do with the accident.

I know a few non-board members I am going to forward this post to. It may sound strange, but thank you for posting it. I think it is important to be reminded that the sport comes with risks and the risks can be great.

My near miss gave me nightmares and my child was not injured. I cannot imagine the guy driving the boat and his state of mind right now. I don't know that any of us can. My thoughts and a prayer will go to him today.

:( :( :(
My prayers go out for the families.

Kenny,

We heard about it the day it happened. After I read your post it has put a whole new light on the incident for me. Having two daughters myself it just makes me cringe. Can't imagine how your friend feels.

We just happened to be tubing that weekend ourselves behind the Scarab. It was a guys day out, no alcohol. We generally take 4-5 tubes at a time so we can play king of the tube. A few of our friends knew that we were out that weekend tubing and thought it was us.

We camped at Prairie Creek this weekend with some friends. Took the kids tubing too. Pulled the wife skiing a little also. After hearing about the incident, I found myself a 1000 times more cautious then I had ever been with my kids. Sad that it takes something like this to open our eyes. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

What part of the lake did it happen on Kenny?

Buck
#183

The accident occured in the "large" part of Hogscauld- not in the no wake zone end obviously. I saw his brother yesterday, he said he was doing as well as could be expected through all this. I took my 8 yr old wakeboarding today- I'd have to say I was on my toes more too!

Nothing will erase this tragedy but hopefully many of us can learn from it and do our parts to avoid similar situations.

Hi Cattitude, please convey our condolensces to the family and friends of this family and tell them how sad we ALL are for their loss. It certainly doesn't pay to be too careful. Whether it be drinking or not paying attention, accidents are all over (or near misses) we've seen a few. We can't imagine losing any of our boys. Tragedy is all over this one.

Is there an address where a card can be sent for both families?
Keep us posted. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and friends.

Secret Agent Man & Double D

Loss
 

Cattitude,
our best goes out to both familys! We are really sorry to hear of their tragdy.
eliminator219:( :(

When I was about 10 we were pulling a tube (the old innertube type) and getting the person on the tube to go in and out of the wake. on a bend in the river the person went out of the wake on his own and hit a fallen tree. I remember my dad saying he did not even want to turn around he was so scared. The person ended up haveing three broken ribs and the only thing that saved him was the life jacket (they had just come out with these then( used to use the old waist ring thing) The tree also kept him above water. That was hot fun bringing him home to his wife and the rest of the party. When I read this this vission came back like a nightmare. Please be careful people. When things go wrong they go wrong fast!!! They don't call them accidents because you KNEW it was going to happen.

:( :( :( :(

That is so tragic. I feel for this man. I remember when I was first learning to slalom ski. My teacher, who was a rather crazy type dude (went on to fly fighter jets), liked for me to pull him close to a bulkhead in the turns so he could spray it. Well one time he hot dogged a little too much and went down into the oyster bed that existed in front of the bulkhead. He was very lucky and got out with some pretty nasty cuts that only required stiches. I think I was more scared than he was cause I knew it could have been much worse. After that incident I was always more observant when pulling someone and never let them get close to any objects like channel markers, shoreline, etc.

You must designate a spotter when pulling people behind the boat so the driver can keep his/her eyes ahead.

The concequences can be tragic!

Very sad how a fun time can turn into a life-changing event in the blink of an eye. Thanks, Cattitude for the reminder that vigilance is essential when driving a boat. :( :( :(

My condolences to both families involved. My prayers are with them.

I'm especially saddened to hear about tragedies involving children. Makes me feel that we don't cherish our children as much as we'd like to in life. Then it's too late. Please everyone, don't take people for granted. You never know what could happen in a second.

They really need to make really really large loud-flags that can be seen from far away so people approaching can be on the lookout.