Lake Lanier - lessons learned
 

Posting this for discussion about the crash, what happened, and what we can learn from this incident. Please keep this sort of conversation here rather than in the thread where folks are offering memories and condolences; while you might be making a great and valid point about "X" behavior, it might not sit too well with some folks that still grieving.

I feel any accident is a chance to learn and become a safer sport, but there. Is a time and place for all discussions. If you all disagree, either the mods or I can delete this thread.

Safe boating....

Delete

Thread reopened for discussion. Please keep the feelings of the family and friends of the souls that were lost in mind when posting.

I am not sure what specifically can be learned from this tragedy that has not been discussed many times before in other threads about similar incidents.

The PFD debate has been hashed and rehashed. Would PFD's have changed anything???? Nobody knows for sure.
I feel its a personal choice or the decision of the owner/captain if he chooses to mandate PFDs be worn.
I don't wear one and highly doubt I ever will on a regular basis. I've been 100+ mph several times and could have put one on and I made the choice not to.
I also feel at high speeds with a catastrophic event that the likelihood of a PFD saving someone is rather slim.

Yup

I'm sorry but I can't see any good coming from this thread.

We already know what to do out there and it's mostly common sense but even the strictest of precautions can't prevent the unpreventable so just take care out there and don't ever stop thinking.

RR

Delete!

Why would you call it unpreventable? Race boats that appear to be pleasure boats have tragically been involved in accidents at major boating gatherings for many recent years.

Should high speed runs should only be conducted on closed courses? If that's the case what constitutes high speed?

The only thing that can be learned from this thread, that hasnt been hashed a million times over as already suggested is, enjoy your life, love your friends and family and be a positive influence to others. Everyone assumes some risk everyday no matter what you do. Leave the house you may get hit by a bus. Stay in bed, you may get bed sores. Nobody has lived a life worth living without assuming some risk. The idea is dont be stupid, and as I understand it this does not qualify. With adventure comes risk, and when your time is up, your time is up, end of story!

I'm generalising about powerboats and their use.
All boating accidents can be prevented if we stay on the shore but as soon as we venture out to do what we love doing, we face Mother Nature, mechanical issues, other boaters and numerous other issues that all play a part in safety at sea.

I'm just saying we can't foresee every possibility, that rogue wave, the drive that breaks, the tab that gets stuck, debris in the water etc, etc. Speed certainly can increase the risk factor but I'm talking about recreational boating at any speed.

Accidents are exactly that, 'accidents' and often due to circumstances beyond our control. We do what we can to reduce the risk but there's always the possibility of something going wrong. Just enjoy boating and take as much care as possible.

RR

I would agree to disagree. We can all learn something from this.

I do not think we will ever know what exactly made this boat flip. There is no telemetry I am aware of in the recreational boat world. But if we do not get our **** together (the Industry and the Boating Public) I can see a day when the Insurance Industry will ask for it. That being said, we are all shocked and saddened this could have happened in this sport to folks that where loved, but this could have happened in a Motorcycle or Auto accident and had the same end result.

The speeds all the newer boats can run now are mind boggling compared to even the mid 1990's