We lost 13 people here on Lake Hamilton in Arkansas years ago. There was a leak around the prop shaft and the bilge pump with wasn’t working or could not over come. It went down like a tank trapping the people inside. They could not get out because of the top and small side windows. The Duck boats disappeared for a few years and then came back with large open windows for exiting. I noticed the Suck boats at Table Rock had tops and plastic side windows which were down. No way they could escape.

Ever since the accident I have never wanted to be in a boat with a canopy.

. Prayer for all involved

First and foremost prayers for the families and R I P to the victims.

That boat should have never left dry land. NWS had issued severe thunderstorm warnings and obviously there were dark skies, wind, lightning and thunder. Very poor judgment to be in the water with that type of vessel. Water conditions were bad enough to discourage even Apache owners.

The design of the duck makes it a death trap. A roof and windows make escape unlikely. As Skate mentioned, there was a-horrible accident on Lake Hamilton when a duck boat sank killing 13. That was a maintenace problem but that boat sank, trapping victims inside the boat . These boats are not very safe in the best of conditions and in a storm you are lucky if you make it back to land. It was a miracle that the other duck did not sink and more people drown.

I was on the Mississippi River on a sand bar and a severe thunderstorm was coming behind me. As soon as I saw the storm clouds I got my crew and told the others that it was time to go now. I got to the harbor and waited for the rest of group. I was very glad when we were all back on shore. There is no way that I would knowingly launch into a severe storm. And especially not in a duck boat. Ban them or more innocent people wil die.