Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia **UPDATE**

[Alpheus]

Police: Mother killed in boating accident in Hampton

HAMPTON?Virginia Marine Police are looking into an accidental boating death that happened Sunday afternoon. John Bull, a spokesman for Virginia Marine Police said that five people were aboard a motor boat on the Hampton River Sunday afternoon when someone allowed a 7-year-old boy to take control of the vessel.

The boat took a sharp turn and went underneath a pier when a woman in the front was thrown towards the back of the boat. She later died of her injuries, at Riverside Regional Hospital. The woman was identified as Elizabeth J. Elliott, of Hampton. Bull said she was the mother of the 7-year-old-boy.

"It's a terrible tragedy, people need to be safe on the water, they need to be cautious and they need to be safe," Bull said. He said the accident is still under investigation.

 

[kend301]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Something really seems wrong here, Five people in the boat , one death and no other injuries ? Who in their right mind would let a 7 yr old operate a boat without having a hand on the wheel and throttle to let the child "play drive" ? If it was indeed his mother that died , I feel worse for the child who will come to realize that he was "driving" the boat when his mom died and will have to live with it for the rest of his life. I'll bet the outcome of this after an investigation is other than a 7 yr old driving the boat .

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Drunk dad blaming the kid..

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

I let my five year old "drive" the boat every time we go out. He is planted between my knees and my hands never leave the wheel, unless we are out in a calm, open body of water, with no one around us and no waves of any significant size. Even when I take my hands off of the wheel, they are never mor than a couple of inches away. If his hand goes anywhere near the throttle/gear shift, he gets a little slap on it, just to remind him that he is not to touch it.



???

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Drunk dad blaming the kid..

Not saying it's the case here, but I've worked a couple of auto accidents like that.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

I let my five year old "drive" the boat every time we go out. He is planted between my knees and my hands never leave the wheel, unless we are out in a calm, open body of water, with no one around us and no waves of any significant size. Even when I take my hands off of the wheel, they are never mor than a couple of inches away. If his hand goes anywhere near the throttle/gear shift, he gets a little slap on it, just to remind him that he is not to touch it.



???

I've done it too with a youngin' on my lap or, for the older kids, with me behind them with the kill switch lanyard on my wrist or leg.

Idle only in a cove with no traffic.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

I've done it too with a youngin' on my lap or, for the older kids, with me behind them with the kill switch lanyard on my wrist or leg.

Idle only in a cove with no traffic.

I let my seven year old sit beside me and drive in light boat traffic with my hand close to the wheel (and the kill lanyard attached of course). We talk about how to handle the boat the whole time; why did she turn that way, what should she do if that boat to starboard get too close, that sort of thing. If it gets a little hairy I just take the wheel back from her. Technically it's illegal, but I'm right there and can resume control within a nanosecond, so I think it's fine. I guess if Lake Patrol sees it differently they'll let me know one day.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

My 8 year old is anxious to take the test and get her boating license. For now she is beside me and driving every chance she can get. But Dad only lets her do that while he is in control of the boat. She may have the command, but Dad can over rule any decision she makes before she tries to make it.

It is just a shame that someone would let someone so young take control of the vessel without proper assistance and guidance, if that is what happened. The poor kid will be emotionally scarred for life! Where has all the common sense gone?

 

[adamjr]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Where has all the common sense gone?

I think common sense exited when political correctness took over. How I miss the good old days.

I feel really bad for he kid if the story is true as reported. Stupid adults allowing an il-equipped small person to operate something that is potentially hazardous. Shame on the "grown-ups."

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

I let my 6 year old son drive the boat sometimes. Like when I have to take a leak over the transom, I let him drive while I go to the back of the boat. Its only for a minute or two. I don't see a problem. And he also comes in handy to run the boat while I take the cowl off the motor and make carb adjustments. Done that a few times with no problems. He's actually pretty good at driving the boat. He just kneels on the captains chair so he can see over the helm and has a good view. And then there was the time when I had about 3 or 4 beers too many while out fishing, and a couple of shooters didn't help any. So I put the throttle down so the boat was only going about 15 mph, that way it would take an hour or more to get back to the launch, and I got an hour nap in the v-birth while my boy drove back to the launch. That way I was sober enough to get the trailer and load the boat when we arrived. He just reaches out with this foot and kicks me in the head until I come to and take the controls.

I don't see a problem with letting the kid drive. Saves me a bunch of trouble.



Not.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

I let my 6 year old son drive the boat sometimes. Like when I have to take a leak over the transom, I let him drive while I go to the back of the boat. Its only for a minute or two. I don't see a problem. And he also comes in handy to run the boat while I take the cowl off the motor and make carb adjustments. Done that a few times with no problems. He's actually pretty good at driving the boat. He just kneels on the captains chair so he can see over the helm and has a good view. And then there was the time when I had about 3 or 4 beers too many while out fishing, and a couple of shooters didn't help any. So I put the throttle down so the boat was only going about 15 mph, that way it would take an hour or more to get back to the launch, and I got an hour nap in the v-birth while my boy drove back to the launch. That way I was sober enough to get the trailer and load the boat when we arrived. He just reaches out with this foot and kicks me in the head until I come to and take the controls.

I don't see a problem with letting the kid drive. Saves me a bunch of trouble.



Not.

Mark, you were volunteering to be target practice for the firing squad with that one. Can't wait to see how many "comments" you get from folks not reading all the way through....

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Mark, you were volunteering to be target practice for the firing squad with that one. Can't wait to see how many "comments" you get from folks not reading all the way through....

LOL! Yeah, if they don't see the sarcasm, I can't help them. What I was trying to point out in my own way is that people do stupid things thinking that their actions are OK just because they can justify them.

Hope members realize that and don't call Child Protective Services on me!

BTW, I don't let the kids drive. They do sit on my lap, watch, and put their hands on the wheel, but they have no control of the boat whatsoever. What they do to help with navigation is help me scan the horizon for buoys and tell me the colors. They can see the bouys before I can, and they can pick out colors with they late afternoon sun in their eyes better than I can. That alone is a big help, and they feel that they are part of the trip. I always have a chart and let them look at it so they have a feel of distance and time as well as know about where they are and which direction is back home. My daughter at 10 ysrs old knows how to use a compass and how to match a chart to the compass to know where we are. Kind of lost skills with the event of GPS.

We take trips that are anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more. I spread the chart on the dinner table the evening before and plan the trip. Where are we going? Where are the secluded beaches? What is State Park and what is private property? We all get to see it on the chart, then do it the next day. The kids like knowing, and my wife feels more secure thinking I know what I am doing (don't tell her the truth!!!).

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

, and my wife feels more secure thinking I know what I am doing (don't tell her the truth!!!).

Your secret is safe with us....

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Well I think there is an age limit that should be decided (beyond the law) by the owner of the vessel. Some kids are scatterbrained even at 21. I know if I have a kid they will get in an accident with there car within a year of getting their license...why...because I did the same thing heh...and they will have my genes.

There is just too much that can happen with a boat. I remember my dad letting me steer the boat. I think of this now that I'm 29 and just purchased MY first boat and I think of all the stuff I am learning that comes with owning a boat.

It would be my responsibility to inform anyone unfamiliar with the boat as to how to operate it. I don't even feel comfortable giving my dad the helm and he taught me how to drive a boat...oh and a standard(when I was 8).

No one in this world has given me any reason to trust them with any of my personal possessions.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

My dad got our first boat when I was 4. Don't remember a thing about it, other then it needed a windshield. When I was 7, he traded that for a 1971 International 21' cuddy. Then we moved up to a 24'8" 1977 Searay. I have an older brother (9 yrs my senior), and he was more useful in helping get the lines ready, etc. then me. Dad wasn't much for driving the boat, as he would say "I drive all week, it's the weekend", so I became the wheel-man at age 8. In the very beginning, my brother or my dad would do the docking, but by 10, I was the lone operator. I knew how to read a chart, plot a course, listen for changes in the engine, the whole she-bang. Of course, that was close to 40 yrs ago, and I'm relearning tons of it after a 30 yr hiatus.

Now, I have a 14 yr old son, and a 9 yr old daughter. Do they drive? Nope. Maybe when they turn 16, and only if they have completed and passed the USCG Boat Safety course.

Just my $.02...

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia

Here is an update on the accident. Watch the video...

http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-family-remembers-hp-boatax,0,4797083.story

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia **UPDATE**

I grew up on a lake in Fla. I was going out on my own when I was 10, but had to stay within line of (binocular) site of the dock. Always had to keep the old orange smelly kapok life jacket on.
Different times back then. How did we ever survive them?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia **UPDATE**

I grew up on a lake in Fla. I was going out on my own when I was 10, but had to stay within line of (binocular) site of the dock. Always had to keep the old orange smelly kapok life jacket on.
Different times back then. How did we ever survive them?

Sounds like my younger years at age 12.. 3.5 Elgin on an 11 ft jon boat and the smelly life jacket. Would spend all day on the water fishing and just running around exploring the lake.

Happiest days of my life till I discovered girls

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia **UPDATE**

Lucky for me, I still have the same boat 35 years later. I do have better life jackets now!

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Boating Tragedy Hampton, Virginia **UPDATE**

Lucky for me, I still have the same boat 35 years later. I do have better life jackets now!

I sold a bass boat two years ago that I had for 33 years. Mentioned to the buyer that I almost hated to get rid of it since it was with me longer than any of my three wives. On the bright side I also have much better life jackets.