Another sad death due to stupidity

[TerryMSU]

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/08/belding_boy_dies_after_slippin.html

Poor kid! Poor family! So unnecessary!

I just left that body of water on Sunday AM. Beautiful place, horrible memories for a family and bystanders.

On Saturday, I noticed a mother, two kids, and a dog in a 4 or 5 ft vinyl inflatable boat near my launch on that lake. NO PFDs. Asked the dad if he was aware of that he would get a ticket if the water police came by. (They use that launch quite often.) He was surprised to hear the law applied to an inflatable boat. I said I thought it did. Anyone know. This was in Michigan.

TerryMSU

 

[Steve A W]

Re: Another sad death due to stupidity

Isn't a boat a boat!
There's nothing magical about an inflatable.

Steve A W

 

[scrat]

Re: Another sad death due to stupidity

It's bad enough to lose a child. Now these parents have to live with the fact that they killed him thru there own stupidity.

 

[kellmike626]

Re: Another sad death due to stupidity

If the adults were even a tad bit smart, the 8 year old would still be alive. That's the sad part of the story. What stupidity....

As for the lifejacket question, you always have to have lifejackets on board, enough for each person on the boat. I'm pretty sure you can get a fine if you don't have enough or none at all.

 

[shaneb0422]

Re: Another sad death due to stupidity

In Texas, you not only have to have a life jacket for all on board in reachable quarters. But they have to be the proper sizes.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Another sad death due to stupidity

In MN you need a PFD Type IV throwable as well. I never knew why until I joined this forum and realized how important they can be. It's like insurance...most likely you won't ever use it, but when you need it you're thankful you have it.