Boating accident - ND

[H20Rat]

Sad story, but... ALWAYS have your kids in a life jacket, laws exist for a reason.


4 people + 2 infants on a 15 foot trihull, lifejackets on board but not wearing them, on the 3rd largest manmade lake in the US.


5 survived at least after they took a wave over the front. This lake is known for some pretty decent waves. At the slightest hint of bad weather they should have had life jackets on, and been headed in. Not taking time to adjust a depth finder. (the story claims one man was walking forward to adjust a depth finder when a wave flipped the boat. In reality what I suspect happened is that the front end was stuffed and capsized after that)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news...0-ab45-11df-aaca-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

 

[badkins50]

Re: Boating accident - ND

Horrible that the guy died. Thank heaven everyone else was ok. I wont even let our kids on the dock without their life jackets on.

 

[bobbelser]

Re: Boating accident - ND

I 2nd that I wont even let our grandkids on the dock without their life jackets on either.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Boating accident - ND

It is wrong that I was glad it was an adult that died and not one of the infants? Poor baby had no part in it, adult should have known better. Guess it is because I have two small children and I pray that if any accident or such happens and someone has to die it will be me and not them. Sad story all around. If they would have had life jackets all would have probably lived. They were only a couple hundred yards from shore. Could have easily floated and awaited rescue or swam in. Sad.

 

[koberlee]

Re: Boating accident - ND

Very sad story and far to often I see kids without life jackets on.

We have gotten our two year old so use to the life jacket that it is a fight to get him to take it off when it's time to get in the car seat when the boat is back on the trailer. And when we are at the lake if he wants to go near the water he knows it's life jacket time.

 

[funk6294]

Re: Boating accident - ND

That is another story of a life jacket will not save your @$$ by sitting on it...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boating accident - ND

The story says one infant was in a car seat! What were they thinking?

This is one reason for the #passengers on the plate--regardless of total weight, you have to manage the safety of 6 in a 15' boat. Tight quarters.

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Boating accident - ND

The story says one infant was in a car seat! What were they thinking?

From personal experience of responding to accidents (auto, boat, plane), these car seats have something going for them. More often then not, the infant is alive, with relatively minor (note the word realtively) because of that car seat. I don't recommend taking your kid out on a boat and relying on a car seat to save your little DNA bank, but it is probably much better than no seat, no PFD and offers more protection than mom's loving arms.

PFD is still the way to go. Heck even our dog wears one. She knows what it means.....a boat ride with nose in the wind and fun on the lake.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boating accident - ND

Ok sitting in a car seat provides protection from the secondary impact, as would similar "baby buckets." I was imagining the baby strapped/buckled in a car seat. That would be deadly. But many many people wrongly believe they would have the time, or ability, to "quickly unbuckle" the baby if there was an incident. A fatal assumption; there isn't time to do anything.
it's why we don't ahve seat belts in boats. Even though they might save a life or two in some accidents, they would take a lot more.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Boating accident - ND

at least from what i've heard second hand, the babies were not buckled in, just sitting in the car seats. The seats sunk or at least floated below the surface.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Boating accident - ND

PFD is still the way to go. Heck even our dog wears one. She knows what it means.....a boat ride with nose in the wind and fun on the lake.

Gee that says it all, "even our dog wears one".
Not that they don't value their lives, theres just so much ignorance about boating.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boating accident - ND

it's why we don't ahve seat belts in boats. Even though they might save a life or two in some accidents, they would take a lot more.

That pretty much depends on what type of boat you have. Seat belts are REQUIRED in offshore powerboat racing.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Boating accident - ND

That pretty much depends on what type of boat you have. Seat belts are REQUIRED in offshore powerboat racing.

What else is required. Capsule, air supply, automatic markers?

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Boating accident - ND

Gee that says it all, "even our dog wears one".
Not that they don't value their lives, theres just so much ignorance about boating.

Wait a minute there. The reason she wears the PFD is the handle over her back and I can haul her back in after she goes swimming. Cassy loves to jump off the boat into the water went we anchor or run up on a beach and shut down. Nothing worse that a wet, wiggling dog to try to grab onto and pull back into the boat.

Also I've see too many dogs go swimming and not be able to see track because of ripples, wakes, whatever. Makes her easier to watch.

As for the car seats, most will float and remain child side up, at least for a little while. Most adults can barely keep themselves afloat when in the water wearing clothes and shoes, let alone holding onto a baby.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Boating accident - ND

I meant you put a lifejacket on the dog because you value its life and you're aware of the inherent dangers boating carries.
Most people new to boats are blissfully unawares.
Seems like a lot of people on a teeny boat too.
And it was an old trihull...
Loaded to the gills with people and wet foam.?