yesterday's boat crash..

[26aftcab454]

on Lake Lewisville,TX (aka Lake 'O Death) 3 families rented 2 boats- running parallel to each other- with a child driving one boat- and collided. 12 injured-(8 of them children)- one 10yr.old boy serious head injuries. they were all wearing life jackets . one boat sank. there was no alcohol involved-just inexperience and some poor judgement.

 

[12vMan]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

What a tragedy. Very sorry to hear it. Prayers go out to the friends & family

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

The boat rental business is one that I would not be in. It just seems like a prescription for disasters, with tons of customers who know nothing about operating a boat.



???

 

[Mark SF]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

I rent sailboats regularly. I had to have two full weeks of training first, and pass the ASA Basic Keelboat and Coastal Cruising exams.

I would like to see the day when there is a real license for boating with a test - and rather more stringent than the current safe boating course. Still in this case it looks like the usual situation where common sense has failed and what can you do about that?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

child driving: on July 4 weekend, a family let the 7 year old drive the 20' bowrider into the harbor, on a plane; he veered into and under a 20' long pier, killing his mother.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

the news paper says it was a T-bone collision of 2- 20ft boats 4 adults 6 kids 4 to 12yo.the boat that was struck sank. 10yo still in hospital after brain surgery along with another child with a broken leg.

anybody over 21 with a credit card can rent one.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

its a sad story.... the boat that let the little kid drive while haulin butt NEXT TO another boat....just plain STUPID. Either way I hope for a full recovery to the little ones and family....

Makes me re-think what we happen to do sometimes when were cruising back to the dock...sometimes my Brother in laws boat is 50-75 feet away parallel to us...45 mph.... guess one mistake and it could happen to anyone.....
I think Ill give a wider berth to all obstacles/other boats from now on....

 

[bowler]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Totally tragic,

Plenty of 30 - 40 ft cruisers to hire around here but all restricted to 5 knots - and with good cause. Don't know anyone round here that rents speedboats.

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

anybody over 21 with a credit card can rent one.

At Table Rock lake last summer. We rented a Toon for the day to just go... ya know... Tooning...

A group of "Kids", (UTO) came up to the rental desk while I was signing my CC slip. The "BIG" one pulled out a wad-o-cash and stated that, "We wan't that reddun... fer the dey"...

The rental agent behind the desk said sorry that boat is already rented. Then the BIGONE said, "Whut aint rented?". Agent said sorry... We are all rented, no boats avaialble..." I KNEW that was not the case... We DID have a 20ft BR rented but changed our minds for the Toon. the 20ftr was still in the slip...

The agent said that he sees that guy from time to time in town (Branson). driving a pretty smashed / trashed truck.

He said he wouldn't rent the boat to him because he wasn't very sure that it would come back as nice as it went out. After all, the marina can use the right to refuse / provide service to anyone at anytime...

Sort reminded me of Deliverance... You know... Like the old man dancing at the gas station...

Anyway, Point is... I'd be carefull with My invetory too. LOTS at stake...

My $.04 worth... (Inflation)

J

 

[dbkerley]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

anybody over 21 with a credit card can rent one.

... or you can buy one if your card is big enough and trailer it home on the interstate with zero training before tying up the ramp for an hour figuring out how to launch it and making 27 trips back to pick up all the stuff you left in the truck.

 

[kellmike626]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Why can't they just make sure the renters are qualified to ride? By qualified, I mean have their boating license, a completed safety course, and pass some sort of test before renting one. Not just the age and credit card.
If this was the case, there would be far less inexperienced people renting boats, and far less accidents and serious injuries happening.
Can't cure stupidity, but we can at least save the smarter ones from it.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Lake Grapevine where I am at has rentals-last year nephew & niece -step son & his Girlfriend rented get skis with about 5 min of instruction- these kids were clueless 1st timers. They cover the basics but that is not enough info.

Last week I saw a rental jet ski in our marina running wide open 75 feet from the slips..

 

[dlindeblad]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

First time my Dad let me drive was when I was 11, but there was no one else on the small lake in Alaska. Driving with multiple boats in the same proximity = trouble. Hope all get well soon.

 

[j_martin]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Lake Grapevine where I am at has rentals-last year nephew & niece -step son & his Girlfriend rented get skis with about 5 min of instruction- these kids were clueless 1st timers. They cover the basics but that is not enough info.

Last week I saw a rental jet ski in our marina running wide open 75 feet from the slips..

Same idiot will be rubbernecking to see if he's impressing the girls, look up and discover a dock or boat in front of him, throttle down, having no clue that he has no steering without throttle, and smoothly glide, screaming like a baby, right into said target.

 

[INJUN]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

I get razzled when my buddy is following me in my wake after a day of fishing, returning to the harbor. Even though he is at a safe distrance, it often crosses my mind if he is really paying attention to the whole situation, if I had to suddenly slow down or make a sudden manuver.
I've discussed it with him and he knows the situation, but it still has me wondering.

 

[stic88]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

i am new to boating and i am in the middle of a project to get on the water. not even sure if the thing runs yet but i have already taken two online courses. the california and arizona tests on the internet. i know these are not even enough to cover the basics but i have taken them. couldnt the rental companies give a short booklet and test to make sure the renting parties are competent enough to handle a boat. after all they dont let you just get into a car and start driving anywhere you want. sad thing that has happened, the lack of judgment that some adults use is.... well sad. maybe the children were the only ones that were sober enough to pilot the boats.

 

[mxfever]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Same idiot will be rubbernecking to see if he's impressing the girls, look up and discover a dock or boat in front of him, throttle down, having no clue that he has no steering without throttle, and smoothly glide, screaming like a baby, right into said target.

That's too funny but also very true!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Here's a legal liability answer to some of the questions, about rental companies screening the renters:
If the rental companies did anything to be sure a person is competent to operate the boat, such as giving a test, or asking about experience, they have assumed a responsibility to the public not to let a boat go to an incompent person. So when a renter hurts someone by his inexperience, the victim will blame (sue) the rental company for turning him loose on the water. It's called "negligent entrustment."

The extreme example would be their handing over the keys to a 10 year old, or a guy who is falling down drunk; there the renter would be responsible. But they can't (or shouldn't) have to assume liability for anything less.

The car rental companies are protected by requiring a driver's license and proof of insurance. Until we have the functional equivalent for boating, the boat renters can't do much more. The most they have is an age restriction.

 

[kg5388]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

any Rental be it a car or boat= drive it like you stole it

I see plenty of guys in the repair field that take great care of their personal vehicles but have a "It's not mine" attitude about the company cars.

All people should have to have a boat drivers license but then again they don't follow the rules on the road so they won't on the water

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: yesterday's boat crash..

Here's a legal liability answer to some of the .

The car rental companies are protected by requiring a driver's license and proof of insurance. Until we have the functional equivalent for boating, the boat renters can't do much more. The most they have is an age restriction.

I travel for work and rent cars weekly and have never been ask for my insurance.

The little people who can barley see over the dash with the seat all the way forward seem to be the worst drivers.They cannot maintain posted speed limits. most are foreigners. as were the boat renter in this story. sad but true.