A Sad Story

[whaler23]

An 11 year old lost her life this weekend after bouncing out of the front of the bowrider she was riding in. It's one thing to read about these stories and quite another to hear all the horrifying chatter on vhf 16 as it happened. Prayers for the family as I hope I never, ever, experience anything like this. Sad news.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/20171610/detail.html

We were heading to Baltimore from one river north of the Sassafrass when this incident occurred. Quite upsetting to all who had the misfortune to hear the story unfold. I often wander about the small boats that run up behind us when we're in our cruiser and never slow down when they hit the wake only for them to realize just how big it is when it's too late. We have gotten into the habit of moving much slower even when in open bay waters when small boats are around to avoid these issues.

 

[Walter P]

These stories are always sad. Sad for the loss of a young person whose life was just starting to bud and sad because it was so easily preventable.

Almost every weekend I see small boats passing by with familys enjoying their boats and the waterways. Often I observe people sitting on the gunwales with their feet dangling over and their arms crossed on the railing. I usually get a cold chill when I see that because I know that just hitting the wake of another boat or a sudden move by the driver could send them into the water to be run over by their own boat. Boaters need to be made more aware of the dangers that are always present while on boats, especially small boats that can bounce around and send their occupants flying.

I would like to get more information on this unfortunate accident and publisise it around our boating area and would encourage others to do the same. We may help prevent another tragady.

It is against the law for people to "bow ride" unless the vessel has proper seating on the foredeck but most folks figure it doesn't apply in their case.

Walt

 

[saltshaker]

It is against the law for people to "bow ride" unless the vessel has proper seating on the foredeck but most folks figure it doesn't apply in their case.

Walt

In NJ it is a minimum $350 fine plus points on your drivers license for bow riding. Charge is reckless operation and it is an appearance violation. Anytime a passenger has any body part either over the railing or over the hull sides it is bow riding. That being said, we see it every weekend.

 

[Boatsb]

We see that here too and the FWC pass them without doing a thing as long as they are not speeding in a manatee area.

FYI they arrested a seatow captain for towing a vessel he floated and dewatered too fast in a Manatee zone. he will lose his licence if he can not win an appeal as the judge sided with the FWC idiot whne he was asked if the boat seemed to be sinking and he said he took a quick look and it seemed OK.