Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Just got back from a very wonderful vacation in Panama City, but while we were gone a local boating accident resulted in a needless death of a 17 year old boy. I wasn't home for the news details, but I was told the boaters were trying to dislodge their boat from a sand beach on the river, and the seventeen yr. old was behind the boat in the water when the driver gunned it and the boat broke free. The teen was run down and killed by the prop of the now surging boat. From what I was told he pretty much took it in the chest and stomach, and never had a chance. A moments worth of bad decisions from both men. So Sad.

Sorry to hear that

That is horrible. Prayers for the family.

fiddlebick... that's horrible.. your right, a just a moment of "not thinking" can be fatal........ just this afternoon I passed a boat on the lake that left me shaking my head.... it was a pontoon boat and it didn't have any rails or fencing what so ever.... all I saw was one seat at the rear and it looked like wood decking.. there were several small kids on the toon... they were wearing life vests, but to me it's asking for trouble to have small children on a boat that is completely wide open without any rails at all..... Personally I wouldn't allow my grandson on a boat like that... no way!

We have had our share around here, too. Thats too sad. I'm sure there was some drinking involved, too. A spinning prop is like a quisinart to flesh. I almost got it a few years back. I was helping a stranded boater work on his outboard. I just put the cowling back on it and told him to fire it up to see if it would start. It did. But his neutral safety switch didn't work and his motor was in reverse. Almost gutted me. I got out of the way just in time to get only superficially wounded. The scars have faded, but the memory is as vivid as ever!
So many accidents can be prevented. I only takes a split second to change someones life forever!

ROLAND wrote:fiddlebick... that's horrible.. your right, a just a moment of "not thinking" can be fatal........ just this afternoon I passed a boat on the lake that left me shaking my head.... it was a pontoon boat and it didn't have any rails or fencing what so ever.... all I saw was one seat at the rear and it looked like wood decking.. there were several small kids on the toon... they were wearing life vests, but to me it's asking for trouble to have small children on a boat that is completely wide open without any rails at all..... Personally I wouldn't allow my grandson on a boat like that... no way!

I don't think I would even get on that thing. Let alone a child. No telling if you hit a big wave, and you go flying forwards, just to fall off the damn boad, then get run over. No railing should be illegal.

ROLAND wrote:fiddlebick... that's horrible.. your right, a just a moment of "not thinking" can be fatal........ just this afternoon I passed a boat on the lake that left me shaking my head.... it was a pontoon boat and it didn't have any rails or fencing what so ever.... all I saw was one seat at the rear and it looked like wood decking.. there were several small kids on the toon... they were wearing life vests, but to me it's asking for trouble to have small children on a boat that is completely wide open without any rails at all..... Personally I wouldn't allow my grandson on a boat like that... no way!

I probably would get very few who would agree with me, but things like this are why I think there should be some sort of safety inspection required before you can register a boat. Some of the things I've seen put our are incredibly un-seaworthy.

Liberty MO wrote:

ROLAND wrote:fiddlebick... that's horrible.. your right, a just a moment of "not thinking" can be fatal........ just this afternoon I passed a boat on the lake that left me shaking my head.... it was a pontoon boat and it didn't have any rails or fencing what so ever.... all I saw was one seat at the rear and it looked like wood decking.. there were several small kids on the toon... they were wearing life vests, but to me it's asking for trouble to have small children on a boat that is completely wide open without any rails at all..... Personally I wouldn't allow my grandson on a boat like that... no way!

I probably would get very few who would agree with me, but things like this are why I think there should be some sort of safety inspection required before you can register a boat. Some of the things I've seen put our are incredibly un-seaworthy.

Actually, I'd be one to agree with you as long as there's a reasonable set of standards in place.

The problem with Government Safety Programs is that you wind up with idiocy at times.

We wouldn't want boating to come to this:

I hear you loud and clear. I think the only requirements to pass an on the water inspection by the MO Highway Patrol (and I may be wrong) here is a fire extinguisher, flotation devices, and if running at night, proper navigation lights, ventilation, sound devices, crapper storage, and proper proof of registration. Maybe it's a slippery slope, you go down that road and you can't return.

I'd much rather require operator training than boat structure/safety. I'm never shocked at the number of people operating a boat with no clue of the rules, common courtesy, or basic safety.

I have since learned that the young man that was operating the baja boat had only owned it a few weeks, and he had started the motor and verified the rear was clear, however while sitting and idling he failed to make a final check and his buddy had jumped off the back of the boat at the last minute to pee. They weren't trying to free the boat, he just backed out and unknowingly ran over his friend with the motor raised quite a bit to accomodate the shallow beach. Alcohol has been attributed to the accident, but I can't judge this accident based on that, I have a beer or two myself most times I go out. It does however make him automatically guilty breaking the law. I can't imagine his guilt and sorrow over this.