Fatal Boat Wreck at Barkley last week

[olgreenboat]

Stiffer fines and ENFORCING the laws would be a good start but it comes down to education / rules of the waterways I mean any one with enough $$ and or credit can buy what ever boat and have at it with out any knowledge of the water..
I think if you get a ticket on the water you should have to do the same as on the road go to driving school and take a test on the rules of the water.
Not having 2 tournaments would help and only letting like 4 or 5 boats go 1 munute or 2 apart would help as far as having a boat that only goes so fast is not the answer at all it comes down to education and rules of the water more than anything..

[Shimano4Life]

Stiffer fines and ENFORCING the laws would be a good start but it comes down to education / rules of the waterways I mean any one with enough $$ and or credit can buy what ever boat and have at it with out any knowledge of the water..

I am in total agreement with this statement. Being employed at a couple of dealerships, anyone can walk in an buy a 21' boat with a 250hp engine without previously having owned a boat or having any experience on the water.

The best advice I can give would be to ALWAYS do your homework on a lake. Know when and where you're going. Look at maps and your GPS the night before -- DON'T STARE AT IT WHILE YOU'RE RUNNING. Also, take into consideration that water levels change and places that look safe to run on GPS may not be safe at the current moment (examples: Cumberland, KY, Barkley, etc.) Stay in the creek channels if you can't help yourself and have to run 70mph+, and more so, pay attention to what others are doing. Keep your foot out of the throttle -- especially when there is a lot of traffic and be conscious of what others are doing, as well as yourself.

I'm also a strong advocate against mixing water and alcohol. There is nothing wrong with drinking as long as you do it responsibly. I drink, but choose not to while on the water. I know some will disagree with this, but what is the point in participating in something that is only fun when you're drunk??? There are too many overwhelming factors to take into consideration while drinking on the water. Hell, think about all the unexpected bad things that happen while drinking (not just on the water but on land as well at bars, parties, etc). People fall, pass out, get beligerent, etc.

There is also a fine line that can be crossed when navigating rough water (example: KY Lake and Barkley). If it's too rough, plan another day.

Most of all, go with your instincts. If you think a situation is sketchy or could possibly be hazardous (traffic, rough water, unfamiliar water), BACK OUT. This is the best way to avoid any possible accidents.

Just be well prepared and take others into consideration......that is all the advice I have to offer. It may save your life, as well as someone else's.

And for the record, I AGREE WITH STATE-MANDATED licenses and testing to operate boats. Possibly different tests for different horsepower ratings.......but a general test for anyone who plans on getting behind the wheel.

[ResidentCombo]

http://www.boat-ed.com/ky/course/p4-3_whomayoperate.htm

http://www.boat-ed.com/ky/index.htm

Currently in KY, if you are between 12 and 17 you have to have a Boater Ed Card, but once you are over 17, you dont need it anymore.

Why Not just make it like the Hunter Ed Card, and set a Date, Like Jan 1 1985, and say if born agfter this date, youhave to have it. Anyone this age or younger would have fallen under the requirement at some age anyway!!!

I know it wont help in the short term, but eventually it will cover everyone, and realistically, even this would be hard to get through the politicians to become law..

[walkeraviator]

I am in agreement here. Education should be manditory. You should have to carry proof that you have been educated in proper and safe boating practices to actually be the "pilot-in-command" of your vessel. I think that reckless operation laws that are already in existance should be enforced more, and having a better presence of authority on the water is a good idea. I might see a warden or police officer 1 time out of 20 on a lake. But laws restricting tournament numbers is counter productive. Because then it becomes a pissing match on who gets screwed out of teh tourney... usually ends up being those with less in their pockets...

With that said... be proactive out there guys... be the responsible ones with yoru head on a swivel and drive offensively (as in not defensively... not meant as drive like a butthole)... and educate others whether they want to hear it or not...

[BPenrod]

I'm also a strong advocate against mixing water and alcohol. There is nothing wrong with drinking as long as you do it responsibly. I drink, but choose not to while on the water. I know some will disagree with this, but what is the point in participating in something that is only fun when you're drunk??? There are too many overwhelming factors to take into consideration while drinking on the water. Hell, think about all the unexpected bad things that happen while drinking (not just on the water but on land as well at bars, parties, etc). People fall, pass out, get beligerent, etc.

I agree 1 million % with this!!!!!

[CTFSHWHISKER]

common sense is the best cure.weren't most of the options and theories covered in the other 100+ replies on this similar post?

[fishincreek]

Remembering that to everyone else in the world YOU are the "other guy".

[rickhise]

everyone has made great recommendations, suggestions. I come as close to living, on the water as anyone on here. There is very little very little enforcement. As a retired police officer, its easy to understand why we are fighting an up hill battle, take your one county game warden, throw in the various hunting seasons, deer season throw in other impoundments a river. In service training, vacation time sick leave.

I understand we have other's in authority but I just don't see them. So with all your rules & test,
without enforcement you don't have much.

Law enforcement cant get a handle on the highway with cell phone issues, where do u think our water ways stand in the food chain?

[TR21Bassin]

Lets require everyone to take a boater safety coarse. Sure lets add some more cost to everyone out there. Thats what we need. No matter how you take a boater test or try to regulate some new license its going to cost money to do this. Who will pay that bill?

Lets start policing ourselves and use some common sense on the water. I don't need the government or someone else out there running more of my life. I pay plenty of money to the government already for nothing, I don't need to pay more.

Charlie

[lizardking]

AMEN!

[artcarney_agr]

Lets require everyone to take a boater safety coarse. Sure lets add some more cost to everyone out there. Thats what we need. No matter how you take a boater test or try to regulate some new license its going to cost money to do this. Who will pay that bill?
Charlie

It's that type of mentality that will have to change.

As for who is going to pay for it? What do you think citations are for? By putting the mandatory coarse completion into effect, you create a means for officers to collect money to support the examinations from those who neglect to comply. The ones who neglect to comply with the safe boating campaign are probably the ones who need to take the course the most.

Even if the test costs you a one-time fee of $20, I think you could live with it. If you get a discount on your boat owner's insurance because of it for every year thereafter, you would recover that $20 and then some just in your first year.

Spending $20 and taking maybe 20 minutes to pass an online course would be well worth the benefits that would come from it. It won't cure all the problems, but for every person that learns to veer right when meeting head-on, the greater the chances of saving lives.

Such a program would help offer peace of mind to tournament co-anglers who get in boats with total strangers. The co-angler's life is in the hands of the boat operator, and right now there is nothing to ensure that the boater knows how to navigate safely or know what to do in an emergency situation.

[TR21Bassin]

Such a program would help offer peace of mind to tournament co-anglers who get in boats with total strangers. The co-angler's life is in the hands of the boat operator, and right now there is nothing to ensure that the boater knows how to navigate safely or know what to do in an emergency situation.

If your that scared stay home. Doesn't seem to be an shortage of co-anglers out there.

Yes $20 is not a big deal and thats not my point. My point is I don't want more government regulation. Lets keep big brother out of our pockets and out of our lives. I'm tired of paying for everyone elses screw ups and problems.

Charlie