Fatal Boat Wreck at Barkley last week

[Fishin is life]

First off I have a 70+mph boat and taking a class isn't going to help me stay out of an accident....the only thing that will keep you out of an accident is common sense and good judgement, not only on your part, but on the part of the people you're meeting.....I was on KY/Barkley the week of the accident fishing a tournament and I can guarantee you my boat was never above 50mph...when there's that many boats on the water it's not safe or sane to run any faster...proper boating knowledge shouldn't have to be taught....if you want to be on the water it's something you should take upon yourself to learn....we all know we take our life in our own hands everytime we fire up the engine, in a new bass boat with a 250, or in a johnboat with a 15....more people die playing tennis every year than die from a boating accident....no matter what the circumstances crap will happen....my thoughts and prayers go out to the man who died's family and friends

[elnutsmalljaws]

First off I have a 70+mph boat and taking a class isn't going to help me stay out of an accident....the only thing that will keep you out of an accident is common sense and good judgement, not only on your part, but on the part of the people you're meeting.....I was on KY/Barkley the week of the accident fishing a tournament and I can guarantee you my boat was never above 50mph...when there's that many boats on the water it's not safe or sane to run any faster...proper boating knowledge shouldn't have to be taught....if you want to be on the water it's something you should take upon yourself to learn....we all know we take our life in our own hands everytime we fire up the engine, in a new bass boat with a 250, or in a johnboat with a 15....more people die playing tennis every year than die from a boating accident....no matter what the circumstances crap will happen....my thoughts and prayers go out to the man who died's family and friends

I bought my 2003 Tracker Deep V with a 90 Mercury New from Bass Pro Shops in Cincinnati and picked up the boat at the end of May 2003. I was not raised around boats, had never driven a boat, and only been in a boat a couple of times in my 35 years of living at that time. I had never pulled a boat or any other trailer for that matter except the occasional flatbed with tobacco on it with a tractor at my grandfathers. I show up in Cincy on a Wednesday late afternoon. The guy literally gives me a crash course on starting the boat, walks around and shows me some features and buttons. I am overwhelmed as it is because now I have to drive back thru Cincy during rush hour pulling my boat back to Frankfort. After turning some coal into diamonds with my butt cheeks on the scary drive back to the house it is now time to back it into the driveway. Dodge the mailboxes across the street, my mail box and other stuff and it took almost 45 minutes to jack-knife the boat into the driveway and get it situated. Cussing and Fussing all the way, embarrassed as the neighbors I know are looking and laughing the whole time - looking back at it I would have laughed at me too. Thursday late afternoon and my brother in law meets my wife and I at Guist Creek for the maiden voyage. He helps me a lot in backing and operating the boat but really how much running can you do at Guist Creek. After a couple of hours we took out and headed back home for another adventurous parking ordeal. The next day my wife and I both took off work and headed back to Guist Creek by ourselves. This is the day where my wife had stored her purse and camera in the back bait livewell and as I was playing with all the buttons filled the livewell and did not know it until it was time for her to get the camera out and take some pictures. The livewell works and it holds water PERFECTLY. New camera, cell phone, purse and all the trimmings is what that cost me. The next day and my brother in law wants to take me to Cumberland night fishing for Smallies and Stripers. With the massive experience of pulling my boat from Cincy to Frankfort in rush hour and 2 trips to Guist Creek from Frankfort under my belt, now it it time to head down 127 to hit the lake. We don't launch until almost 10pm, after dark on a lake that I have NEVER been on, and I idle out past the bouys (old ramp at the dam) and he says to turn left and head for the red light tower in the distance. I am idleing because I can see hardly anything, eyes have not adjusted to the darkness, new lake, new boat, new boat owner, hardly no experience behind the wheel, and he says "hit it". I said I can't see anything and he says we have 6 miles to go and you are wide open left and right. I say ok and off we go. 38mph, can't see, driving towards a light in the distance, lake I had never been on, driving at night, basically no boating experience at all, going full tilt boogie hoping to not hit anything - WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? No state regulations or laws that I broke on any part of this story. No law that requires me to take a towing class, no law that requires me to take a boater safety course, no law that requires me to do anything to prevent me from doing everything that I did above. My boat goes 38mph and DOES NOT have any brakes on it. My Explorer goes 38mph and DOES have brakes on it. My boat does not have a roof or seat belts or anything else to keep me confined to the inside of the boat or seat as does my Explorer. 27 years ago when I wanted to operate a motor vehicle, I had to pass a written test, get a Drivers Permit which required a Liscensed Driver to be in the vehicle with me as I operated it for 30 days then pass a Driving Test before I was given a Liscense. But anyone can take $50,000 and buy a high performance boat that will travel 75mph+, pull it to the lake, launch, run and gun with no test of any kind given for any part of the equation. Something is wrong with this picture

[Grumpy]

Hey Elnut, please tell us what kind of replies you get from the Governor, your State Senatore, Representative, the KYDFW and the COE about your safety suggestions.

Grumpy

[Col Forbin]

At the very least, a passing score on an online test would be a step in the right direction. It would ensure that boat operators have read through the boater operation manual and are competent enough to pass the test.

Proof of test completion would have to be presented during routine safety checks on the water, and be a requirement for anyone entering a bass tournament. Failure to comply would result in fines, penalties, etc.

Florida offers one, and it's good for life once you pass it. I believe some resorts require you to possess one regardless of age if you plan on renting a boat.
http://www.floridaboatingcourse.com/

Good post, I agree with all of this. Do I feel confident in my boating abilities - yes. Do I feel confident in everyone elses boating safety - NO! I have had several close calls on the lake, almost all of which I know I was acting in proper way - I am on the water quite a bit, and I see too many people that don't have a clue about boating safety and rules of navigation, and I garantee they aren't going to take the time to learn on their own. I plan on fishing as much as I can in the future, as well as taking my kids out with me. I would like that peace of mind knowing that everyone else out there has taken the time to at least review the rules of safe navigation. Jjust like Scott said, the minimal cost of this will be easily recovered from insurance deductions - so why would anyone oppose this.

Just like Grumpy advised, these posts are good to raise awareness, however, nothing is going to change on it's own, we need to take appropriate action.

I will be willing to bet that some of the larger tournament circuits, including FLW will make this required in order to register as a boater within the next couple of years. You can pass out all the waivers you want, but there is just too much liability involved. These tournament circuits are going to have some responsibility to prove that they are taking a proactive approach in protecting their anglers.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Hey Elnut, please tell us what kind of replies you get from the Governor, your State Senatore, Representative, the KYDFW and the COE about your safety suggestions.

Grumpy

Hey Grumpy, YOUR UNBELIEVABLE, the post asked for opinions not smart a## comments. But as Super Moderator with all the power you think you have, it is ok for you to post what you want and delete what you want.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Hey Elnut, please tell us what kind of replies you get from the Governor, your State Senatore, Representative, the KYDFW and the COE about your safety suggestions.

Grumpy

Your post has been reported.

[artcarney_agr]

I will be willing to bet that some of the larger tournament circuits, including FLW will make this required in order to register as a boater within the next couple of years. You can pass out all the waivers you want, but there is just too much liability involved. These tournament circuits are going to have some responsibility to prove that they are taking a proactive approach in protecting their anglers.

I hope they do. It has to start somewhere.

[apb]

Hey Grumpy, YOUR UNBELIEVABLE, the post asked for opinions not smart a## comments. But as Super Moderator with all the power you think you have, it is ok for you to post what you want and delete what you want.

I didn't take his post as a smart ass comment. Read that one in conjunction with his other post in this thread and it makes sense. He is right, nothing will change if people do not contact their representatives to express their opinion on the matter. Threads like this are useful in developing one's opinion of a topic, but will not create any change if no one takes the next step and makes those opinions heard by their representatives.

Andrew

[offdtop]

Can I ask a question? with the buzz being generated can a petition be started? If so then wouldn't a converstion such as this help generate interest? I would sign and/or start one but really don't know how too..... just a thought.

[peter]

OK Everybody,

Please note that this is addressed to "Everybody".

I can't sit here and moderate this thread all day and keep deleting posts. Please stop so I can go back to work and keep the lights on.

I like offdtop's recent post. Lets get off this and onto something productive.

Thank you

Peter

[peter]

I could post a poll on here. Don't know what the questions would be though.
You can put the email addresses here that could be copied and pasted into an email and some sample letters on here that could be pasted into the email and bombard them with emails. Honestly I have not read the whole thread so I don't know what is being suggested/proposed so I am not endorsing anything. Safety sounds good though!

I am always on the lookout for clueless people and especially people that go flying around at night and in the fog with relyng on their gps not to hit anything. GPS is not Radar.

[peter]

Just a post so I can set up email notification for any replies in advanced edit mode.