Fatal Boat Wreck at Barkley last week

[offdtop]

I've only seen it once out of multiple tournaments. Of course, I never have won anything and needed a polygraph.

to be honest that has been the only time they've asked! The only thing is when you sign a waiver saying you have it.

[Fishin is life]

Look, I drive a tractor trailer, I had to take a written test, road test and pass a physical to do it. Not everyone can drive one, even if they wanted to. I have a knack for it, a God given talent that I can bullseye a dock in the middle of a Kansas tornado, IMO, Im the best there is bar none but that dont mean I cant have a tire blow out, jack knife in an ice storm ect... Some of you are like that with a boat. I have seen guys in situations that would make me cringe, I have had trailers in situations that would scare the daylights out of people. No one is bullet proof in anything. I think it would not hurt anyone to take a boaters safety class, if you know it then thats great but remember there are alot more like me out there who know some things and is trying to be safe but will make some mistakes at times. When I takwe this class, other than acting stupid, there will be no excuses. BTW, think abou the 80 yr old man driving that 50 ft motor home, he has no training either, just like Woody, pick it up heres the keys enjoy your trips sir.

I agree with a lot of the things you said....no matter how good you are at anything crap can and will happen....Sometimes you don't have to make a "mistake" for things to go wrong....being on the water you can take a wake at the wrong angle while in the middle of a turn and its over....just as driving your tractor trailer you can hit a patch of black ice doing less than the speed limit and its over....THERE IS NO COURSE YOU CAN TAKE THAT WILL PREPARE YOU FOR THINGS THAT CAN AND WILL HAPPEN ON THE WATER....my only complaint about taking a course is that a lot of the people who need to take it, will be the ones who won't take it

[flippindrew]

A regulation requiring a boaters safety course is not going to solve ANYTHING.

I'm lost that everyone is referring to this accident and claiming we need to require boaters safety courses when both drivers in this accident were fully experienced drivers.

I took a boaters safety course when I was 14 or 15 to allow me to drive a boat without an adult present. What did it teach me? Port/Starboard, red buoy/green, give way to larger vessels exiting channels while you are entering blah blah. Nothing, experience and others such as my father taught me.

This thread was stemmed from a single accident. An accident in which arose from a single circumstance that everyone who has ever driven a boat has encountered. It was an absolute tragedy but I'm sure that everyone who has ever operated a boat of any kind has encountered this situation that caused this. A situation where your driving head on directly towards another boat. The key lesson here is to simply remember that you must make that move first to show the other driver your intentions. You cannot wait on the other driver.

It cannot be contributed to any organization, fog, too many boats on the water etc. I drove past this accident no more than two minutes after it happened and I could see the direction each driver was going etc.

An example of the regulations people are asking for:

Did I take a test for my permit and drivers license before driving? Yes. Did this stop me from driving like an idiot when I was 16 yrs. old? No. Inexperience is inexperience and a test cannot give you experience.

The simple fact is that require a test is not going to influence someone’s driving decisions on the water or the road after a test. As someone else stated, this boils down to common sense and decision making.

Staggering take off times for boats in a single tournament is obviously not a solution because the boats were in two different tournaments.

We all need to say a prayer for the family and friends affected and remember that we can only control our own boats on the water, and not others.

This is simply my opinion and wasn't meant to offend anyone. I have driven bassboats for over 14 years and have never had a single accident.

I'm sorry but tests simply do not prepare you for everything. Again, I can attest to that, I've take the boaters safety course.

[dc chopper]

[QUOTE=flippindrew;430443]A regulation requiring a boaters safety course is not going to solve ANYTHING.

I'm lost that everyone is referring to this accident and claiming we need to require boaters safety courses when both drivers in this accident were fully experienced drivers.

I took a boaters safety course when I was 14 or 15 to allow me to drive a boat without an adult present. What did it teach me? Port/Starboard, red buoy/green, give way to larger vessels exiting channels while you are entering blah blah. Nothing, experience and others such as my father taught me.

This thread was stemmed from a single accident. An accident in which arose from a single circumstance that everyone who has ever driven a boat has encountered. It was an absolute tragedy but I'm sure that everyone who has ever operated a boat of any kind has encountered this situation that caused this. A situation where your driving head on directly towards another boat. The key lesson here is to simply remember that you must make that move first to show the other driver your intentions. You cannot wait on the other driver.

It cannot be contributed to any organization, fog, too many boats on the water etc. I drove past this accident no more than two minutes after it happened and I could see the direction each driver was going etc.

An example of the regulations people are asking for:

Did I take a test for my permit and drivers license before driving? Yes. Did this stop me from driving like an idiot when I was 16 yrs. old? No. Inexperience is inexperience and a test cannot give you experience.

The simple fact is that require a test is not going to influence someone?s driving decisions on the water or the road after a test. As someone else stated, this boils down to common sense and decision making.

Staggering take off times for boats in a single tournament is obviously not a solution because the boats were in two different tournaments.

We all need to say a prayer for the family and friends affected and remember that we can only control our own boats on the water, and not others.

This is simply my opinion and wasn't meant to offend anyone. I have driven bassboats for over 14 years and have never had a single accident.

I'm sorry but tests simply do not prepare you for everything. Again, I can attest to that, I've take the boaters safety course.[/QU

This is a great response too. things do happen, sometimes there is nothing we can do... just Look at Tony Reynolds experience ....he lost one and he was around them 24-7 sometimes bad things happen and there is nothing we can do about it but I will still take one first chance I get cause I have no idea what starboard side is... in Bullitt Co we call that either lfet or right

[dc chopper]

My point about the post was just to show the laws that govern the operation of a motor vehicle versus the laws that govern the operation of a boat. A 35 yr old that has never held a drivers liscense still has to go thru the process of getting one to learn how to drive safely on the road. There is no difference in doing 70mph in a Bass Boat versus 70mph in the truck pulling the bass boat to the ramp versus 70mph in a car with no boat in tow. What I was trying to point out was here I was a NEW boat owner with no experience at all and I was legally able to pull the boat thru Cincinnati at rush hour and drive the boat down Lake Cumberland at night all within the first 4 days of being a boat owner and there was no law or other regulation that could stop me from doing so.

Throw in the 80 yr old and the 50 ft camper trailer too.

[FlyLie]

So, has anyone written a letter and sent it to .......? If so, how's about posting same on the board! Signed, Ole Fisherman!

[elnutsmalljaws]

Bow, Stern, Port and Starboard

Here is how I remember them

Bow - Take a Bow, bend forward, the forward of the boat
Stern - Back of the boat
Starboard - "The Star on Board, The Driver", Drivers Side or Right
Port - Left side of the boat

[VMAXX]

A regulation requiring a boaters safety course is not going to solve ANYTHING.

I'm lost that everyone is referring to this accident and claiming we need to require boaters safety courses when both drivers in this accident were fully experienced drivers.

I took a boaters safety course when I was 14 or 15 to allow me to drive a boat without an adult present. What did it teach me? Port/Starboard, red buoy/green, give way to larger vessels exiting channels while you are entering blah blah. Nothing, experience and others such as my father taught me.

This thread was stemmed from a single accident. An accident in which arose from a single circumstance that everyone who has ever driven a boat has encountered. It was an absolute tragedy but I'm sure that everyone who has ever operated a boat of any kind has encountered this situation that caused this. A situation where your driving head on directly towards another boat. The key lesson here is to simply remember that you must make that move first to show the other driver your intentions. You cannot wait on the other driver.

It cannot be contributed to any organization, fog, too many boats on the water etc. I drove past this accident no more than two minutes after it happened and I could see the direction each driver was going etc.

An example of the regulations people are asking for:

Did I take a test for my permit and drivers license before driving? Yes. Did this stop me from driving like an idiot when I was 16 yrs. old? No. Inexperience is inexperience and a test cannot give you experience.

The simple fact is that require a test is not going to influence someone’s driving decisions on the water or the road after a test. As someone else stated, this boils down to common sense and decision making.

Staggering take off times for boats in a single tournament is obviously not a solution because the boats were in two different tournaments.

We all need to say a prayer for the family and friends affected and remember that we can only control our own boats on the water, and not others.

This is simply my opinion and wasn't meant to offend anyone. I have driven bassboats for over 14 years and have never had a single accident.

I'm sorry but tests simply do not prepare you for everything. Again, I can attest to that, I've take the boaters safety course.

+1 couldnt have said it better.....

[Tom523]

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.

Look! You can't fix STUPID! We have enough rules and regulations in effect right now that aren't enforced! Common sense isn't taught but it is learned from experience. Some unfortunately experience it for the last time too soon in their lives. That's just an unfortunate fact. Some are victims of these Darwin award winners. I don't need the government to be my parent. I already had two they did a great job and I survived 51 years so far. Everyone needs to watch out for those Darwin award candidates that are striving for the the ultimate award. It all starts with the parents of the individuals that want to act like they do. Let's enforce parenting like good neighbors do. There are too many adults today that have been babysat by the TV, computer, and video game.

[artcarney_agr]

The issue is not about enforcement, or governement intervention, or whatever else you guys can come up with.

The issue is whether or not everyone on the water needs to have some sort of qualifications to be on the water. As is it right now, there is no such thing. Any idiot can get in a boat and drive it.

For the veterans and those with great experience, you could pass the quiz without even opening up a book. I'm surpised at the resistance of such an effort to educate the masses. One quiz, one time, and that's it.......what's the big deal?

[LMHunter]

I'm also very shocked by the resistance of just a little education. I would have thought more of you all would have had the certification already. If nothing else just for the insurance discount. What is so scary about a little education? Frankly after reading this post I am even more worried about the safety on the waters. Set a good example and take the test. You never know, you may even learn something.

[BPenrod]

The issue is not about enforcement, or governement intervention, or whatever else you guys can come up with.

The issue is whether or not everyone on the water needs to have some sort of qualifications to be on the water. As is it right now, there is no such thing. Any idiot can get in a boat and drive it.

For the veterans and those with great experience, you could pass the quiz without even opening up a book. I'm surpised at the resistance of such an effort to educate the masses. One quiz, one time, and that's it.......what's the big deal?

You might be surprised at the number of veterans and experienced boaters that couldn't pass a simple quiz.