Fatal on River nearBullhead-OUI

[boatpi]

http://www.havasunews.com/news/bull...cle_be76fb2c-3ba7-11e6-93b0-abb2c1ee4eaa.html

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

[emoji22]

So sad. RIP little girl.

 

[GRADS]

This is what always scared the hell out me of about drinking and boating. I'm not saying I've never done it because I have. I'm not saying this is the case but say I've a had enough beers to barely put me over the limit and some dumb ass seadoo driver pulls in front of me while I'm hauling ass.....bam, I'm in jail and fucked even though it wasn't my fault.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Sad
I see that intoxication is the only listed factor in the accident. I wonder what an eyewitness report would say about the trajectory or maneuvering of both watercraft leading up to the impact. What type of accident was it?

 

[rivermobster]

This is what always scared the hell out me of about drinking and boating. I'm not saying I've never done it because I have. I'm not saying this is the case but say I've a had enough beers to barely put me over the limit and some dumb ass seadoo driver pulls in front of me while I'm hauling ass.....bam, I'm in jail and fucked even though it wasn't my fault.

Sounds like exactly what happened here. So sad. So fucking sad. [emoji26]

 

[SBMech]

RIP lil girl. Sad to see this.

 

[Joker]

RIP little girl : (.
Not sure what happened other than the fact the driver of the boat should not have been drinking regardless of who's fault it was.

 

[SRice]

This is what always scared the hell out me of about drinking and boating. I'm not saying I've never done it because I have. I'm not saying this is the case but say I've a had enough beers to barely put me over the limit and some dumb ass seadoo driver pulls in front of me while I'm hauling ass.....bam, I'm in jail and fucked even though it wasn't my fault.

Six (I think) more drunks pulled off the Lake yesterday at Site 6 sobriety checkpoint.

 

[2Driver]

I hate impaired boaters as much as anyone, but that story doesn't indicate exactly how the accident happened. Sad all around.

 

[Yellowboat]

Sounds like exactly what happened here. So sad. So fucking sad. [emoji26]

maybe, maybe not.


After having my back broke from a drunk driver, losing more then a few friends. I have never, drank then drove anything.

its not something I can ever see myself doing. I don't drink now anyways, but even when I did, I always made sure i did not drink and drive.

 

[aka619er]

Horrible situation. Devastating. RIP.

 

[3queens]

That part of the river is a complete

CLUSTER FUCK
way to many lake lice in a short narrow area people always come flying off the beach at Davis with No regard to traffic and with all the rental company's in that stretch just adds to it
Stay away from this area once you get to the abandoned casino turn around :grumble:

So sad for the loss

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

That part of the river is a complete

CLUSTER FUCK
way to many lake lice in a short narrow area people always come flying off the beach at Davis with No regard to traffic and with all the rental company's in that stretch just adds to it
Stay away from this area once you get to the abandoned casino turn around :grumble:

So sad for the loss

I would never, ever, eveeeeeerrrrr, let my teenage kid drive a pwc on that stretch of water. It was crazy years ago, I could imagine now. Even being an experienced boater, I'd be sketch in that area. It sucks cuz it's cool floatin and Cruzin near the casinos their too. Rip....

 

[plaster dave]

Six (I think) more drunks pulled off the Lake yesterday at Site 6 sobriety checkpoint.

So how many pulled over or you guys had contact with to how many arrested for bui?

 

[Advantage 1]

Very sad 😦

 

[On Cruise]

Very sad 

Watercraft have ruined the river in Bullhead and basically the river in general.

No education and experience.


I despises the numerous Jet Ski rentals polluting the the beautiful water we had for ever.

Rent a watercraft with "NO" experience?

Have fun

 

[Boschma]

That's terrible....cant imagine

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

I despises the numerous Jet Ski rentals polluting the the beautiful water we had for ever.

Rent a watercraft with "NO" experience?

Have fun

Laughlin is a great example of that.

I can't even tell you the last time I had my boat on a holiday weekend, maybe 10 years. Too many people without any respect for others, weather it be at the launch ramp, dock, on the water. I usually only boat in the middle of the week, unless its before memorial day weekend or after labor day weekend.

 

[havasunuts]

http://www.havasunews.com/news/bull...cle_be76fb2c-3ba7-11e6-93b0-abb2c1ee4eaa.html

Thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

 

[Rotten deal]

So sad. Rip little one

 

[traquer]

So sad. Just don't drink and drive. You tell yourself you're ok and you'll just take it easy but it's physically impossible because your reaction times are slower, and it's very hard to hold yourself back to not go fast.

 

[JJK94]

This is what always scared the hell out me of about drinking and boating. I'm not saying I've never done it because I have. I'm not saying this is the case but say I've a had enough beers to barely put me over the limit and some dumb ass seadoo driver pulls in front of me while I'm hauling ass.....bam, I'm in jail and fucked even though it wasn't my fault.

WTF

 

[236eagledave]

This is what always scared the hell out me of about drinking and boating. I'm not saying I've never done it because I have. I'm not saying this is the case but say I've a had enough beers to barely put me over the limit and some dumb ass seadoo driver pulls in front of me while I'm hauling ass.....bam, I'm in jail and fucked even though it wasn't my fault.

I agree with this. Don't know who's fault this was but the poor little girl is dead and his life is forever changed. Maybe the woman driving the sea doo was at fault, but if he wasn't intoxicated maybe he sees what's happening and avoids the wreck.

 

[Mrhavasu]

I hate to hear these comments,,,, Lice on the lake, Pwc cut in front of me. NO excuse. I mainly boat and like to go fast too. I also have a 3 seat pwc. Few years ago I am going down Havasu lake with two of my daughters on the back.
I get the slow angle cut off and the dirty look from some asshole in an boat who gives me the look like I am lake lice. Fuck him and the rest of you with that attitude. We all got to work together. Sure I hate alot of these
pwc people, but lives are at stake and this a recreation thing, not war. The boating attitude needs to change.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

after years and years of watching.... pretty sure "NOBODY" knows the rules...
you can't over take an other vessel unless they let you....and there's laws/rules on which to do it....which no one uses...






Following Right-of-Way Boating Rules

By Randy Vance

Part of the Power Boating For Dummies Cheat Sheet


When you?re cruising along in your power boat, you?re rarely alone on the water, so you need to know, and follow, boating rules. In boat-speak, you and your vessel either stand-on course because you have the right-of-way, or you give way to a vessel and let it pass first. The action you take depends on what you and the other vessel are doing.

Sailboats under sail power only are always the stand-on vessels in crossing and meeting situations, so look out for them when you?re under power. Also, commercial vessels restricted by their draft or by fishing gear, such as nets or trawls, hold privilege over all recreational vessels, including sailboats.

Passing a boat

?Your vessel: If you?re following another vessel in a river, narrow canal, or marked channel, you?re the give-way vessel, meaning you have the greater burden of responsibility should anything go wrong when you try to pass. Your vessel, in this case, is also called the burdened vessel.


?The other vessel: The vessel you want to pass is the stand-on vessel. It?s privileged and the skipper can deny you passage if she thinks it?s unsafe (or doesn?t like the color of your paint).


?Asking permission to pass: You sound two short blasts from your horn, signifying you?d like to pass the skipper on his port (left) side.


?Receiving permission to pass: He signals back with two short blasts to say ?Okay!?


?Permission denied: She blasts the horn five times, signifying there?s danger involved in such a maneuver. If she doesn?t respond at all, consider it five short blasts and don?t attempt to pass.


Crossing paths

?Your vessel: You?re on a crossing course with another vessel that could result in a collision if neither boat changes course or speed.


?The other vessel?s on the right: It?s the privileged or stand-on vessel and you must let it pass in front of you.


?The other vessel is on the left: You?re the privileged or stand-on vessel and you must pass in front of the other vessel.


Meeting a boat head-on

?Your vessel: You?re meeting another vessel head-on.


?Both vessels: You should both steer to the right to such a degree that each can see the other?s intentions to pass safely portside to portside (left to left, for the landlubber).


When all else fails

When it seems like no one but you knows or follows the rules, the rules say you must give way to avoid a collision. If you exercise stand-on privilege and an accident results, you?ll be held at least partially responsible.
Add a Comment

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Navigation Rules of the Road

The navigation rules call anything that floats on the water and can be used for transportation a "vessel." Whether your boat is a cabin cruiser or a raft built by Tom Sawyer, for the rest of this section, it will be called a vessel. Other definitions you need to understand:

Power-driven vessel: any vessel that is propelled by machinery

Sailing vessel: any vessel under sail and being propelled only by the wind

Vessel engaged in fishing: any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatus that restricts its maneuverability

Seaplane: any aircraft designed to maneuver on the water

Restricted visibility: any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.

Underway: any vessel not anchored, made fast to the shore, or aground

You also need to know which vessel needs to yield when two vessels approach each other. Unlike vehicles on the road, vessels in the water have different rules for yielding depending on their size, shape, and means of propulsion. Basically, the easier it is for you to get out of the way of another vessel, the more likely it is that you are responsible for yielding. A sailboat without a motor, for example, is harder to turn quickly than a motor boat of the same size, so the motor boat is the one that has to change course.

If you are in a power-driven vessel, you need to keep out of the way of:
?A vessel not under command
?A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
?A vessel engaged in fishing
?A sailing vessel

There are three different sets of navigation rules:
?Inland
?International
?Great Lakes [including their connecting and tributary waters including the Calumet River as far as the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock and Controlling Works (between mile 326 and 327), the Chicago River as far as the east side of the Ashland Avenue Bridge (between mile 321 and 322), and the Saint Lawrence River as far east as the lower exit of Saint Lambert Lock], Western Rivers (including the Mississippi River, its tributaries, South Pass, and Southwest Pass, to the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, and the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route including the Old River and the Red River), or waters specified by the Secretary (Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Tombigbee River, Black Warrior River, Alabama River, Coosa River, Mobile River above the Cochrane Bridge at St. Louis Point, Flint River, Chattachoochee River, The Apalachicola River above its confluence with the Jackson River)

Navigation maps show the lines of demarcation between the inland and international bodies of water. If you are unsure which set of rules to follow, check the map or ask the local harbor master or other boating expert. Unless specified otherwise, you can assume the rules in this section are the same for all three classifications.

Types of Vessels

In terms of yielding, the two types of vessels are "stand on" and "give way." If you are the stand-on vessel like the sailboat in the following example, you should not alter your course unless there is a danger of collision. When you are the stand-on vessel, maintain your course and speed so the give-way vessel can predict what you will do.

If you are the give-way vessel like the motor boat above, you have to get out of the way of the stand-on vessel. When you are the give-way vessel, you make a significant course change early enough that the stand-on vessel knows you are responding correctly.


It is always better for both vessels to give way than to collide before they can decide who will give way and who will stand on.

Danger and Safe Zones

The area around your boat is divided into three sectors: port, starboard and stern. Each of these sectors is color coded the same as the navigation lights on your boat: the starboard sector is green, the stern sector is white, and port sector is red.



The starboard or green sector is known as the danger zone because when a boat approaches from that side, your boat is in danger if you don't get out of the way. When a boat approaches from the starboard side, you see the red light on their boat, and you are the give-way vessel. When you see the green light of the other boat, you are in the safe zone because you are the stand-on vessel and will continue going in the same direction. Seeing green on the other boat means go or continue, and seeing red means there is danger if you don't change your direction.

Sound Signals

To let the other vessels know which way you will be heading, you signal them with either a short or long blast of your horn (or other sound signal device) or a combination of short and/or long blasts. A short blast lasts about 1 second, and a long blast lasts 4 to 6 seconds.

If you are the give-way vessel, you will give the proper signal, and if you are the stand-on vessel, you will repeat the signal to let the other vessel know you understand their intentions. If both vessels are the give-way vessel, either one can initiate the signal.


If you are ever unsure of the intentions of the other vessel or if there is danger ahead, sound five or more short blasts.

The following table lists the navigation situations and the appropriate sound signals.


Sound Signals

One short blast

I intend to leave you on my port side (I intend to turn to the right and pass you on your port side)


Two short blasts

I intend to leave you on my starboard side (I intend to turn to the left and pass you on my starboard side)


Three short blasts

I am operating astern propulsion (astern propulsion is used to slow a ship by applying a force in the direction of the stern of the ship, instead of the bow), which means you are slowing down or even moving backward.


Five or more short blasts

I don't understand your intentions or there is danger.


One prolonged blast

I'm coming to a bend or obstruction and you may not be able to see me.


One prolonged blast every two minutes

I am in a power boat. Visibility is reduced (because of fog, for example), and you may not be able to see me.


One prolonged blast plus two short blasts every two minutes

I am in a vessel constrained by her draft or restricted in her ability to maneuver, a sailing vessel, a vessel engaged in commercial fishing, or a vessel engaged in towing or pushing another vessel. Visibility is reduced, and you may not be able to see me.


Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast

I am in International Waters in a narrow channel or fairway and I intend to overtake you on your starboard side.


Two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts

I am in International Waters in a narrow channel or fairway and I intend to overtake you on your port side.


One prolonged, one short, one prolonged and one short blast

I am in International Waters in a narrow channel or fairway and I understand your intentions to overtake me.



Rules for Powerboats

Crossing Situations - Meeting Head On

When your power vessel is headed toward another power vessel, turn to the right so that you both pass each other on the port side.


If you are boating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, the direction of the current changes which vessel is the give-way vessel and which is the stand-on vessel. If you are proceeding downbound with a following current, you are the stand-on vessel, and the upbound vessel is the give-way vessel.


Crossing Situations - Crossing Paths

When the path of your vessel will cross the path of another power vessel, if the other vessel is on your starboard side, you will see their red light and you are the give-way vessel. When possible, cross behind the other vessel, not in front of it.


If you are boating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary and you are crossing the current, you need to keep out of the way of a vessel going with or against the current.


Crossing Situations - Narrow Channels

If you are navigating through a narrow channel or fairway, keep as close as safely possible to the outer limit of the channel on your starboard side.

If you are in a narrow channel on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary and are headed down-current with a following current, you are the stand-on vessel. If you are traveling against the current, you are the give-way vessel and must give the other vessel plenty of space to permit safe passing.

If your boat is less than 20 meters long or you are on a sailboat under sail, you must not impede the passage of a vessel that can only navigate through a narrow portion of the channel.

Unless it's an emergency, never anchor in a narrow channel.

Crossing Situations - Overtaking Another Vessel

If you want to pass a slower vessel that's headed in the same direction, you can pass on either the port or starboard side. Before passing, be sure there are no other vessels in the way, and be sure the water is deep enough and the channel is wide enough that you can safely pass. If you are the vessel being passed, do not change your course or speed except to avoid a collision.

The vessel in front of you will know you want to overtake it when you come from a direction more than 22.5? abaft (behind) its beam. If it were dark when you were approaching the vessel, you would only be able to see the sternlight of the vessel in front of you, not either of the sidelights.

Special Rules for Sailboats

For sailboats, the direction of the wind determines which vessel is the give-way vessel and which is the stand-on vessel.

The windward side is the side the wind is coming from. The leeward side is the downwind side.



If you are on a sailing vessel and you see another sailing vessel approaching, use the following rules:

When each vessel has the wind on a different side, the vessel with the wind on the port side (port tack) is the give-way vessel and must move out of the way of the other vessel. When a vessel is on a port tack, the boom is on the starboard side.



When both vessels have the wind on the same side, the vessel that is windward is the give-way vessel and must move out of the way of the leeward vessel.



If you can't tell which side the wind is on for another sailboat, that vessel is the stand-on vessel and you are the give-way vessel.



Sometimes the vision of the person on the windward sailboat is blocked by the sails. Even when you are on the leeward side and are the stand-on vessel, never assume the windward boat can see you and will give way.

Lookout! - U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rule 5

U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rule 5 states that "Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision."

When do I need a Look-out?

According to Rule 5, all vessels are responsible for maintaining a proper look-out at all times - this includes one-man crews, unmanned crafts, and recreational boats. The term look-out implies watching and listening so that he/she is aware of what is happening around the vessel. The emphasis is on performing the action, not on the person. Still, in all but the smallest vessels, the lookout is expected to be an individual who is not the helmsman and is usually located in the forward part of the boat, away from the distractions and noises of the bridge.

If you are on the boat by yourself, you alone are responsible for keeping a proper lookout.

If anyone else is on the boat with you, appoint another person to help. Tell them to use their eyes and ears to monitor the area around your boat. Watch and listen for other boats, people or debris in the water. Also, watch and listen for changing weather conditions. Your lookout can help you safely navigate around obstacles in the water.

While no specific location on a vessel is prescribed for the lookout, good navigation requires placement at the point best suited for the purpose of hearing and observing the approach of objects likely to be brought into collision with the vessel. The size of the vessel and crew effect the best placement of the lookout, however, the emphasis in every legal decision points to the need for a proper, attentive look-out.

While the use of radar to evaluate the situation is implied in the requirement to use all available means, that is still understood to be secondary to maintaining a look-out by sight and hearin

 

[AzGeo]

EVERY TIME I am coming north on Havasu near the mouth of Copper Canyon, I encounter power vessels going south on the EAST SIDE (Arizona) of the lake . Weekends, middle of the week, all the same.

Just getting these idiots to understand 'counter clockwise traffic patterns', is way beyond their grasp .

I'm surprised that insurance companies have not offered, or demanded sail and power boat operation classes .

I see it on the horizon ...........

 

[SRice]

So how many pulled over or you guys had contact with to how many arrested for bui?

I asked before leaving but final numbers were not yet available. Prob 100+ boats contacted. I did hear that the most intoxicated boater was about a .375 BAC which would be more than 4x the legal limit. Will post final numbers if I hear them.

 

[SRice]

2Forceful, thank you for posting all of that. Based on my experience as a LEO on Lake Havasu, I would be surprised if 1% of the boating public here knows or follows those regulations- I have NEVER heard a passing vessel signal as prescribed. Add in the fact that many boaters feel it is perfectly appropriate to have a few (or even many) drinks while driving a boat and that "reasonable and prudent" just means you are allowed to go as fast as your boat is capable, and we end up with a boating environment which I consider extremely unsafe. The Coast Guard stats bear this out, and Havasu and the Colorado River are regularly cited as among the most dangerous waterways in America. Arizona is one of the last states which has not implemented mandatory boater education and this is overdue. The idea that a bunch of college kids with a credit card are going to rent a boat for the first time, get a 10 minute orientation to boating, and then safely run upriver is absurd. Likewise, we have speed limits and open container laws on the highway- wouldn't they save lives on the river too? I know those opinions will not be popular and they are my personal views rather than those of my agency, but ever summer I spend here does more to convince me that this lake simply is not a safe place for family recreation.

 

[J DUNN]

I don't like inexperienced PWC riders as much as the next guy BUT, I'd rather have an idiot novice PWC rider than an intoxicated boat driver ANYDAY!!!!!!!!!

I'm not saying who's right or wrong in this particular incident but for all of you who OUI and are putting blame on the PWC driver, it's like the pot calling the kettle black!

I do agree the article is leaving out a lot of details but guess what, it's the press, if they got it right all the time Hillary wouldn't still be running for office.:rolleyes

 

[RitcheyRch]

Sad news. RIP young lady. You were way too young to die.

 

[BHC Vic]

I asked before leaving but final numbers were not yet available. Prob 100+ boats contacted. I did hear that the most intoxicated boater was about a .375 BAC which would be more than 4x the legal limit. Will post final numbers if I hear them.

That's pretty crazy.

 

[BHC Vic]

2Forceful, thank you for posting all of that. Based on my experience as a LEO on Lake Havasu, I would be surprised if 1% of the boating public here knows or follows those regulations- I have NEVER heard a passing vessel signal as prescribed. Add in the fact that many boaters feel it is perfectly appropriate to have a few (or even many) drinks while driving a boat and that "reasonable and prudent" just means you are allowed to go as fast as your boat is capable, and we end up with a boating environment which I consider extremely unsafe. The Coast Guard stats bear this out, and Havasu and the Colorado River are regularly cited as among the most dangerous waterways in America. Arizona is one of the last states which has not implemented mandatory boater education and this is overdue. The idea that a bunch of college kids with a credit card are going to rent a boat for the first time, get a 10 minute orientation to boating, and then safely run upriver is absurd. Likewise, we have speed limits and open container laws on the highway- wouldn't they save lives on the river too? I know those opinions will not be popular and they are my personal views rather than those of my agency, but ever summer I spend here does more to convince me that this lake simply is not a safe place for family recreation.

Sadly on his site you will always hear that inexperience is worse than drinking. Even more sadly they have stats to prove it. We've talked about contests. a drunk river Dave launching and docking a boat vs a sober me. Eventually I'll get told I'm on my soap box and don't know what the river is about 😏

 

[JJK94]

isn't much left to say when an Experienced Boater has this to say

I'm not saying this is the case but say I've a had enough beers to barely put me over the limit

 

[rrrr]

.

Some of the replies in this thread are astounding.

I guess you experts missed this comment from the Havasu News story.

I'm sure he was barely over the legal limit and the PWC operator was at fault. ::rolleyes.

Mgla
Jun 27, 2016 1:54am

We were there it was by the bridge were it switches from laughlin to bullhead Arizona. My cousin was there on our seadoo and him and his friend jump in to help the 13 year old girl because she was unconscious, face down in the water and he feared that if she was still alive she would drown since he didn't know the severity of the injuries. While the intoxicated man on the boat threw his alcoholic substances in the water.

 

[rrrr]

Sadly on his site you will always hear that inexperience is worse than drinking. Even more sadly they have stats to prove it. We've talked about contests. a drunk river Dave launching and docking a boat vs a sober me. Eventually I'll get told I'm on my soap box and don't know what the river is about 

I've posted those stats from the annual Coast Guard reports before. While the number of accidents caused by inexperience exceed those caused by alcohol, the fatality rate in accidents caused by a drunk operator is astronomical.

The following is my reply in a year old thread to RD's claim inexperience is more dangerous than drinking.

Here's the math from the USCG report of 2014 accidents:

Inexperience was cited in 563 accidents. There were 38 fatalities caused by those accidents, or 6.7% of the total. There were 370 injuries, which was 67% of the total.

Alcohol was cited in 277 accidents. There were 108 fatalities caused by those accidents, or 40% of the total. There were 248 injuries, which was 90% of the total.

Your claim that boater inexperience is the cause of more accidents is accurate. But I'm way more interested in what happens in those accidents. Rookie boaters caused a fatality in just 6.7% of the total accidents. That means less than one in ten died as a result of boater inexperience. Injuries were 67% of the total.

But alcohol use is far and away more dangerous than your sixteen year old boater. Four out of every ten boaters in a fatality accident were killed by a drunk operator. Those lucky enough to just be injured were part of a group that made up 90% of total alcohol accidents. If you get in an accident with a driver that's been drinking, the chances of not being killed or injured is pretty damn small.

So your long time claim that people are more at risk in a boat with an inexperienced captain is false. You might be involved in a collision with a dock or another boat, but the chances of dying are six times greater in the boat captained by someone that has been drinking. That's the statistic that matters.

I'm glad you mentioned PFDs. When I'm stopped out on the water and people want to jump in, they have to be wearing a PFD. It's non-negotiable.

Am I being unreasonable? Not in my eyes. In 2014 there were 418 drowning deaths, and 377 of those weren't wearing a PFD. That's over 80%. In deaths caused by trauma, 60 out of 94 victims weren't wearing a PFD. That's 65% of the total.

If you want to swim in the middle of the lake without a PFD after drinking 8 beers, have at it. Just do it on someone else's boat. I've had the experience of diving for a dead man twice, while some of the people on the boat he was in screamed nonstop for ten minutes.

When I got too tired to continue, I climbed back in my boat, and everyone on the scene knew they had just watched a man die.

 

[TCHB]

EVERY TIME I am coming north on Havasu near the mouth of Copper Canyon, I encounter power vessels going south on the EAST SIDE (Arizona) of the lake . Weekends, middle of the week, all the same.

Just getting these idiots to understand 'counter clockwise traffic patterns', is way beyond their grasp .

I'm surprised that insurance companies have not offered, or demanded sail and power boat operation classes .

I see it on the horizon ...........

On Sunday a rental boat was going the wrong direction in the channel. He could not figure it out why people were yelling at him.

 

[FreeBird236]

On Sunday a rental boat was going the wrong direction in the channel. He could not figure it out why people were yelling at him.

:rolleyesMaybe he was from England.....More likely just an idiot.

 

[rrrr]

.

Again, a post I made in 2015 while showing RD's arguments about inexperience are completely invalid. He wants to highlight the fact the sheer number of accidents caused by inexperience means it's more dangerous than BUI. But the Coast Guard counts hitting a dock, running around, or sinking at the ramp an accident.

When the percentage of fatalities or serious injuries suffered in accidents with an impaired operator is examined, it's obvious that BUI will kill or maim a huge number of those involved. A rental operator hitting a dock...not so much.

Stats from the 2014 USCG annual report:

A Study of the Relationship Between the Risk of Fatality and Blood Alcohol Concentration of Recreational Boat Operators

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A previous study reported that in a data set of recreational boating fatalities 30% of the victims had blood alcohol concentrations above .10% by volume (Alcohol in Fatal Recreational Boating Accidents (Reference 1)). These data alone did not permit estimation of increased risk of fatality due to intoxication because the prevalence of intoxication among recreational boat operators was unknown.

The current study involved interviewing and breath testing recreational boat operators at several boat ramps and marinas in California in order to obtain the "exposure" data needed to estimate the increased risk of fatality associated with intoxication. A large percentage of those people who were approached willingly agreed to the interview and to the breath test.

Combining the data from this exposure sample and the fatality data from the previous study enabled computation of a relative risk estimate. The best estimate of relative risk resulting from this research is 10.65, that is, boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above .10% are estimated to be 10.65 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration.

The 2014 Coast Guard accident summary states there were 2259 accidents which occurred while a boat was in operation. There was a total of 268 deaths due to these accidents. Alcohol use was the primary contributing factor in 277, or 12% of those accidents, resulting in 108 deaths (40% of total deaths).

Here's a link to the 2014 study:

http://www.uscgboating.org/library/a...stics-2014.pdf

The prevalence of alcohol in fatal accidents is significant. Of all the fatalities in 2014 which happened while a boat was underway, 40% involved alcohol. The next largest cause of fatalities was operator inexperience, responsible for 16.5%. After that was operator inattention, responsible for 14%. See page 7 of the linked report for the statistics I am using.

Clearly the use of alcohol causes a significant number of deaths on the water every year. The Coast Guard estimates a third of those killed in boating accidents annually are at or above .10 BAC.

The alcohol use anecdotally described in this thread has been characterized as just havin' a few and not that big of a deal. But it was a very big deal for the families and friends of 108 people last year. I hope everyone thinks about that when they are on the water.

 

[AZMIDLYF]

Obviously there is a lot of room for improvement in many areas to make things better.

Rest in peace little one.

 

[Old Texan]

RIP to the young lady. So sad.

So many things can go wrong so quickly. Don't drink and operate is a no brainer. Pay attention and watch out for others is a must. Know your vessel no matter the size or type and make sure your passengers are secure.

If the crowds are too great, the choice to go somewhere and sit is the best decision for the day.

 

[aka619er]

Unfortunately this is and will always be a hot debate item. People have been dying in boats and automobiles since they were invented. If alcohol disappears off the planet the fact is people will still get in fatal accidents. Just a fact of being human. There is absolutely no proof that without alcohol there are less accidents. Just the fact that x amount of people who were in accidents had alcohol in their systems. So for argument purposes the boat operator had alcohol in his system and or dumped it after the accident. No matter what he is now at fault. Scapegoat system we live in.

 

[jetboatperformance]

RIP to the Little one lost .... Can someone educate me on what the legal operating age is for watercraft in this area ?

 

[rrrr]

There is absolutely no proof that without alcohol there are less accidents. Just the fact that x amount of people who were in accidents had alcohol in their systems. So for argument purposes the boat operator had alcohol in his system and or dumped it after the accident. No matter what he is now at fault. Scapegoat system we live in.

You can't prove a negative, but that doesn't mean you should have your head up your ass either.

The statistics in the 2014 USCG report I quoted above state unequivocally that of the fatal accidents in that year, 40% occurred in a boat driven by a drunk operator.

I'll say it again. The facts are simple. If you were in a boat crash in 2014 and a fatality occurred, 40% of the operators were drunk.

How's that for "argument purposes"?

 

[rrrr]

RIP to the Little one lost .... Can someone educate me on what the legal operating age is for watercraft in this area ?

The person driving the PWC was 42 years old. As for DC-88's answer, there has been no indication that the PWC was a rental. Several other posters have blamed the crash on driver inexperience or claimed that it was a rental without any factual basis.

So far there are only two known facts about the incident, one, a thirteen year old girl was killed, and two, the person that struck and killed her was drunk.

The number of posters ignoring those facts while substituting their own versions of events is disturbing to say the least.

 

[riverroyal]

Personally Id like to see a boating drivers license. For all things on water. I have NO issues taking a test, written or otherwise. If it means the other boaters have had the same test I would welcome it.
DONT start with the 'its another level of government crap' either. If you are operating a boat you should have a boat license, pretty simple. That includes all RENTALs. If that kills the rental businesses oh well. Would it save lives? yes. Stop drunk operators? no.

ANYONE can go into a dealer and buy a boat and be on the water that day. ZERO experience required. That has never made sense to me. 70mph PWC's that anyone can finance, stupid.

In the late 90s I volunteered with the SD harbor patrol teaching jet ski safety. At that time mission bay was a absolute disaster with these things. I did it for about a year, this was while I was racing so it also got me ' get out jail card' when we practiced at mission bay. I knew all the patrol guys. I couldn't do it anymore, the amount of common sense you need to operate a PWC was just too much for most people. The entire idea of giving it gas to turn was beyond most people. They turn the bars and slow down to believe they will turn, this really doesn't work.
So, in a panic situation, which this tragedy may have been the brain and reaction is to NOT give the machine more throttle. Your reaction is this will make it worse. So, no throttle and turn the bars. Its then too late. Boats are similar, there are no brakes and turning the wheel is more effective due to the 'rutter' you have hanging off the back. But you still DONT drive it like a car. Unfortunately the new boater has no idea, all they know is how to avoid a accident in a car.

Everyones a bad ass driving a boat or PWC, no way these volunteer training courses will make a difference. It needs to be mandatory or get a ticket. Save one life and sign me up for a license

 

[Meaney77]

Sux to hear.....

My train of thought when approaching a PWC is to assume its an idiot on a rental and to slow down and do whatever it takes to get out of their path. Usually means passing them on the opposite side as far away as possible.

 

[On Cruise]

The person driving the PWC was 42 years old. As for DC-88's answer, there has been no indication that the PWC was a rental. Several other posters have blamed the crash on driver inexperience or claimed that it was a rental without any factual basis.

So far there are only two known facts about the incident, one, a thirteen year old girl was killed, and two, the person that struck and killed her was drunk.

The number of posters ignoring those facts while substituting their own versions of events is disturbing to say the least.

Why not come up to this reach of the river and enjoy Summer Saturday&Sunday's and enjoy dodging Watercraft being operated by inexperienced dip shits.

Have fun

It would be enjoyable to sit back and watch you.:rolleyes

 

[Singleton]

...but ever summer I spend here does more to convince me that this lake simply is not a safe place for family recreation.

It is statements like this from people who represent agencies that are supposed to keep the lake safe that get to me.
I have several family friends that refuse to go to Havasu or Parker because they read on the Internet it is not safe for families.
Granted you state it is your opinion, but as an employee of the federal government your opinion should not even be stated in threads like this. You need to take a lesson from BoatCop, he kept to the facts until he retired.
I have been boating Havasu with my kids for over 15 years without any safety concerns. With that said you have to pick your location and weekends but IMO that is normal for any large lake. I saw more accidents during college when I boated the Chain of Lakes in Chicago then I do in Havasu.

 

[Taboma]

Sux to hear.....

My train of thought when approaching a PWC is to assume its an idiot on a rental and to slow down and do whatever it takes to get out of their path. Usually means passing them on the opposite side as far away as possible.

Pretty much my 'defensive / offensive driving' mode regardless if I'm driving the boat or my pwc. Mainly I try to stay as far away from everybody as is reasonably possible, head on a swivel, ride or drive in a predictable manner and make any collision avoidance intentions obvious (The offensive aspect) before things get critical.