Boater Killed Lake O

I drew a partner for a tournament who owned one of these rocket boats. I was so glad we made it back to the launch safely. I am so happy I only lost my hat and not my life.

 

Praying for his family and all those affected by his loss. My understanding is he was wearing a helmet, thermals, and a PFD. I wonder if the PFD was damaged during his ejection? The wind was fierce that day.

 

A friend of mine fished that tournament. The angler was wearing a regular PFD, not an inflatable. I don't think he was wearing a helmet. They were at least 20 miles offshore on Lake Okeechobee in heavy winds and chop. They were ejected from the boat and the surviving boater said he saw his buddy wave at him. The surviving boater hung onto the swamped boat and finally drifted to shore beating the expected survival time in the water by a couple of hours.

It's a tragedy and we're all capable of being too confident in our equipment and abilities. However, modern bass boats are really drag boats. No freeboard, a slipper with a huge motor on the back. Fine for perfectly smooth water, disaster waiting on troubled waters. Even on a flat morning the day of a tournament you can go on youtube and see the boat wrecks from these guys hitting the chop from a couple hundred boats heading out.

Hopefully these boaters will temper their need for speed with the current conditions. I always have my vest on underway with a PLB and hooked to the kill lanyard.

 

Is it possible that the Ranger bass boat they were in "submarined", as several of their models have been known for in rough water conditions, a wave and they were hit face on with a wall of water. I had read on newspaper report from the that area that the driver was able to remain in the boat by holding on to the steering wheel. The boat was a single console model, as such the passenger would catch the full force of the impact. Such a tragedy. http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/lo...nyone-who-finds-nik-kayler-lake-o/1015973001/

 

Most bass have no freeboard nor bow rise. Alot of them have a descending freeboard towards the bow to where it nearly looks like the bow tapers down instead of level or up. I've ridden on my buddy's Ranger and it looks like we're going to spear every little one foot wave on the lake much less bigger waves. He's told me it's not uncommon for him to spear a wave during windy conditions. I don't think he realizes the seriousness of that condition. Even with self bailing decks it doesn't take much water to overload the boat, drop it off a plane, and then get broached broadside.

I always wear my pfd, lanyard, and PLB when underway. I haven't made my passengers wear theirs. This accident has made me rethink my operations especially offshore. It's not uncommon to have a strong wind out of one direction with a strong current going in another direction. There would be no way of swimming back to the boat or even hooking up with anyone else in the water. Not to mention the chance of being seriously hurt being thrown out of a boat or getting knocked out. From now on if the boat is underway everyone will be wearing a PFD.

 

A close call on the Columbia River.

 

I don’t think they ever found his body. Tragic loss.

 

Oh I missed that. Thanks.