Posted on 10/02/2005 1:59:20 PM PDT by CedarDave
Fox News reporting a tour boat named the "Ethan Allen" has overturned in a lake in northern New York state. 46-50 persons were on board and rescues are on going. Searching for an AP link...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Now 21 dead of 47, including the captian (who is OK)
EXACTY!!!! This is just a nonsense accident. In our day and age, to have that many seniors on a boat WITHOUT every single one WEARING a ZIPPED life vest is INSANE!!!!
Very sad. Something similar to this happened in Spain about a year ago - a lake cruise with a group of elderly people that capsized, killing about 15 of them. I think it was later found that poor maintenance and overcrowding were at fault.
I'd be surprised if you've EVER seen life vests worn by anyone on any tour boat.
Also, the ship logs of the Mohican and the Mini HaHa confirm that NEITHER of these two large ships were anywhere near the Ethan Allen.
Never have seen a tour boat myself.( ok call me sheltered!!!!) All I am saying is that in our advanced age of " seat belts"" smoke alarms" and all kinds of saftey precautions, to send a group of 40 seniors out on a lake without some pre-thought of a possible accident such as occured is irresponsible." A ounce of prevention is worth LIVES"......
Reminds me of Mayor Nagin and the school buses , frankly!!!
Well, I've spent a lot of time on the water, and I'll tell you, it just isn't done. Ever. Yes, we are nanny-state in a lot of ways, but not this one, yet.
Life vests are available, but never worn on any commercial tour boat, nor are they often worn on any motorized pleasure boat. It's a comfort issue, mostly.... they aren't comfortable to wear. In all our pleasure boating in smaller craft than this one, we never wore a life vest except in our small dingy, and in our larger boat only in one particular bad storm.
Sad. The headline wouldn't be " 21 dead " if they had of taken that extra precaution. I still say prepare, PREPARE, PREPARE.......ok, call me a " scared cat"*Grin*
B) they're still investigating the report of a "large speed boat" crossing too close and upsetting the tour boat by wake.
C) it now appears the folks were all from MICHIGAN - but the tour was booked though a Canadian tour group.
If this boat was glassed in and overturned, people would have found it impossible to swim out of it with a life vest on. You simply can't swim down with a life vest on... and it'd be difficult to find the exit regardless. So it may be a moot point. But don't let practical application stop you from nanny-stating more rules about things you've never done! People do it all the time :~D
My husband and I were doing a town-wide garage/collectibles show in Warrensburg, NY over the weekend and today, Sunday, everyone was wondering what was happening as numerous ambulances were going by. Finally, someone told us that a boat with 50 to 60 people had capsized. No one could figure out what happened as the day was beautiful with no wind. Warrensburg is in the Adirondack Mountains.
Saw that about the glass enclosed boat.
That's awful.
It's a catch 22 situation. Treading water/swimming expends energy and increases the loss of body heat which speeds up hypothermia. Having a life vest on or something that floats and clinging to it and other people is the best way to preserve body heat.
Of course the shock of the cold water would be enough to raise certain folks BP and heart rate to cardiac arrest levles.
God bless them all.
Not fully glass enclosed - just the first 3 panels on each side when the wheather gets cooler.
Oh Boy.. right in fron of the "Sagging More"
Did a family weekend at The Sagamore about 5 years ago...it's still a nice place in a beautiful setting.
Intersting website. It not only caters to weddings/receptions/bar mitzvahs, civil unions too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.