2 horrible boating accidents on Lake Murray

[burleytog]

http://www.thestate.com/2010/05/02/1269622/three-dead-in-two-separate-accidents.html

4 dead

Be careful out there!

[Coonedawg]

I was at Lake Murray yesterday and it was slam full of boaters everywhere, with alot of idiots driving around not adhering to boating rules. It is unfortunate that this happened.

[BassThumb]

Man, thats a shame. I don't mean to sound callous, but that's what happens when you have boats with hundreds of HP flying around in the dark at 10 and 11 pm. The deceased were all young men and women in their twenties. I hope alcohol wasn't involved, but I wouldn't bet on it. There's a lot of this weekend partying going on around here in the summer on the bigger lakes.  I've seen and been involved in situations when things got out of hand. Some even jetski and waterski at night, and many come dangerously close to docks, bouys, swim platforms, and swimmers. Too often people don't realize the gravity of situations until a tragedy makes in all too clear.

I'm wondering the same questions, how fast were the boats traveling, did the boats have lights on, was alcohol involved?

[Fish Chris]

Wow. This is really sad.

But did you catch this part ?

it does not appear anyone was wearing a life jacket.

Easy for me to talk garbage about though, because I always wear a life jacket

Do you ?

Fish

PS, Some guys think a life jacket makes them look wimpy. I think mine makes me look smart.

[bryand82487]

I'm willing to bet neither boats were using lights.

[5bass]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

[Bigs]

I really need to start wearing a vest out there . I havent worn one once since I first got my stratos last fall. All it takes is one lil rock or stump at 60mph or even 30mph

[fishfordollars]

Very sad story. Life jackets can save so many lives if worn properly. I too am guilty of not wearing mine when i should. Usually only during a tournament, but i know i need to do a better job at it.

Prayers to the families.

[Tin]

I really need to start wearing a vest out there . I havent worn one once since I first got my stratos last fall. All it takes is one lil rock or stump at 60mph or even 30mph

???   

[cart7t]

I really need to start wearing a vest out there . I havent worn one once since I first got my stratos last fall. All it takes is one lil rock or stump at 60mph or even 30mph

Do you buckle up when you drive?

Seriously,  my vest is on whenever the big motor is running over idle speed. 

[done]

Some of the comments on that story are scary. One in particular about "what difference does it make if they had their lights on?" is REALLY scary and I hope that person does not own a boat.

BTW, to the current line of discussion, my vest is on me before the hull is wet. I

I go out on Wylie quite a bit at night and what I see out there is pretty scary. Folks doing WOT at night, there is absolutely no way you are going to avoid debris in the water. You are pretty much betting your boat and maybe your life on there not being anything in front of you. I mean I was out last year maybe 5 mph and hit a plastic buoy that was just floating free out in the middle of the lake. If I was going any speed it would have done some damage.

I see a lot of boats (more every year) with no lights. Especially pontoons with folks adrift or anchors in the middle of a channel sleeping with no lights at all.

You couple that with every department on the lake having little to no money for marine patrols and to me the miracle is we do not see more of these.

BTW in line with the current line of discussion, my vest is on before the hull is wet.