'Duck boat' design flaw flagged years ago

[Leonthecat]

Seems to me you're failing to make clear a distinction between what is right, and an adjudicated outcome.

We can quibble details over the waterlogged remnants. But I consider it a certitude that this disaster would not have occurred if the skipper refused to leave port on that final voyage.

And if you'll indulge me a somewhat philosophical point:

Smooth seas do not a skillful mariner make. English proverb

I suspect this guy was rather more a bus driver than a sea captain.

Had the captain refused to sail that day he likely would have faced dismissal from the corporate bean counters at Ripley Entertainment,.
They weren't at sea, Cap'n Crunch.

 

[Leonthecat]

There are several tour boat outfits here in the UP, and all captains and personnel are Coast Guard trained and certified. They won't go out when Superior is acting frisky. The crappy things here are the kayak rental places. They will rent to rank newbies even on days with 4-5 foot seas. Every summer there are a number of CG rescues of kayakers who've gotten in trouble out on the Lake.

Unlike Ripley Entertainment, responsible tour boat operators heed the weather service's notifications.
Boat renters have kayakers sign a waiver of liability. They don't give a shit.

 

[sear]

"I'm sure" Lc #179

It is your attitude, not your certitude that is in question.

"Cap'n Crunch is a hero in his own mind" Lc

I lay no claim to the title you associate with my quotation.
But if you prefer the inappropriate formality, you may address me as Captain sear.

"and thinks he could save an unsafe vessel in hurricane force winds." Lc

A 5 year old could. Just keep the duck dry. Problem solved.

"LOL" Lc #179

Over a dozen dead. And you find that a laughing matter? You're mentally ill. Have you mentioned this to your parole officer?

"The sinking could have been prevented, Cap'n Crunch, if the corporate greed of the Ducks had been mitigated by a concern for the safety of their passengers." Lc

Thank you for agreeing with me.

"They deserve what they will get." Lc

Let's hope so.

I'm not aware there's been any charge.
If / when there is, what charge do you predict will be conferred?

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

Those are real lakes up there.

Yeah, and you don't mess around with Superior. She took two ppl right off the rocks last October during a gale. The man was found a few weeks later; the woman has never been found. We were down there right before it happened and were appalled that ppl were getting that close, climbing on those slippery rocks with 20-foot waves crashing across them. The wind was so rough you literally could not walk vertically.

 

[Stretch]

Yeah, and you don't mess around with Superior. She took two ppl right off the rocks last October during a gale. The man was found a few weeks later; the woman has never been found. We were down there right before it happened and were appalled that ppl were getting that close, climbing on those slippery rocks with 20-foot waves crashing across them. The wind was so rough you literally could not walk vertically.

Some people are nuts.
A beautiful site. That's when I wish I was living in a lighthouse right out in the midst of it.

 

[sear]

"Had the captain refused to sail that day he likely would have faced dismissal from the corporate bean counters at Ripley Entertainment,." Lc #181 ,.

Perhaps.
"Likely" is your probability assessment. I don't know enough about the supervisory structure & personality to know.
But I know a thing or two about character. And based on that alone I will attest that losing ones own job is better than costing the lives of over a dozen innocent humans. Perhaps some day you will come to that realization as well.

"They weren't at sea, Cap'n Crunch." Lc

I'm sure he'll appreciate your notification.

But as you've quoted me, the U.S.' Great Lakes have been referred to as "inland seas" long before I was born. Those that think otherwise have my permission to discuss it with the crew of the Edmond Fitzgerald.

I "googled" "lake superior inland sea" and got pages of hits.

Do you find your comment relevant? Or are you merely a priggish fault-finder grasping at straws to criticize? You think you can lift yourself up by you attempting to put others down?

 

[Fentoine Lum]

Some people are nuts.
A beautiful site. That's when I wish I was living in a lighthouse right out in the midst of it.

Used to work at sea. Alaska, off the coast of CA. The gulf. North Sea. Oh it can be awesome alright.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

Some people are nuts.
A beautiful site. That's when I wish I was living in a lighthouse right out in the midst of it.

Thanks! It's very, very loud. There is an island off the coast here with an old decommissioned lighthouse on it; it's privately owned. When the leaves are down we can see it from here. It still has a strobe beam but no one lives there. I can't imagine how you could sleep when a gale is blowing. We are half a mile from the Lake up on a ridge 255 feet above the Lake and can still hear the surf through the closed windows! The island gets covered with ice during the winter; the ice doesn't melt off till June.

 

[Stretch]

Thanks! It's very, very loud. There is an island off the coast here with an old decommissioned lighthouse on it; it's privately owned. When the leaves are down we can see it from here. It still has a strobe beam but no one lives there. I can't imagine how you could sleep when a gale is blowing. We are half a mile from the Lake up on a ridge 255 feet above the Lake and can still hear the surf through the closed windows! The island gets covered with ice during the winter; the ice doesn't melt off till June.

STOP!!!! You're making me want to move up there! LOL
Not too keen on the ice, but the wind and the waves are a lullaby. When I was a kid I was the the only one in the house that slept through the hurricanes that affected the Miami area. And, I loved being out on the water with my dad when the seas kicked up.


Here's something just for entertainment. #3 is outrageous...Unbelievable that those in the wheelhouse were laughing like crazy (saying "that's f***ing awesome) when that last big one came over the bow.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

STOP!!!! You're making me want to move up there! LOL
Not too keen on the ice, but the wind and the waves are a lullaby. When I was a kid I was the the only one in the house that slept through the hurricanes that affected the Miami area. And, I loved being out on the water with my dad when the seas kicked up.


Here's something just for entertainment. #3 is outrageous...Unbelievable that those in the wheelhouse were laughing like crazy (saying "that's f***ing awesome) when that last big one came over the bow.

Good grief! That is crazy! Have you ever watched Deadliest Catch? They sometimes show huge waves that crash over the boats; the guys out on the deck just hang on and then get back to hauling. It's a miracle that they don't get swept right off.

 

[volsrock]

Branson Mo. Gee i wonder who goes to Branson and what kind of morons go into something like that

The canopy roof on duck boats turned them into a "death trap" even for anyone wearing a life preserver.

Half of the people that drown were black u stupid POS

So much for your white rednecks crap

 

[leaningright]

Good grief! That is crazy! Have you ever watched Deadliest Catch? They sometimes show huge waves that crash over the boats; the guys out on the deck just hang on and then get back to hauling. It's a miracle that they don't get swept right off.

I’ll be honest. As much as I fish and as long as I have operated bassboats going across lakes I’m scared of water. Stretch’s video scares the barjeebers out of me...whatever they are. I watch deadliest catch and while they’re out there running their traps I’m cringing in my recliner. You’re right, it is a miracle they don’t get killed out there.

 

[Fentoine Lum]

I’ll be honest. As much as I fish and as long as I have operated bassboats going across lakes I’m scared of water. Stretch’s video scares the barjeebers out of me...whatever they are. I watch deadliest catch and while they’re out there running their traps I’m cringing in my recliner. You’re right, it is a miracle they don’t get killed out there.

Any rational hominid would feel that respect. Otherwise I would suggest a few trips on a marine seismic exploration vessel on open oceanic waters. Or fishing boats.

 

[Stretch]

Good grief! That is crazy! Have you ever watched Deadliest Catch? They sometimes show huge waves that crash over the boats; the guys out on the deck just hang on and then get back to hauling. It's a miracle that they don't get swept right off.

I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve that show....always pulling for Sig or Wild Bill. Great show.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve that show....always pulling for Sig or Wild Bill. Great show.

It is!!!! Glad to find another fan. We've been watching it for years. My boss and I cried -- for real -- when Phil died. I was so hoping his boys would do good. Josh seems to have gotten his act together; Jake's had a lot of trouble with drugs and the law. Remember that whiny little punk Elliott? I always wanted to paste him one. lol

 

[Stretch]

It is!!!! Glad to find another fan. We've been watching it for years. My boss and I cried -- for real -- when Phil died. I was so hoping his boys would do good. Josh seems to have gotten his act together; Jake's had a lot of trouble with drugs and the law. Remember that whiny little punk Elliott? I always wanted to paste him one. lol

Phil and the boys was a heart breaker all the way around. Ugggghhhhh...Elliott's attitude stunk. Amazing that no one ever did smack him just once.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

Phil and the boys was a heart breaker all the way around. Ugggghhhhh...Elliott's attitude stunk. Amazing that no one ever did smack him just once.

I like how Sig is teaching his daughter to captain the Northwestern. While her husband is a deckhand... oh boy, isn't *that* going to make for fun times? lol

 

[Stretch]

I like how Sig is teaching his daughter to captain the Northwestern. While her husband is a deckhand... oh boy, isn't *that* going to make for fun times? lol

She's certainly capable having learned from the best. We'll see if she's got the "stick-to-it-iveness."

 

[leaningright]

I like how Sig is teaching his daughter to captain the Northwestern. While her husband is a deckhand... oh boy, isn't *that* going to make for fun times? lol

I’m teaching my wife how to run the boat. I’ve already taught her how to back the trailer. She does that better than all but one of the people I fish with.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

I’m teaching my wife how to run the boat. I’ve already taught her how to back the trailer. She does that better than all but one of the people I fish with.

Awesome! You guys ever want to come up here to fish, hang out, etc.... just let me know. We would have so much fun!