Click for Burger Click for Westport Click for JetForums Click for Abeking Click for Walker

Another Duck Boat sinks

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by chesapeake46, Jul 21, 2018.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2009
    Messages:
    1,776
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay & S.Jersey
    Another duck boat sank in Branson MO. apparently from bad weather. 17 people died this time.
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Much like the 1999 Hot Springs sinking.
  3. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    Were these vessels originally designed for the military? They seem extraordinarily unstable, no?
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I believe these are not the military designed and built boats......but made and designed by some company. I've heard the enclosure of the entire boat (strataglass etc.) was a contributor and also kept people from getting out.
  5. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    After the 1999 accident the NTSB recommended against the canopy and enclosure blaming it for the deaths then. Unfortunately, they really can't dictate to the boats and the USCG didn't do anything. The other issue is apparently the exhausts are in front and a person who checked several of them wrote a negative report there saying the exhausts should not be in front of and below the passengers as that leads to taking on water or if water is taken on the bow sinking quickly.
  6. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,119
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    There are a few here in Miami and whenever I run into one of them I slow to slow idle and pass as far away as possible...
  7. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    I would pass on going out on any of them, too many loss of life incidents all over the country. Time to ban them in my opinion, just like the Corvairs.

    Bless those unfortunate families.
  8. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    2,937
    Location:
    Guernsey/Antigua
  9. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2004
    Messages:
    5,375
    Location:
    Sweden
    What..? One of my best cars, but not at sea of course...

    Corvair Corsa.jpg
  10. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
  11. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2009
    Messages:
    1,776
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay & S.Jersey
    One article I read said some or the current boats were not military built but they were replicas of the original models
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Some of the ones I've seen are built off of a GMC truck and have outdrives. I can assure you that these are not nearly as sturdy as the military ones. The article I just read stated they went out in 73 mph winds and waves of 4' occasional 6'. Loaded full of people, they should have never left land with these conditions.
  13. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    If any one specific craft or vehicle had the same associated loss of life it would be recalled , cancelled or put away.

    The military craft are different as are the people operating them, the training and the in use operation.
  14. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,119
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    The worst part of these tragedies is that these are USCG inspected vessels... evacuation capabilities, stability, equipment are all supposed ensure the passengers safety.
  15. Lepke

    Lepke Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2015
    Messages:
    123
    Location:
    US West Coast. Cruise NW Passage to Alaska.
    The military ducks were low in the water and no canopy or comfortable seats. Troops sat lower than the passengers in the video. The motor was an inline 6 gas engine of an old design - babbitted bearings, etc. The ones I know of had their engines and transmissions changed mostly to diesel.
    In the 1960s I had a HS teacher that had one he built a camper on. It was so unstable he added pontoons on a swing arms for stability. But he still traveled the West Coast including Canada.
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    An update: The USCG determined a federal criminal violation in that the deaths resulted from "misconduct, negligence, or inattention to the duties" by the captain.

    They're also looking into the conduct of the captain of the duck boat that made it back safely to determine if he violated the same law and into officials at the company that operates the duck boats.

    This has surfaced in court filings in the civil cases against the company where the US government has requested they be allowed to talk to witnesses and participants and finish criminal investigation and proceedings before discovery in the civil trial. They've said, "Several agents/employees/officers of Ripley already have been notified that they are subjects and/or targets".

    The state of Missouri is also looking into criminal liability and the NTSB is still investigating the cause of the sinking.
  17. Doppelganger

    Doppelganger New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2012
    Messages:
    9
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada.
    The report I read, stated that the weather was fine. But, turned very rapidly and there was no way(with the DUKs' slow cruising speed) that they could make land, in time.
  18. Doppelganger

    Doppelganger New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2012
    Messages:
    9
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada.
    Knew a Russian Engineer when I was a teen, who had 3 of them. He got a little carried away with the oil-proofing, and coated the entire body of his daily-driver in oil(except the windows an lights)
  19. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,119
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Sure the weather turned quickly, that’s common in summer. Nowadays there is no excuse not to check the progress of a squall line on radar.

    It s like the captain of El Faro looking at 6 to 8 hours old NHC data. No excuse.
  20. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Any Duck Boat with a canopy/enclosure is a proven death trap. Shut em down or at least eliminate the. canopies