'Duck boat' design flaw flagged years ago

[leaningright]

The weather warnings were out hours before it struck.
No Duck boat had any business on the water, overloaded in 60 mph winds.
These deaths were caused by greed and callous disregard for safety.

Yes, because by golly you were there and know exactly how things send down.

[cancel2 2022]

Yes, because by golly you were there and know exactly how things send down.

The man is a total arsehole, there is no doubt about it.

[Rune]

Yes, and anyone who’s ever been caught on the water in some of the microbursts that occur in our part of the world understands how this could happen. Life jackets are there (I’ve been on these rides) but are hard to get to. Nearly impossible in the case of a roll over. The drivers are also in constant contact with someone monitoring the weather. Again, these storms roll up suddenly. I wasn’t there so I will not speculate on what should have been done?

Much respect Mr. leaning but those vessels are categorically unsafe... regardless of the weather.

As a life long sailor I urge you to never temp fate in this manner again.

[Rune]

Those DUKW were never designed for that kind of weather, though they have certainly performed in worse. They handle seas ok if dead on or directly astern. Anything abeam and they will roll quite easily. The Canopy added ( those were never on military craft) just made it more unstable in those seas and obviously hindered any escape when she flipped.

Remember the last death voyage?
The thing sank at the ramp being launched and killed every one on board.

The axel seals had been removed, the idiots never even gave it sea trials before loading it with passengers and killing them.

[NiftyNiblick]

Interesting take. I thought that "duck boats" are mainly for Red Sox and Patriots championship parades.

[sear]

Were there no survivors?
Difficult to understand why an agile 12 year old aboard was unable to dive out a window.
As another life-long sailor I agree it's a dangerous design.

BUT !!

However much I may personally disfavor it, such cat. fails as this are apparently rare for this design. It seems to favor calm water.

I suspect in this case the skipper could have saved vessel & passengers by reversing course. The video I saw showed the vessel directly into the wind.
I deduce the bilge pump/s if any couldn't keep up with the flood over the gunwale.

Not one survivor?

[Rune]

Yes, because by golly you were there and know exactly how things send down.

Actually t is you who is arguing from a point of ignorance.

[Leonthecat]

Yes, because by golly you were there and know exactly how things send down.

Unlike you, apparently, I can read.

[hvilleherb]

As another life-long sailor I agree it's a dangerous design.

Those things should not have canopies. That's what makes it a death trap.

[Leonthecat]

Were there no survivors?

Not one survivor?

31 aboard 17 dead.
Do the math .
Not one survivor,
14.

[Stretch]

Those things should not have canopies. That's what makes it a death trap.

In the article I posted it did mention that one of the operators released the canopy.

[leaningright]

Were there no survivors?
Difficult to understand why an agile 12 year old aboard was unable to dive out a window.
As another life-long sailor I agree it's a dangerous design.

BUT !!

However much I may personally disfavor it, such cat. fails as this are apparently rare for this design. It seems to favor calm water.

I suspect in this case the skipper could have saved vessel & passengers by reversing course. The video I saw showed the vessel directly into the wind.
I deduce the bilge pump/s if any couldn't keep up with the flood over the gunwale.

Not one survivor?

14 survivors. Still not good. I wasn’t there but will speculate the error in judgment is on the part of the skipper. In Branson the Duck Boats have operated for 40 years without incident until now. In the US overall there have been maybe 4 incidents since the mid 90’s.

[leaningright]

Those things should not have canopies. That's what makes it a death trap.

I absolutely agree with this.

[Stretch]

There was a forecast of incoming weather. They should never have left the dock that day.

[Leonthecat]

I definitely agree with that.

Ride The Ducks demonstrated a callous disregard for the safety of their passengers.
Weather service reports gave the warnings at 11:00 AM, accurately projecting the path and the intensity of the system by doppler radar and computer models, and updated every 20 minutes.
Ride The Ducks owner said the storm "came out of nowhere".
In 1890 he could have said that. In 2018, not so much.