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Seat belts

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Texas de Brazil in Orlando
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went frogging last night with my son
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marshmaster pat

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Ok I was watching something on TV and they said something about seat belts in airboats. Just curious about opinions on this. Seems like asking for a death wish to me.

Anyone out there have belts in their airboats?
 
Interesting subject Pat.

What you saw on TV was a news report on the airboat tour accident that occurred in Louisiana that resulted in the death of two passengers.
The airboat involved in the incident was capable of seating 18 passengers. As I understand it there were 16 passengers onboard and it is/was company policy to seat belt in all passengers. Now, you may ask, why would the passengers need to be seat belted in? Well, it seems that the tour company promoted airboat "thrill" rides. Enough said.
Even though the passengers were required to wear seat belts, to the best of my knowledge, they were not required to wear life jackets (PFDs). Go figure!

Now, I have a question or two.
Why do people not want to wear a seat belt on an airboat?
Could it be that it is because an airboat can sink in 3-10 seconds?

That being the case, why do people not wear a PFD while underway?
It is very difficult to get to the PFDs when the airboat is sitting on the bottom or being carried upside down down stream, or if you are unconscious after being ejected from the airboat during a collision.

Regarding the use of seat belts on airboats: The use of seat belts may be of benefit if the boat is being operated on ice. If an airboat is being operated on ice and seat belts are not being used, I would highly suggest that ALL occupants wear helmets.

There is extensive news coverage of the Louisiana airboat accident that sent 16 people to the hospital and resulted in the death of two of the boats occupants. You can read about it in most every major city newspaper or conduct an Internet search for the incident by entering: "airboat, swamp boat, Louisiana" into any search engine.

Be safe and happy airboating!
WaterLizard 8)


marshmaster pat":21oyfe59 said:
Ok I was watching something on TV and they said something about seat belts in airboats. Just curious about opinions on this. Seems like asking for a death wish to me.

Anyone out there have belts in their airboats?
Click to expand...
 
Very sorry bout the wreck in LA. I find it hard to believe anyone could or would undertake anything that could be considered a thrill ride with an 18 pass. boat what a bunch of idiots. I am not in favor of frivolous law suits but know one could blame those people for suing the crap outta those idiots. Operators like that give airboats a bad name.

I would never ever ever wear a seatbelt on my boat. I do insist that any kid wear a pfd and always have pfds for everyone if they want one .. after this I may insist that everyone wear a pfd it does make sense.

I didn't use the term accident above because it really doesnt apply as far as I am concerned the operators of that business were asking for a tradgedy and they got one just a shame unsuspecting customers got the results. IDIOTS
 
How much convincing do you need before you require everyone on your airboat to wear a PFD while underway? See the story below.

http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:JB ... n&ie=UTF-8

Hobe Sound man killed when airboat hits wake
By Gabriel Margasak staff writer
August 17, 2004

TROPICAL FARMS � A Hobe Sound man was killed after the airboat in which he was riding hit a sailboat's wake at 50 mph and submerged late Sunday, authorities reported.

Rescuers searched for Joseph Daniel Stewart, 48, for more than an hour before finding his body after the crash about 7:30 p.m. near the St. Lucie Lock. The man's brother and nephew, both from Hobe Sound, survived.

The nephew, Jesse Stewart, 16, told Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies the family was headed west on a 2004 14-foot Diamondback Airboat from the Arundel Bridge over the Okeechobee Waterway, a sheriff's report states.

He reported his father, James Stewart, 50, tried to slow down to avoid the wake of an oncoming sailboat, but hit the wake and began to take on water in the rear.

Jesse said he and his father tried to save his uncle by helping him swim to shore, but he went underwater too quickly.
Joseph Stewart, of the 13400 block of Powerline Road, was found about 9:25 p.m.

His family declined to comment Monday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the crash

WaterLizard 8)
 
Seat belts in an airboat? I have seen it a few times around here but I personally think it is very unsafe. I have rolled my boat over in the marsh and was glad I was able to jump clear of the flying debris. Another time my cousin was banking a hard left in 2' of water and the plastic decided to let loose and rolled it over. Just too dangerous to be strapped in!


About the PFD discussion that WaterLizzard keeps talking about, they DO save lives. Anyone who rides in my boats MUST wear them, period no excuses!

Short story:
A few years ago I was riding alone in a small flat boat and the lower unit hooked a sand bar, it rolled me over and by the time I realized what happened I was lying on the bottom. Although there was only about 12' of water there if I would have been knocked unconscious I would have drowned right there. Did I wear a PFD after that? NO (Like and idiot I know). Later that hunting season a close friend hit a log at night, it ejected him in 40 degree water. After dragging 2 days we finally found him. From that point on I wear a PFD faithfully. It’s just ashamed it took something as tragic as that to happen for reality to sink in.


Just a hint for people who are unaware, during the winter months we wear a float coat. These are coast guard approved PFD's. Although they will not hold your head out of the water if you are knocked unconscious, they are better than nothing at all and they are very warm & comfortable.


Just my 2cents, Kevin
 
Waterlizard - you hit the nail on the head about what I was watching. Didn't want to point a finger, but it looks bad. Living in Texas and there are a few festivals that have airboat rides around here. I have sat on the levee near one location and watched those tour boat drivers make those big 20-22 footers with 502 blowing hard swap ends to give the clients a thrill. They even had two boat collide three years ago when one operator lost control, slide across a mudflat and met up with the boat the was doing spins.

Plain stupidity in my mind, good thing the local air rescue unit was sitting there on display, they impressed everyone by getting to transport one passenger from the center of the fair grounds.

As a tour boat company that has to have insurance I cannot figure why passengers were not in life vests but in seat belts.

But yea, the seat belts issue has always been sort of crazy in an airdrive. Saw one in a narrow bayou take water over stern when he let off the thottle real fast and it sat on the bottom in less than 15 seconds.

Helped pull one back out of the trees, he had lost control when the trottle stuck in the bayou and the driver bailed out.

Was running from a lightning storm one day and cut out the ditch at diagonal while under full throttle. Knew the boat would bounce alittle from side to side but I was cocky. At that moment, the winds hit as the boat bounced to the torgue side. Rode her down trying to cut the rudders back. She ran the chime for about 75 feet and I let off and jumped free as she landed on her side.

And I thought that lightning was bad when I was running from it. It got real interesting with it hitting all about the marsh with me sitting by that big lightning attracter that was dripping gas from the fuel tank.
 
I am learning more about the incident daily. I am privy to much inside information and it does not look good for the airboat operator or the tour company.

I have come to learn that the airboat operator involved in the incident had only 3 months experience operating an airboat and NONE of the passengers were wearing PFDs. They were required to be strapped in, but they were not required to wear PFDs.

As a matter of fact, I have been informed that one passenger stated the she did not see or know of any PFDs being on board the boat.

Please allow me to make one suggestion to all those who read this message, if you are EVER involved in ANY incident involving injury or death DO NOT make ANY statements to the press!

I am becoming more and more distressed the more I learn about this tragic incident.
Please, please, please be safe out there and use common sense.
I honestly do not like the way this story is unfolding!
WaterLizard :(
 
Hi. I just found this page. I was at the accident--on the ther airboat that arrived on the scene. We helped pull people onto our boat and my friend gave Daniel CPR for about 25 minutes before the paramedics got there. Just to clarify--nobody was wearing pfds--we were not even informed where they were. We later found them under the seats. At the time, I thought wearing seatbelts was a good idea because A: I didn't even imagine that someone would be trapped underneath it, B:the way they were doing 360 spins and crazy maneuvers, NOT wearing one could easily have thrown someone from the boat. Either way, wearing one or not wearing one was still dangerous-although now I realize that the seatbelt could pin you under the boat. Even though today is November 17th, the memory of the traumatic experience of seeing those people die haunts me daily. :cry:
 
Sorry to hear you had to witness the tragedy.

It is even more disappointing to hear that what I witnessed here in Texas was going on there. People want a thrill ride and the operator was doing STUPID stunts with an airboat that is holding 16 passengers. And what I cannot understand is that someone would never pay to do 360s in a school bus or similar transport vehicle, yet jump aboard a boat and do it.

It is sort of like airplanes, all the stunts in the world is cool, just remember what you will be landing on if one goes bad. Falling from the air or landing in water unconsious after surviving an accident makes the overall survival odds quite a bit less.

Three different incidents posted here with probably different outcomes if people were wearing PFDs.
 
My boat came with seat belts and because there were no arm rests or anything to hold on to, I wore them. I flipped the boat in about 15 feet of water, seat belt buckled, no PFD but because I was used to the belts, I unbucked and got to the surface. However the guy in the back seat had never been on the boat and fortunately was not bucked in because I can't imagine he would have been able to unbuckle in time. After that I changed the seating, put bars on the sides of the seats to hold on to and THREW AWAY THE SEAT BELTS! I require PFDs to be worn and feel it was a learning experience that I was lucky to live through. If you have seat belts, get rid of them today!
 
I had no idea before I got on the airboat that they would be doing 360 spins and stunts. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and enjoying themselves, if only superficially. I was nervous though, and had not anticipated those kinds of maneuvers. When you say you can't believe anybody would pay to get on a boat and do those kinds of tricks, just know that my 3 friends and I had no idea that they would be doing that. Nor did we know that the drivers may have only a few months experience and may not have leadership and or CPR skills. Believe that I will think twice before I put my life in the hands of some incompetant, careless,..etc...I guess I'm a little bitter! I figured the boat would probably go a little faster and be more fun than the slow swamp tour, that's all. We got bored just looking at the slower boat--now I wish we would have done that instead. So don't assume that everyone has signed on for some kind of crazy thill ride and that everyone knows that you shouldn't wear seatbelts in a boat. We were just dumb tourists thinking it would be fun to check out a swamp adventure on a Saturday afternoon.
 
Sadgirl: I understand that you didn't get on the boat knowing what was coming, It was not your responsibility. All responsibility lies with the OPERATOR AND OWNERS of that tour ride. It is indeed very sad that you are forced to re-live that day over and over. There is no need to do 360 turns fast enough to flip a boat when trying to give a tourist a thrill ride a nice slow one will do the trick just fine and is usually very safe if you pick your turn spot so there are no obstructions and if you operate a tour in the same place then you should know where that area is.

I have found that what we consider normal operation of an airboat will usually keep a newbie on the edge of the seat. I hope you can come to some sort of peace with what happened that day. It gives airboats a blackeye and believe me we just about beat our eyes out with some of the stupid things a few boaters do.

take care and best wishes and my apology for the senseless act of a very stupid person or persons who had enough money to buy an airboat but not enough brains to drive it responsibly.
 
SadGirl
Please feel free to contact me directly.
Click on my user name for my email address.
I think that we should chat.

WaterLizard 8)
 
I clicked on your user name and also in your profile but it doesn't look like you have your email address listed in your profile. :?
 
Sadgirl - In no way did I mean that you or anyone involved in that tour were stupid. I was speaking about the people at the fair in Texas I witnessed. They could see the type of ride the boat operators were giving and going for the trill. I am sorry if you misunderstood my post.

It is very sad that what you and probably everybody expected didn't occur, a ride through the swamp showing wildlife and swamp views most people never get a chance to see.
 
I got two private messages, but I cannot respond...I keep getting errors. Thank you for the kind words. You airboat people are really nice!!!
 
SadGirl - I have checked into the private message problem and found that even though you get an error the message is still sent. The error occurs when the forum script tries to send an email to the user notifying him/her of the new private message. Seems like the error only happens some of the time.
 
Hi All.

I'm a survivor of the accident and am very touched to read your messages regarding our tragedy. We are very grateful to the 2nd airboat that arrived at the scene and pulled us out of the swamp. I was underneath that damn boat strapped in for so long breathing in swamp water - coming up to the surface and seeing that 2nd boat was an absolute God send.

SadGirl - Your friend was absolutely amazing trying to recessitate Daniele for so long. He never quit! He kept fighting for our friend and we will forever remember that. Thank you.

We are all lucky and blessed to be alive. Tomorrow will be 2 months. Seatbelts on airboats are hazardous to your health.
 
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