Major Boating Accident On Lake Tahoe

[Sprig]

Yesterday on Lake Tahoe which is in both California and Nevada was a major boat accident. A 27’ Chris Craft carrying 10 people capsized. 6 dead, 2 missing and 2 in the hospital. The winds were 35+ mph and waves 8’. I’ve been on Tahoe several times and when the winds come up you get off the water quick. The water in Tahoe is extremely cold and hypothermia Starts within minutes. Don’t know if they were wearing life jackets but I’m pretty sure they weren’t. They should have all wore flotation devices but the boat owner should never have been out in those conditions. Very sad. Be safe all.

 

[bajaman123]

Yesterday on Lake Tahoe which is in both California and Nevada was a major boat accident. A 27’ Chris Craft carrying 10 people capsized. 6 dead, 2 missing and 2 in the hospital. The winds were 35+ mph and waves 8’. I’ve been on Tahoe several times and when the winds come up you get off the water quick. The water in Tahoe is extremely cold and hypothermia Starts within minutes. Don’t know if they were wearing life jackets but I’m pretty sure they weren’t. They should have all wore flotation devices but the boat owner should never have been out in those conditions. Very sad. Be safe all.

I've seen other lakes do the same, notably Table Rock Lake in Missouri...those fast, hard-hitting summer storms can make HUGE waves...remember the accident with the DUCK a few years ago that killed all those people? The lake was calm/normal one minute and then crazy the next. Only advantage there compared to Tahoe was the temperature...about 82 degrees. You have to respect the water and the weather.

 

[cyclops222]

High exposed water is always whipped up into massive waves in a matter of minutes. My Saint Lawrence River; can go to 5' waves in minutes.

 

[RGrew176]

Same is true with Lake Erie. Can go from dead calm to 6+ foot waves in less than 15 minutes.

 

[racerone]

And then it might be difficult to learn how to handle a big boat in 15 minutes.

 

[Sprig]

Just read it’s now 8 deceased, 2 survived. Kind of unusual in that all the people on the boat except 1 were in their 60’s and mid 70’s. One was 37an executive for DoorDash. Apparently the boat was taking on water and the engine died. The boat got sideways to the waves and capsized. No indication if they were wearing flotation devices. Very sad

 

[cyclops222]

THe last thing people do is put on Life Vests. Old people with big bellies. They fall down and roll to 1 side. Over it goes.
I almost lost 6 of us seniors in a fast storm.

 

[Mc Tool]

Yes a real shame ,peeps out having fun and ......
I dunno if its a true representation of whats really going on but, after watching LOTS of youtube vids of US boaters I am a bit surprised at some of the situations they get in (ie Haulover ) huge waves ,boats overloaded and still nobody is wearing life jackets ....not even the kids.
We see the same thing here too . Things can go wrong on the water but I think so many peeps would have survived if they had just put on the life jacket. I hear people say that they will put one on if something goes wrong but its probly to late by then .

 

[Sprig]

I don’t make my passengers wear life jackets in calm conditions but as soon as the wind starts and there’s some chop, everyone puts them on because I know how fast the wind can turn a chop into big waves. Also if there is a lot of boat traffic and pwc out I have them wear pfd’s. I read that 85% of boat accidents drowning deaths are not wearing pfd’s

 

[cyclops222]

I am a total convert to sudden clouds mean sudden big waves. Jackets on NOW !!
Always take them off.
We are down to 80 and 50 % humidity. P and L had a few brown outs. few hours from all those A C and electric cars charging at same times ??

 

[FLATHEAD]

I wear my inflatable life vest 100% of the time.
The inflatables are so lite and not at all bulky. Don’t even know I have it on. My passengers it’s up to them, but if the weather gets up they WILL put one on.