Fatal Accident On Table Rock Lake

[Sam]

That light's just what I'm talking about - that's what's needed. I think a light like that oughta be required to be on anytime a boat's running with the main motor after dark.

When we first moved to Ozark, our next door neighbor was a widow who was having to raise three little boys on her own. This was about 20 years ago, and her husband had run under a bridge at night on Tablerock when the water was high and he got killed when his head hit a bridge support. Those boys had a real hard time growing up without him. The youngest boy's in jail now, and I've gotta wonder if he'd have turned out better if his dad had been around.

Over the years, I think requiring such lights would save a lot of lives. Let us know where to get one of those - if I can afford it, I'll buy one.

[zander]

the one I found was over $400 but a q-beam spot light is a lot cheaper and probably just as useful.

[skeeter]

Fellas before you go and spend your hard earned bucks on automotive style lighting please read an inquiry I made of the Missouri Water Patrol just this morning and their quick and courteous reply. I could not locate this issue in the The Handbook of Missouri Boating Laws and Responsibilities but dredged it up from the recesses of what passes for my memory. Thanks Sgt. Callahan for clearing this up.

REPLY:.........................

You are correct regarding the night blinding problem headlights would cause. It would also make it difficult for other boaters to distinguish the prescribed lighting for vessels. State law prohibits lighting other than the prescribed lighting to be displayed continuously. Use of a spot light at night is recommended by our department. The proper way to use it would be to shine it intermittently to light up your course of travel. Scanning for 4-5 second would allow operators to see what is in front of them and then turn off the light. If there are other boats in front of you then you should not turn the light on as it would blind them.

Sgt. Jerry Callahan

Director of Public Information / Legislative Liaison

Missouri State Water Patrol

573-751-3333

INQUIRY: ...................

Hello,

After the unfortunate recent fatality of the fisherman at Table Rock Lake who struck the tree on One Tree Island at night there is a lot of discussion among local boaters about installing and using automotive style headlights on vessels operated after sunset.

I have searched the Handbook for specifics on this question and cannot find the answer but I seem to recall a prohibition against operating “headlights” while under way on a watercraft after sunset on Missouri waterways. Can you please advise whether this use of headlights on a boat while underway at night is prohibited or allowed ? Seems to me that if use of headlights is allowed while underway that would only succeed in “blinding” other boaters and ruin their night vision.

Thank you.

[Sam]

Well, yeah - that makes sense.

Wouldn't want to make the problem worse instead of better. Headlights would be great for seeing trees, bridges, etc. - but they could blind another boater and make him hit something. I guess the Water Patrol's got this figured out.

[Whack'emGood]

You are correct regarding the night blinding problem headlights would cause. It would also make it difficult for other boaters to distinguish the prescribed lighting for vessels. State law prohibits lighting other than the prescribed lighting to be displayed continuously. Use of a spot light at night is recommended by our department. The proper way to use it would be to shine it intermittently to light up your course of travel. Scanning for 4-5 second would allow operators to see what is in front of them and then turn off the light. If there are other boats in front of you then you should not turn the light on as it would blind them.

Sgt. Jerry Callahan

Director of Public Information / Legislative Liaison

Missouri State Water Patrol

573-751-3333

This is exactly what I was going to say... until I got down the thread and read that Skeeter already had provided this. This absolutely makes sense...

There is a guy (I guess it is the same guy) that bowfishes for carp at night up between Baxter and Campell Point pretty regularly... He has two big headlights on his boat that he uses both when he runs and when he bowfishes. We fish up there alot and see him all of the time. Let me tell you, it blinds you as he is running toward you... your depth perception gets totally screwed up. You can't tell exactly which bearing he is running and you have no idea how close (or far) he is from you.

Using big headlights would cause head on collisions, no doubt, because of these issues. It would end up causing more losses of life than it would save, IMO.

Whack'em

[CaptainJoe]

I understand what the MO State Water Patrol is "advising"; however, Table Rock Lake is under the jurisdication of the U. S. Coast Guard. Therefore, the "Federal" Rules of the Road are applicable on Table Rock Lake. All Table Rock Lake fishing guides had to memorize these Rules of the Road and take an extensive test on these Rules in order to receive our U. S. Merchant Marine Officer license. Those rules only authorize certain lights, light intensities, colors, and placement. There are no provisions for a light as suggested.

Our all-around stern light is the only white light that can be used on our boats. It provides enough light for traveling at slow speeds at night, does not blind other boaters, and is located to our rear so the driver is not blinded or loses all night vision.

I would think twice before putting these lights on your boat. Dick's accident was an accident, but I believe that if we start putting spot lights on our boats, we will violate the Rules of the Road and cause even more accidents.

[S&M]

Post deleted for the betterment of the members.

As well as my membership on this website.

[ozarkgunner]

rangerman,

Bass Pro Shops advertises the light I posted, it's $189.99. They are many other models to choose from and less expensive. I like the rotating/ swivel lights myself.

Here's a link for your enjoyment.......Night Lights

Lights can be dangerous if used irresponsibly .......

Gen II night vision can be purchased for around $400-$500 dollars. Be careful out there.

[Spinnaker]

This is a late reply to this thread. I know that area because I stay at a cabin down that way and the owner pointed that island to me when I first started coming to their camp many years ago. I agree that cutting the tree would agravate the problem as it does point out the feature. The tree appears to be there even in high water. This thread also reminds me of my fishing trips to canada. The lake I stay on there has a few rock piles and reefs that in high water become hidden under the surface. Most of these are marked by white jugs. However, on occassion, the jug ropes break and boaters new to the lake are at risk. My heart goes out the family. I hope the corps does mark the area. The island is a dangerous hazard and there is a lot of boat traffic out there that would be unsuspecting without the tree or marker. Do many boaters use GPS units while operating on mapped lakes?

[skeeter]

This is exactly what I was going to say... until I got down the thread and read that Skeeter already had provided this. This absolutely makes sense...

There is a guy (I guess it is the same guy) that bowfishes for carp at night up between Baxter and Campell Point pretty regularly... He has two big headlights on his boat that he uses both when he runs and when he bowfishes. We fish up there alot and see him all of the time. Let me tell you, it blinds you as he is running toward you... your depth perception gets totally screwed up. You can't tell exactly which bearing he is running and you have no idea how close (or far) he is from you.

Using big headlights would cause head on collisions, no doubt, because of these issues. It would end up causing more losses of life than it would save, IMO.

Whack'em

So that's who that is.... I've been "blinded" badly several times myself and you're correct in that you cannot see his nav. lights and you don't want to look at him too long or it takes even longer for your vision to recover.

I applaud the guy for removing the carp from the lake and bowfishing for some of those "submarine" sized carp should be fun but hope someone can approach him in a friendly way about his continued use of those lights. He's in/on a pontoon or deck boat isn't he ?