Two Killed And A Couple Injured

[Seth]

The chute this accident happened in is barely wide enough for two boats and it bends pretty hard at the narrowest spot so you can't see what is coming. The only truly safe way to run it would be to shut down on the down river side and listen for on coming boats. I've ran it plenty and I cross my fingers and hope nobody else is coming. It's one of worst spots on the river due to the blind spot. It's also a busy spot due to there being a big gravel bar right below it where people tend to congregate.

Speaking of floaters, I had to shut down in the middle of a chute and hit bottom just to avoid running a group of them over. They had the whole chute clogged and you could 't see them till it was already shallow. Had this happened in a few others areas in particular, I would have been having to push my boat off of gravel. I wouldn't be surprised to hear about an accident where a floater is struck by a jet boat one of these days. The lower the river gets, the riskier things get for everybody. I think you are crazy to float the Gasconade anywhere below Jerome or even highway 28 above there due to all the jet boat traffic. I know I sure won't so it regardless of having a jet boat.

[fishinwrench]

In a situation where blind curves are present you're safer in a canoe. At least you can hear a jet coming and usually have ample time to hug the bank.

Then again......if it is a dreaded whispering 4-STROKE you just might not.

[UnCivE]

PWC wouldn't last too long up here. Too many strainers and shallow canoe draggers. Would be fun to see em try, though.

Tragic accident down there. Jet boats make me nervous.

[Hog Wally]

Back in the day when l had only a canoe I dispised jet boats now I dispise idiots in either craft. Yes you can be a idiot in either. Then there's the weekend warriors and the citiots

[Hog Wally]

There is a spot just like that up from k bridge on the meramec. I was there last weekend and watched in horror as a boat came flying up through it and I knew I heard one coming from above. I thought everyone had the brains to stop let the waves die down , listen cautiously proceed. Nope not these guys. Nothing happened but I didn't like the crowd so I decided to get

[Brian Jones]

Still amazed that the PWC hatch hasn't taken hold in the rivers yet. That will add considerably to the excitement.

Shouldn't be much longer, right?

You'll see them early summer when the water levels are higher and on the bigger rivers such as the lower Gasconade and Osage. I've even saw one or two on the middle Meramec below Sand ford.

I fun floated the current two days ago with my girlfriend's family.

We were in tubes, and a couple times we had jets cutting between us and the bank (small, small spaces) multiple times, Weaving in and out of tubes, stupid.

My thing was, it was the same guys ALL DAY LONG. They were literally just running the river to piss us floaters off. Some guys we saw go by 6 or 7 times, looking like they were running an obstacle course between tubes and canoes..

Common sense and a little courtesy by both the jet boaters and the floaters would go a LONG way in curtailing most of the disputes over who has the "right of way" on the river and who should yield to who. Unfortunately the pride and egos of both parties will probably never allow the disdain between the two to diminish.

[vonreed]

I've owned both canoes and a jet boat. In my opinion the people in the canoe,kayak, tube, or wading should have the right of way without question. This was more of a tradition, In my opinion(grandfathered in) than jet boats are. They are the craft with the ability to kill or injure people and damage property vs the other people. The people floating are having to put effort into what they are doing and where they're going. A jet boat driver is putting no effort into the activity and just steering and is the reckless one in my opinion. Of all the laws I hear people wanting to impose on others, the banning of jet boats on smaller stretches of rivers makes the most sense. They are dangerous to others on the water. A comparable scenario it letting four wheelers ride as fast as they would like on any bicycle or running trails. It just makes no sense.

[Jerry Rapp]

jet boaters pay $20K plus for their rigs. They pay sales tax on their rigs. They permit their boat and motor, and pay personal property tax on their rigs each year. Then they go to the gas station before they get to the river and buy lots and lots of gas. Floaters pay an average of $25 for a leisurely daily float. I am not on one side or the other on this issue, but just looking at it in perspective.

[Flysmallie]

jet boaters pay $20K plus for their rigs. They pay sales tax on their rigs. They permit their boat and motor, and pay personal property tax on their rigs each year. Then they go to the gas station before they get to the river and buy lots and lots of gas. Floaters pay an average of $25 for a leisurely daily float. I am not on one side or the other on this issue, but just looking at it in perspective.

So your perspective is those that spend the most get the most benefits?

I bet when me and my buddies go floating we spend as much as any jet boater. Yeah we didn't spend as much on our boats but who cares. I guess we should close LOZ and Table Rock to fishing since the party boaters spend more on their boats? Is I44 going to be closed to just those driving expensive cars and trucks?

Your perspective is flawed.

[steve l]

Yeah, not seeing what any spend has to do with this issue. Seems vonreed makes some good points.