Lake Winnisquam rower killed by pontoon boat

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Motor boaters probably do not expect to be sharing the water with a rower in a small rowboat scull at 6:42-am, and are not particularly looking for one, out there, ahead on the water. What they are looking to see are other motor boats. Even a 16' boat with an outboard is much easier to see than a rowing scull.

Is similar to how car drivers do not see a motorcycle because their brain is focused on watching out for other cars.

For increased visibility a row-boater should paint their oars bright white with either an orange or red stripe on the wide blade of the oar. These moving white/orange oars seem to get seen from a distance by the motorboaters a lot better than a dark colored or natural wood stained oar.

Plus there's such a thing as being "dead right" by rowing or paddling in lake areas that have a lot of motorboat traffic. Is best to be rowing in shallow water areas, close to shore, and don't assume the motorboats are all alert and safe boaters.

Thomas Mead, 76 ..... http://www.rebellionresearch.com/tho...on-nh-obituary ..... very sorry for his sudden death by motorboat while out rowing in the early morning on beautiful Lake Winnisquam.

Former rower here. This is mostly correct. But unlike a kayak or canoe, a racing shell cannot easily operate close to shore--it is too fast and too fragile, and you're facing the stern.

Agreed with your other points, though I would go with day glo orange on the blades and my shirt/hat. I would also look at an auto-inflate PFD. It is amazing to me the way some rowers, paddle boarders and others believe that swimming after an encounter is as easy as doing laps in a pool.

[rick35]

I have an orange kayak, wear an orange pfd and have reflectors on my paddles and I still almost got run over a few years ago. In that case the boat driver was looking aft watching his skier. It wasn't until I blew my whistle that he turned away. If I had been rowing I never would have seen him and he probably would have run over me.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by rick35

I have an orange kayak, wear an orange pfd and have reflectors on my paddles and I still almost got run over a few years ago. In that case the boat driver was looking aft watching his skier. It wasn't until I blew my whistle that he turned away. If I had been rowing I never would have seen him and he probably would have run over me.

You don't have to be rowing (while facing aft). Devices are available to enable rowing while facing forward.


https://www.frontrower.com/

But the same hazard exists. Facing forward doesn't protect you from being run over by an inattentive boater. Every US boater is still required to maintain a proper watch and adjust speed for conditions.

https://www.boat-ed.com/florida/stud...0101002_30085/

In New Hampshire, also to keep 150-feet from shore, swimmers, rafts, floats and other boats--whether moving or stationary.

Requiring NH vendors of PFDs to have NH-specific rules printed on PFD backs would direct boat operators' ["drivers"] attention to those rules--especially when youngsters are wearing them--as required by present rules. (e.g., 50-feet rules, licensure rules, children's PFD rules, speed-limit rules, rafting rules, spotter rules).

Boat-rental businesses, among "vendors", would also be included under these provisions.

Not far from Tuftonboro Road is a rack with several rowing shells; oftentimes, under calm conditions, rowers are out on Winter Harbor rowing their light, but fragile, shells.

How long before rowing shells go the way of canoes on Lake Winnipesaukee?

[Descant]

Your local bicycle shop has flags on fiberglass whips and helmets with rear view mirrors.