http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc...h0709.artjul09,
0,326717.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout

One Killed In Boating Accident
Woman, 53, Dies After Runaway Motorboat Crashes Into
Sailboat, Throwing Its Four Passengers Into The Connecticut
River

OLD SAYBROOK - A runaway motorboat whose operator had fallen
overboard crashed into a sailboat Sunday on the Connecticut
River and killed one of four people out on an afternoon
sail, officials said.

The motorboat operator, Gregory Siege, 44, of Madison, was
arrested shortly after the 3:50 p.m. accident and charged
with first-degree reckless operation of a vessel while
intoxicated by alcohol and or drugs, officials said.

The four people aboard the sailboat were tossed into the
river during the accident but were quickly taken out of the
water. The three who survived were taken to a hospital in
New Haven for treatment, said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for
the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Schain said the person who was killed was a 53-year-old
woman.

Schain said Sunday night that he was not certain when the
identities of the people involved could be released because
next of kin were still being notified.

Schain said the accident was still under investigation, and
the state's attorney's office in New London is assisting
investigators.

After the accident, which occurred south of the Amtrak
railroad bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, the
unmanned motorboat continued speeding through the water as
emergency officials tried to stop it.

A vessel from Sea Tow, a nearby marine company, was able to
track the runaway motorboat, a 20-foot center console boat
typically used for fishing, and stop it by snagging the
propeller with a line, Schain said.

Officials said the river was crowded with boaters and that
they were lucky more vessels were not involved in the
accident.

"It was crazy. It was cuckoo," said Stephen Basil of Old
Lyme, who saw boats zooming to the accident scene shortly
after the crash.

Claire Kilbride of Meriden said she and her husband were
traveling back to the Between the Bridges Marina, near the
accident site, when they saw the motorboat going in circles.

"The police were all around it just waiting for it to run
out of gas.

"It was very busy out there. There was a lot of traffic,"
she said.

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:52:38 -0400, "Scotty"
wrote:

snippity-snip





I'm not a power boater but it's my understanding that power boats have
a lanyard and a killswitch.
Does anyone know how that really is set up nowdays?
Mark E. Williams

"Maynard G. Krebbs" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:52:38 -0400, "Scotty"
wrote:

snippity-snip





I'm not a power boater but it's my understanding that power boats have
a lanyard and a killswitch.
Does anyone know how that really is set up nowdays?

My Boston Whaler (inboard) has a lanyard with a kill fitting on one end that
quite similar to that on an outboard. It is independent of the key.

Max

"Maynard G. Krebbs" wrote in
message ...



I'm not a power boater but it's my understanding that
power boats have
a lanyard and a killswitch.
Does anyone know how that really is set up nowdays?
Mark E. Williams

Outboards have a (deadman) kill switch with a lanyard that
can clip on to the operator , but common practice is to clip
it on to the motor, or simply remove it alltogether.

On Jul 11, 7:41 am, "Scotty" wrote:
"Maynard G. Krebbs" wrote in
messagenews:rbc893t29e0tk547fg82kgcefl5v64n7dp@4ax .com...



I'm not a power boater but it's my understanding that
power boats have
a lanyard and a killswitch.
Does anyone know how that really is set up nowdays?
Mark E. Williams

Outboards have a (deadman) kill switch with a lanyard that
can clip on to the operator , but common practice is to clip
it on to the motor, or simply remove it alltogether.

Check out this video of the out of control boat, then a classic trip
of a tow line that capsizes the guys attempting to lasso the boat. I
hear the line they used fouled the prop and shut down the engine. You
seldom see this on film, it's what every tow boater should fear the
most. When it happens on big tugs most everyone dies.

http://www.wcsh6.com/video/news/play...?aid=21848&bw=

Joe

On Jul 12, 10:49 am, Joe wrote:
On Jul 11, 7:41 am, "Scotty" wrote:

"Maynard G. Krebbs" wrote in
messagenews:rbc893t29e0tk547fg82kgcefl5v64n7dp@4ax .com...

I'm not a power boater but it's my understanding that
power boats have
a lanyard and a killswitch.
Does anyone know how that really is set up nowdays?
Mark E. Williams

Outboards have a (deadman) kill switch with a lanyard that
can clip on to the operator , but common practice is to clip
it on to the motor, or simply remove it alltogether.

Check out this video of the out of control boat, then a classic trip
of a tow line that capsizes the guys attempting to lasso the boat. I
hear the line they used fouled the prop and shut down the engine. You
seldom see this on film, it's what every tow boater should fear the
most. When it happens on big tugs most everyone dies.

http://www.wcsh6.com/video/news/play...?aid=21848&bw=

Joe

PS: To Jon..the newest Captain in town with a towing endorsement..

What did they do wrong?
What should they have done?

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 12, 10:49 am, Joe wrote:
On Jul 11, 7:41 am, "Scotty" wrote:

"Maynard G. Krebbs" wrote in
messagenews:rbc893t29e0tk547fg82kgcefl5v64n7dp@4ax .com...

I'm not a power boater but it's my understanding that
power boats have
a lanyard and a killswitch.
Does anyone know how that really is set up nowdays?
Mark E. Williams

Outboards have a (deadman) kill switch with a lanyard that
can clip on to the operator , but common practice is to clip
it on to the motor, or simply remove it alltogether.

Check out this video of the out of control boat, then a classic trip
of a tow line that capsizes the guys attempting to lasso the boat. I
hear the line they used fouled the prop and shut down the engine. You
seldom see this on film, it's what every tow boater should fear the
most. When it happens on big tugs most everyone dies.

http://www.wcsh6.com/video/news/play...?aid=21848&bw=

Joe

PS: To Jon..the newest Captain in town with a towing endorsement..

What did they do wrong?
What should they have done?

Joe

Not the newest I hope! I've had my OUPV for several years. I couldn't view
the vid very well, but it looked like they were going way to fast, way to
close.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
O
Check out this video of the out of control boat, then a
classic trip
of a tow line that capsizes the guys attempting to lasso
the boat. I
hear the line they used fouled the prop and shut down the
engine. You
seldom see this on film, it's what every tow boater should
fear the
most. When it happens on big tugs most everyone dies.

http://www.wcsh6.com/video/news/play...?aid=21848&bw=



Sea Tow should carry LAWS rockets for such occasions.