# Duck Boats. Would you ride on one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289 "2018-07-20T19:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/21 "2018-07-20T22:13:38Z")
I rode one in Boston. Even took the wheel for a bit when it was in the Charles. I’d do it again, too. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/22 "2018-07-20T22:21:30Z")
Duck boat tours are a lot of fun. I’d go again anytime. The tragedy in Branson was caused by an unexpected storm. No one, in any boat would be safe in those heavy waves. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/23 "2018-07-20T22:29:46Z")
Not during a severe thunderstorm warning, that’s for sure. I had initially heard 7 deaths; the actual toll is 17, which included 9 members of one family, one of them a baby. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/24 "2018-07-20T23:41:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The tragedy in Branson was **caused by an unexpected storm**. No one, in any boat would be safe in those heavy waves. Only if one didn’t check out the NWS (or another weather site) in advance. Don’t know their procedures, or what the captain did/not do, but with a weather check, there’s no way that DUKW should have gone out. NWS issued a watch 8 hrs in advance, & a warning ½ before it capsized, acdording to this [Washington Post article](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/07/20/the-violent-storm-behind-the-duck-boat-tragedy-was-well-predicted-not-out-of-nowhere/). > [@Washington Post](#): > > The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch, signaling conditions were favorable for dangerous storms in the region, at 11:20 a.m. Central time, nearly eight hours before the storm struck. The watch cautioned “widespread damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible.” > > As the storms drew close, the Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 6:32 p.m. Central, indicating a violent storm was imminent, about 30 minutes before the boat capsized. ETA: I have, it was fun, but kinda checked it off my bucket list already. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/25 "2018-07-20T23:43:31Z")
They are calling the guy driving the thing a ‘Driver’ not a ‘Captain’. I have a problem right off the bat. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/26 "2018-07-21T00:16:18Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > They are calling the guy driving the thing a ‘Driver’ not a ‘Captain’. > I have a problem right off the bat. Was it a DUKW conversion of a Deuce-and-a-half Army TRUCK? From WWII? Driver is appropriate. Riding in it unless paid to do so by Uncle Sam 70 years ago is unwise. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/27 "2018-07-21T00:28:06Z")
Yeah, it was from WW2 era according to the local news here. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/28 "2018-07-21T00:42:43Z")
The same period when they were teaching Sherman tanks to swim. More successful than one might expect, but they were still tanks. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/29 "2018-07-21T00:47:47Z")
They look wobbly on the street. Or top-heavy, I think. One capsized in Hot Springs in '99, the canopy is what prevented people from escaping and swimming about 20 feet to shore. IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/30 "2018-07-21T00:50:17Z")
I’ve ridden in on around San Diego/Coronado. No way in Hell would I get on one if there was more than a light breeze. Loaded those things have shit for freeboard. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/31 "2018-07-21T01:00:11Z")
I duck boats whenever I’m in the water and one comes too close. (I can swim underwater pretty well.) ---
**Author:** ![CharmaChameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CharmaChameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CharmaChameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/32 "2018-07-21T02:36:09Z")
Are those the boats I saw 20 years ago in Baltimore Harbor? If they are, not a chance in the world I would get in one. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/33 "2018-07-21T02:45:06Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > They are calling the guy driving the thing a ‘Driver’ not a ‘Captain’. > I have a problem right off the bat. Actually, I’ve seen articles that state the captain survived but the driver did not. Sounds like perhaps the guy at the wheel was the driver, but the guy in charge was the captain. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/34 "2018-07-21T02:58:59Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Actually, I’ve seen articles that state the captain survived but the driver did not. Sounds like perhaps the guy at the wheel was the driver, but the guy in charge was the captain. Oh, okay. I feel some better. Not that I will ever ride on one. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/35 "2018-07-21T04:07:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I would never step a foot on one. How 'bout you? Sure. They sound a lot safer than cars. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/36 "2018-07-21T16:02:25Z")
Done the tour in Boston three times. (As a visitor myself, and with visitors since I moved here.) Wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Wouldn’t do it with a thunder storm approaching though. And I wonder what the emergency procedures are. There’s not much room to put on life jackets if conditions call for it, and apparently no time when they actually become essential. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/37 "2018-07-21T16:13:08Z")
I might ride in one, depending on who [the skipper and first mate](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/10/97/44/1097449ea2b4afb396e4d48efbd1fbae.jpg) were. ---
**Author:** ![Oukile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@Oukile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oukile)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/38 "2018-07-21T17:10:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Duck boat tours are a lot of fun. I’d go again anytime. > > The tragedy in Branson was caused by an unexpected storm. No one, in any boat would be safe in those heavy waves. Those waves were nothing (although the wind was strong, there was probably neither time nor space enough for real waves to develop); an ocean-worthy vessel would have ridden them just fine. This boat was just not meant for anything but fair weather. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/39 "2018-07-21T17:10:08Z")
It’s not even so much the life jackets or lack thereof, it’s the question: how are you getting out when it sinks? The WW2 ones were open topped. This one had a metal canopy—which by itself isn’t terrible, despite jacking with the vessel’s COG—and slide-down plastic windows. You aren’t getting out of that with the windows down unless you go out the back, and good luck getting through the 15-30 panicking lard asses in front of you when it starts taking on water. Add that capsizing is probably going to happen—see, f’d up center of gravity mentioned above—and getting out of that death trap is going to be a serious problem. Even if the windows are secured out of the way, you with your PFD are going to float to the top of that awning, and AIUI, swimming down to the windows and out is pretty counterintuitive. Especially in a mass of panicking people. We haven’t even discussed the maintenance, or lack thereof, in the tourist Duck community. Go see some of the NTSB reports from other disasters those things have had. They were great, 70 years ago, for putting soldiers on a beach, and getting them off of it, when there wasn’t a better way to do so. It’s more risk than I’m comfortable with taking for a pleasure trip in the USA, even though the vast, vast majority of the time, the worst that will happen is a good sunburn. FWIW, I’ve felt this way about this particular class of vehicle before this specific tragedy, mainly due to other swampings (Philadelphia, Hot Springs) but I have no problem riding a water taxi or, e.g., the car ferry between Galveston Island and Bolivar, Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289/40 "2018-07-21T17:22:58Z")
I don’t think its irrational to fear them, much the way you would fear a hasty roadside carnival ride. Or the unfortunate decision to eat gas station sushi. I happen to be an anxious/phobic person. Pros and cons of such things over-ride my ability to enjoy them, so I avoid it whenever possible. Yea, I am the party-pooper.😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duck-boats-would-you-ride-on-one/818289.md?page=3)