Two Ejected in Meredith Boat Crash...
 

From WMUR:

https://www.wmur.com/article/two-hur...aukee/22705331

Also, at Boston Globe with paywall:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...JIJ/story.html

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When I heard that on tv last night I wondered why a 13 year old was driving the boat.

Bingo! Same thing I wondered...

13 year old driving...
 

When I was 13 I regularly drove the boat when my parents were in it - and have done the same with my own children before they were old enough to obtain safe boater certificates at 16.

During the day if they are capable and understand the rules. Is perfectly fine, but 10pm????


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Sounds like bad navigation. Which is easy to do at night.
Might have been the same case with an adult at the helm.
I know my GPS is worth every cent I paid for it.
Wondering exactly where this happen.

Even at 10:00 PM. I'm talking just of my experience and that of my children and not this case. Supervision, support, encouragement, and safe boating in the teen years left me confident in my children's abilities when they reached 16. I know others who have done the same.

I don't know the details of this case and am only speaking from my experience as a young boat driver and later the father of young drivers. Getting experience is essential - as is making sure that no one is put in situations he or she is not ready to handle. No matter what, this is a sad thing to read about.

Good experience
 

For me, it is good experience. We let our grandson drive at night when he was that age. Either my Dad or I was standing next to him the whole time.

It was " look for the double flashing light, that's Moose Is. Keep to the left of it. Now look for the single flashing light, that's Little Mark. Keep to the left of it....."

We navigate by our knowledge of the lake, backed up by charts and now by GPS as well, which is only obtained by experience. The kids, and I, were taught, if there is any doubt as to where we were at, slow down or stop until you are sure.

In this particular case, I fear it may have been a momentary lack of supervision. Hopefully all are fine today.

Dave

This could have been really bad if they were going fast like the ones I see blasting across Paugus Bay some nights.

I too let my son drive the boat at a young age, but I was always paying close attention to course, speed and traffic. While he drove at night, I was directly behind him, to take over immediately when I noticed an error in judgement.

Sounds like bad parental supervision of an underage driver, and certainly should be taken as a learning lesson to anyone reading this thread.

I do not know that area well and am wondering if the rock is marked.

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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

Totally agree 100%. However, maybe the 13yr old was going where the adult was telling him to go..., we don't know that yet, and probably never will. Either way, it is COMPLETELY the adult's fault as far as I'm concerned. Hope the kid's confidence doesn't take to big of a hit. That is the adult's responsibility too... Nothing like the ear to ear grin on a kid's face when driving anything!!! I love seeing that!! I used to let my son sit on my lap and drive a car when he was 3 or 4, (my father did the same for me). Again, at age 3 or 4, I used to have my son sit in front of me while snowmobiling, and I would let him take complete control all the time, and by the time he was 8 or 9, I gave him that sled which he was very familiar with as his first sled to ride solo, (670cc), and he handled it just fine. Never had an issue with him. Now, at age 23, (fingers crossed), he has NEVER had any incidents on a sled, boat, motorcycle, or car. Better to start them young so it's "no big deal" to them when they become legal and are responsible for passengers and other's on the road, trail, or water IMHO.

The WMUR story said it happened near the Cattle Landing. There are exposed rocks and very shallow water across from there around Dolly Island. There are two red markers that mark the general area.

My 8-year-old captains our 20' 'toon better than most of the others we pass on the lake. His ability, nor mine, would prevent every accident possible. The most experienced boaters on this forum have hit something at some point, including me. The description of the accident doesn't sound reckless, it sounds like an accident.

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