Duck boats “interim final rule”

I swear, this country is drowning in bureaucracy… interim final! Well which is it?

…anyway, it took 5 years for the USCG to recommend installing upgraded bilge pumps on Ducks, which are known for sinking along with bilge alarms. Never mind that they don’t define what a bilge alarm is! Is it a high water alarm or an audible and visual bilge pump running alarm?

note how they require installation of pumps and alarms but do not require daily testing…


https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...-amphibious-passenger-vessels?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Then there was the casino shuttle boat which started burning a few years ago on the west coast of Florida. I forgot the name but when I read the NTSB report I realized the USCG inspection system is a complete joke. The thing they allowed was unbelievable

Yep…. Port engine overheated but captain didn’t shut it down! Also CG inspectors allowed the use of plastic tube with valves on the fuel tank sight gauges.

https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR1802.pdf

note the part about the crew being unable to fight the fire because of smoke. Hard to believe the USCG doesn’t mandate fire masks on inspected passenger vessel. I got one for the 116 I run.

and one more thing…. PFDs were stored at the stern and unreachable. I always keep some at the bow, in the anchor locker. Cheap insurance