Boating accident in Colorado

[lukedeuce]

Do any colorado TT'ers know any details about this?

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Mount...217402391.html

[thatsmrmastercraft]

....was being pulled on a tube behind a boat when the tow rope snapped, and the metal connector struck her in the head. Her death has been ruled an accident.

What a terrible accident.

I have never liked (or used) those snaps. Now I know why.

[Jeff_in_NY]

I can't picture the metal connector it is referring to... what is it? Must have been near the tube or it was a 1 in 1,000,000 shot if longer.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Some tubes come with these for attaching the tube to the rope, but I have seen them used to attach the tube rope to a bridle.

[Jerseydave]

Originally Posted by thatsmrmastercraft

Some tubes come with these for attaching the tube to the rope, but I have seen them used to attach the tube rope to a bridle.

Very bad idea using anything metal to connect a tube to a rope. My guess is the tube mfr will be in court over this one unless the connector was installed by the owner.
All of you out there should stop using metal connectors or carabiners on any of your towables.
(I've been guilty of this before as well)

Very sad, my heart goes out to the family of the girl who died.

[JMLVMI]

Originally Posted by Jerseydave

Very bad idea using anything metal to connect a tube to a rope. My guess is the tube mfr will be in court over this one unless the connector was installed by the owner.

Based on a quick look at Overton's, it looks like most vendors provide a plastic connector to the rope, so my guess is the boat owner installed this for "convenience".

Tubes have got to be the most dangerous thing on the water. The line loads, people knocking together, high speeds, huge wakes...no thanks. Feel terrible for the family and the driver/owner who will have to live with this on his/her conscience every day.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Prior to the plastic connectors, it was common for tubes to come with the metal spring clips.

[MattsCraft]

OMG - I was in Michigan a few weeks back, I brought our now only one tube. (Can't wait till it breaks, then I will be tube-less) Anyway, the kids wanted to be pulled on 2 tubes and one of the other parents pulled out theirs and it had one of these clips. I had never seen one on a tube, it was on the end for the ski pylon, so we wrapped it and connected it to itself on the rope. I did not like the idea, but did it anyway, thank god nothing happened.

My heart goes out to the family, but I do not like tubes, I do not like them Sam I am.

[TxsRiverRat]

I was hit in the wrist 2 seasons ago with a ski handle and my wrist has just now recovered after spending 3 months in PT and 2 months in chiro.... we do not realize the amount of force we're creating till we get hurt sometimes.

i have been using a shock tube now, but hindsight is 20/20

[scott023]

Speechless.