DUWK sinks with loss of life.

[Captain Kong]

Sorry John
I still have sleepless nights haunting me, thinking of what happened to me in that place called Whitley Bay, the women were predators, no place on earth like it, They terrified me, and I still have the mental scars.
Cheers
Brian

[dave moore]

I remember when working in the 60s on the sea wall in Tenby the monks on Caldey Island used one to come across to do their shopping ,I wonder if it is still used.

[Rodney Mills]

First I have seen this lake, Table Lake, Missouri, but have not on it. It is a large body of water and this time of the year is tornado time and sudden strong storms. The weather forecast was ok, that being said there is a Coast Guard weather channel (channel 16) that has a dedicated button on all ship and personal weather radios. I have a radio on my boat and in my bedroom, in the bedroom to warn us of sever storms, tornados, and to follow the track of hurricanes heading our way. I'm sure the coast guard issued a warning of a coming storm or build-up to one. I don't understand then how come the 'duck's' radio wasn't hooked into it's shore-based office and the office didn't (assumed by me) have channel16 on.


I live on a forty acre lake which is connected to two very large lakes, the one I'm directly connected to is thirty odd mile long by fifteen wide. the deepest spot is thirty-five feet deep average is ten to fifteen. These lakes are dangerous in a blow, being shallow. it means there are not so big waves but short distance between them, a matter of a few feet. So to be caught out in storm and you need to head across the waves not into them is impossible, you can't go over the wave and change direction in the trough before the next wave arrives and you ride that like can be done on deep water. Table Rock Lake in Missouri is a man-made very large body of water its depth in parts can go to one hundred feet, close to shore it is around forty feet to zero. The Duck Boats seemed relatively close to shore and in the video
the waves were running close to each other.


I was badly injured in a boating accident and thanks to channel 16, the accident was reported along with a report of my suspected injuries and an ambulance was waiting when I arrived at the dock and probably saved my life.

[robpage]

I don't know why people keep referring to it as a duck boat the d is 1942 the year U stands for amphibious utility vehicle Kay is all wheel drive and W is two driven rear axles know where it is a boat it is a truck capable of getting wet and floating what it has to why people use it as a boat I will never know

[Keith at Tregenna]

Like a lot of things, names become popular and then usual

Many vacuum cleaners are still referred to as Hoovers.

It is said that The first "duck tour" company was started in 1946
by Mel Flath and Bob Unger in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

The name stuck.

K.

[robpage]

the DUKW was designed as a truck that can float NOT a boat , it has some inerrant design flaws in its add on shelter which is difficult to escape from , they were designed in 1942 for aa specific military task , and as a novelty tour bus they have had many fatalities over the years , should really be banned for public use or the cabin redesigned to allow for escape

[Chris Allman]

When the DUWKS were operating in Liverpool and sinking at an alarming rate, one of the reasons given for a sinking was that when afloat, the engine should be running all the time. This was not only to keep it moving but to pump out water which may be entering the hull. When the engine stopped because of a tyre around the propeller, the pump could not be run and the water flowed freely into the hull through holes caused by the shaft supports being ripped off. They were also found to have less than the required buoyancy foam within the hull to support it during the time it was afloat. Surely this is totally unacceptable. Anyhow they got banned, not before time and thankfully before any fatalities. To think the Queen was riding in the vehicle at one time does not bear thinking about.

The full MAIB report on both the sinking of WQ1 and a fire in a London DUWK is HERE and makes interesting reading.

[robpage]

You are dealing with a seventy year old vehicle with all kinds of things sticking through the hull relying on seals . When you look at their design which was off a contemporary GMC truck they were a brilliant construction but I don't think there is any way you could ever call them streamlined a design for the water I think people have taken them a Step Too Far personally I would ban the lot of them for taking the paying public unless they had been completely stripped down and overhauled every year I don't know what the regulations are in the UK currently but I would think if you had a passenger launch carrying that many people you would require licensing and inspection

[vic mcclymont]

I tried to download the UK regs., won't open after download.
London Ducks claim that their fleet deeds the regs., they have spent more than £1m in nine months.
They have installed air tight compartments and bouyancy chambers.
Vic

[Peter F Chard]

#3, Bang on Rob. There are a few of this design operating in NZ but only to carry freight. They are popular with Farmers needing to move stock between headlands or across Lakes etc in the more rugged South Island. Maritime New Zealand Rules forbid passenger carrying. Regards Peter in NZ.