More Duck woes - on the Thames this time.

[rbcoomer]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ts-starts-sinking-near-Houses-Parliament.html

Future's Orange (Sauce) I fear for these ducks!

 

[epervier]

I don't think the wail had enough photos

 

[rbcoomer]

I don't think the wail had enough photos

Slow news day perhaps?

 

[rafiki_]

They always look a bit dodgy to me. Such old technology does not fit the engineer in me.

 

[AndieMac]

They always look a bit dodgy to me. Such old technology does not fit the engineer in me.

Agree, they are such an awkward looking "vessel" in the water, guess that comes from being a compromise. To be fair though, from the video it appeared the fire was forward-starboard, so logically everybody crowds on the port side creating a list.

 

[rbcoomer]

I did wonder if it was still 'afloat' or simply sitting in the mud on the bottom! They don't seem to have much freeboard for a tourist boat and I can imagine (probably unjustly) everyone moving to one side to take pictures of something and the vessel capsizing

 

[sailorman]

I did wonder if it was still 'afloat' or simply sitting in the mud on the bottom! They don't seem to have much freeboard for a tourist boat and I can imagine (probably unjustly) everyone moving to one side to take pictures of something and the vessel capsizing

3 summers ago

 

[CaptainMike1970]

We took the tour at the end of August as part of a few days in London to show our son the sights. The vechicle is very old technology and they sit very low in the water with little freeboard. The vehicle has an auto gearbox but when afloat they are restricted to first gear but rev the engine very high, which felt unsympathetic to the engineering bit of me, especially considering the age of the kit.

At the location of the incident I recall gravel shallows so with that much of the river bank wall showing it appeared that the skipper had run it aground to assist in people getting off and ashore.

I'm sure that they will get banned at some point which will be sad, it was a really fun little tour.

 

[c and c of the sea]

I've been down the Thames several times and the wash from the taxi boats can be horrendous. I wouldn't want to be in a duck when one goes past, or even two as it gets busy.

 

[rafiki_]

Note the Thames trip has been suspended.

 

[blueglass]

previous ducking disasters did not involve fire so this would appear to be an isolated incident whereas I think there was pattern of instabilty in the previous incidents. have to agree though - Liverpool Albert docks is one thing but the Thames is another. It can get pretty lively on the river for an unseaworthy vessel.