On July 19th, 2018, a duck boat sank on Table Rock, near Branson, Missouri. The accident claimed 17 lives and brought duck boats to the attention of people globally. Duck boat tours are still operating around the world, but their safety is now being seriously called into question.

But what is a duck boat exactly, and what does a duck boat look like?

A duck boat will often be a refurbished DUKW vehicle built by General Motors, being used extensively in World War 2. They are amphibious vehicles that can travel on water and on land and are used nowadays in the tourism industry in cities around the world for sight-seeing purposes.

What does a duck boat look like?

Below you can see examples of what duck boats look like, with photos and images taken from tour operators around the world.

what does a duck boat look like

This is what a duck boat looks like when in the water (image credit TwentyTrucks on YouTube)

what is a duck boat

A green duck boat on the water taking people on a tour (image credit TwentyTrucks on YouTube)

road and land driving

This amphibious craft can also drive on the road (image credit TwentyTrucks on YouTube)

duck boat tours in the united states

They are hugely popular amongst tourists in cities across the United States (image credit TwentyTrucks on YouTube)

What is a duck boat? (in more detail)

Duck boats have been part of the American tourism industry for many decades, as well as other cities around the world such as London.

They offer an urban tour where passengers can get a very unique perspective on the city, from land and water.

Duck boats in America tend to be refurbished vehicles from the Second World War, based on the old DUCW craft manufactured by General Motors in the 1940s.

They were used by the US military and were designed to transport supplies from ships to the shore. Their amphibious nature meant they could drive straight off the naval ship, into the water, and then motor as a boat towards the shore.

It meant that naval ships didn’t have to dock, and could remain off the shore, being better protected against any enemy gunfire.

How do duck boats work?

Duck boats can either drive on wheels or be powered in the water using a rear-mounted propeller. Both the wheels and rudder can be controlled using the same steering system inside the boat.

When the duck boat comes onto land, it uses a 6×6 wheel system to start operating as a ground hauler using twin axles at the rear, with a single axle at the front.

It also has a central tire pressure system which lets the driver adjust how inflated the tires are, helping the boat either float on the water, or gain traction when being used on softer terrains.

History of duck boats

Duck boats (or DUKW boats) were first seen in action during the invasion of Sicily in 1943. 

Just like actual ducks, these strange looking boat trucks did look a bit ungainly. But it was their odd design that made them so useful at the time, reportedly allowing US and Allied forces to transport more than 3 million tons of soldiers and gear during WW2.

Joseph Balkoski, historian of the Maryland National Guard has been quoted as saying:

“Everything that the United States did in World War II was going to be based on invasions against enemy-held coastlines, so we had to get man and equipment from the water to the shore in as expeditious a manner as possible.”

During the Second World War it was estimated that more than 20,000 DUKW boats were manufactured by General Motors. Some of them remained in service up until the 1960s, with many then being put into service by law enforcement or tourism companies.

World War 2 Duck Boat

An example of a Second World War boat at Eden Camp Museum (image credit Anthony Appleyard [Public domain])

In fact, as early as 1946 there are records of duck boats being used by tour operators. A company called Original Wisconsin Ducks make the claim of being the first.

Their popularity soon spread to more than 30 US cities, become hugely popular tourist attractions.

Fast forward to day, in Boston, duck boats are said to carry around 4,5000 people daily during the summer high season. There are also current operators in the Austin, Philadelphia, and Seattle areas.

Not all the duck boats you see in use are originals. Whilst some used for water tours are refurbished from the war, many will be replicas. In fact, the duck boat involved in the Branson accident was a replica.

You can read a more in-depth historical record on the excellent History.com website.

Are duck boats safe?

0Since the 2018 Branson accident, the safety, or lack of, has been highlighted in the press. But that wasn’t the only time these boats have been involved in accidents and fatalities.

In areas such as Arkansas, Boston, Hot Springs, Philadelphia, and Seattle there have been cases were people have been seriously injured or killed in accidents involving duck boats… and not just on the water, but also on land.

Just some of the cases on record include:

  • May 1st, 1999: 13 people died when Miss Majestic operated by Land and Lakes Tours sunk on Lake Hamilton. The boat sank in under 7 minutes into 60-foot depth of water after a rubber seal failed.
  • June 23rd, 2002: 4 people died when the Lady Duck sank on the Ottawa River in Canada. The boat sank in a depth of 25 feet when water came into the craft due to another seal failure.
  • July 7th, 2010: 2 people died when the Ride the Ducks boat in Philadelphia sank in the Delaware River. The boat sank after colliding with a barge into 55 feet of water. The accident was attributed to a crew member not keeping a proper look out.
  • September 24th, 2015: 5 people died when a duck boat crashed into a bus on the Aurora Bridge in Seattle. The crash was due to an axle failure after the boat had been modified, but not registered as a motor vehicle.
  • April 30th, 2016: 1 person died when a Boston Duck Tours vehicle collided with a scooter whilst overtaking dangerously.

Andrew Duffy, an attorney based in Philadelphia has worked on legal cases involved fatal accidents and duck boats and was quoted by the Associated Press as saying:

“Duck boats are death traps. They’re not fit for water or land because they are half car and half boat”

And he’s not the only one saying that duck boats aren’t safe.

Since the 2018 Branson accident there have been calls by safety experts to ban the use of duck boats due to the fatalities, both on the water and on the road, that have involved this type of craft.

Many of the duck boats in use for tourism purposes are extremely old and come with maintenance and operational challenges.

Whilst a lot of duck boat accidents have been down to human error, opponents of their use in the tourism industry point to how the boat’s design can make it tricky for tourists to escape in the event of an emergency.

In addition to their age, the duck boat industry itself present a unique challenge from a regulatory perspective. Due to their hybrid design, it creates confusion about who is responsible for them as an agency. 

What does duck boat stand for?

The traditional ex-military duck boats are also known a DUKW. The DUKW is the manufacturer’s code and stands for:

  • D means 1942
  • means utility (amphibious)
  • means all-wheel drive
  • means 2 powered rear axles

What is a duck boat tour?

Wikipedia state is best when they say:

“Duck tours are tours that take place on purpose-built amphibious tour buses or military surplus DUKWs and LARC-Vs. Duck tours are primarily offered as tourist attractions in harbor, river and lake cities.”

Here’s a video featuring duck boats that operate in the Boston area.

How fast does a duck boat go?

Duck boats can reach 50 miles per hour on land, and 6.3 miles per hour (5.5 knots) when in the water.

Duck boats are 31 feet long and 8 feet 3 inches wide.

Why did the duck boat sink in Branson?

How the Missouri duck boat sank is one of the more common questions asked.

What we know is that an hour before the accident happened, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued on The Lake of Ozarks. To this date, it’s not known whether or not the two crew members including the captain, were aware of the warning.

The National Weather Service reported winds in excess of 60 miles per hour, which contributed to three-foot-high waves on the lake.

A federal indictment after the accident, charged the boat’s captain with 17 counts of misconduct. It also included counts of negligence leading to death.

The indictment stated that the captain:

“failed to properly assess incoming severe weather both prior to and after entering the water” and that he “entered the vessel onto the water while there was severe weather, including high winds and lightning approaching the area”

What cities have duck boat tours?

Who was the captain of the duck boat?

The captain of the duck boat was Kenneth Scott McKee. Since the accident he has been charged 17 counts of misconduct, negligence and inattention to duty by a ship’s officer.

He survived the boat sinking, and after the accident he was reporting as having minor injuries. To date it has not been revealed whether or not he was treated for these.

According to press reports, Captain Scott McKee told passengers that they did not need to wear their life jackets.

Who died in the duck boat accident?

9 of the 17 victims were from the same family. The total fatalities named were:

  • Horace Coleman, 70 of Indiana
  • Belinda Coleman, 69 of Indiana
  • Angela Coleman, 45 of Indiana
  • Maxwell Coleman, 2 of Indiana
  • Ervin Coleman, 76 of Indiana
  • Glenn Coleman, 40 of Indiana
  • Evan Coleman, 7 of Indiana
  • Reece Coleman, 9 of Indiana
  • Arya Coleman, 1 of Indiana
  • Bob Williams, 73 of Missouri
  • William Asher, 69 of Missouri
  • Rosemarie Hamann, 68 of Missouri
  • William Bright, 65 of Missouri
  • Janice Bright, 63 of Missouri
  • Leslie Dennison, 64 of Illinois
  • Steve Smith, 53 of Arkansas
  • Lance Smith, 15 of Arkansas

Current duck boat tour operators

Despite the negative press and warnings from global safety advocates, duck boats have not been banned and are still operating in locations around the world.

If you are interested in a duck boat tour or want to find out more about the companies, here are a few links.

Boston Duck Tours (United States)

This tour company don’t use refurbished World War 2 DUKW boats. They are newly built vehicles that have been designed for tourism purposes and sight-seeing excursions.

On their website you can see a statement about safety, including how the US Coast Guard inspect their duck boats on an annual basis.

The tours last around 80 minutes and take in a wide range of sights and landmarks around the city of Boston.

More information: www.bostonducktours.com

Ride the Ducks of Seattle (United States)

This Seattle company also have a lot of safety information on their website, also stating a close partnership with the US Coast Guard.

From what I can tell by looking at photos on their website, it appears like they are using ex-military DUKW crafts, albeit ones that have been extensively refurbished for tourism purposes.

The tours last for 90 minutes, and are packed with local Seattle stories, folklore, historical information, jokes (read some of the best boat jokes and puns) and background music.

More information: www.ridetheducksofseattle.com

Viking Splash Tours of Dublin (Ireland)

This Viking-themed tour company offer a ride around Dublin, and they are using a World War 2 amphibious DUKW vehicle that has been adapted for tourism purposes.

There is a lot of safety and insurance information available on their tour company website. They offer seatbelts, life jackets, open reversible life raft, and inflatable tubes added to the duck boat to aid buoyancy.

The Dublin tour lasts for about 75 minutes, and involves a Viking guide delivering an information, amazing, entertaining, and informative commentary as you ride.

More information: www.vikingsplash.com

Superduck Adventure Tours of Queensland (Australia)

At the time I published this guide, this Sydney tour operator was not offering any tours. Their website stated that their boats were undergoing a major refurbishment project.

Looking at the photos on their website, it doesn’t look like they were using old military DUKW boats like the ones that have commonly been attributed to the fatal accidents.

If and when tours start up again, they last 60 minutes exploring the Gold Coast and Queensland.

More information: www.superduck.com.au

London Duck Tours (United Kingdom)

This UK-based tour operator had its duck boat tours suspended in 2013 after one of its amphibious vessels caught fire (source: BBC).

It appears that they are now up and running again, but with tours only going on the road and no longer into the River Thames, taking in sights such as the London Eye, Big Ben, Parliament, and much more.

Tours last approximately 75 minutes and use the old-fashioned DUKW amphibious vehicles from the Second World War.

More information: www.londonducktours.co.uk

The video below features the London Duck Tours company.

The last word…

So there you have it, you should now know “what is a duck boat” and “what do duck boats look like”. It appears that for now they are here to stay, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some new legislation coming out regarding their use in the next couple of years.

If and when that happens, I will be updating this guide, but right now, it’s still possible to take a tour at various cities around the world.