Originally Posted by BraceYourself (Post 2884269)

Wouldn't you say that the percentage of accidents today is much less then ten years ago based on the number of boats. Seems that with todays technology it is much easier to operate and enjoy boating and is why many more people own boats.

Originally Posted by BLee (Post 2884145)

and there you have it.


I'll take the ejection seat. :eekdrop:

Originally Posted by BraceYourself (Post 2884336)

What I'm saying is lets say ten years ago, out of 100 boats on a lake there was one accident . Today same lake has 1000 boats and there are 5 accidents. All in all its a lower percentage.

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Originally Posted by boatme (Post 2884043)

Even when the Manufacturers make improvements (Which they all have) To use your words "here comes the lawyers, and the lawsuits"

My partner in our event, owns a performance boat insurance company He will tell you that the insurance companies are fully aware and keep an eye on all these web sites

I think everyone in the industry is fully aware. We as promoters have had safety summits, and the manufacturers are always working for a better safer product

But ridicules lawsuits are what has taken the sport down. the insurance companies know if you get a nick on your boat at an event someone is going to want to sue

Thus, at the end of the road in all of this, It can be argued that everyone is protecting themselves from the legal system. No offence to you, but it is quite honestly, the lawyers that are slowly ending this sport for many people.

Smarty, I am happy to discuss it with you at any time. It would be nice to have a lawyer on the side of promoting the sport not tearing it apart.
Marc

Originally Posted by Smarty (Post 2883818)

I want to know more about this accident;

1. Why did the top of the boat delaminate? Design defect? Manufacturing defect? This is not an acceptable answer - it is an epoxy boat (or a vinylester resin boat) that hit a wave at 130mph+ and rolled. Design should be made for this type of occurrence, it is not the first roll with an Outerlimits boat.

2. This is not a negative on Outerlimits, I wish I could own one; Skater has had boat-owner operation deaths too, but I think Skater builds the safest and best catamaran in the market place today. I know what a Products Liabiltiy attorney would say, and it isn't pretty, and I am not getting into a legal debate on product design (is there a more feasible safe design?), and assumption of risk.

2. Was the driver trained to operate an boat of this size, power, and speed before purchase? After purchase? Other than writing the big check, what are the qualifications for the purchaser/operator? Safe boating course? Performance boating school? How much seat time prior to the accident? Ect.

These are the questions that will be asked of any manufacturer in the near future, if not right now, that will kill offshore performance boating as we know it due to personal injury lawyers, product liability lawyers --- due to death and injury when operating high-performance boats.

I am a lawyer who will NOT take a personal injury case, but I can clearly see that since boat speeds have increased, the reported cases seem to be appearing more rapidly.

I like boating, I like racing people on the weekend, and I do not want that right to do so taken away by legislation or the courts, due to tragedy(s) like this.

Opinions?

I do not want to see or hear of anyone injured or killed boating, my prayers for those involved.

Originally Posted by BraceYourself (Post 2884269)

Wouldn't you say that the percentage of accidents today is much less then ten years ago based on the number of boats. Seems that with todays technology it is much easier to operate and enjoy boating and is why many more people own boats.

Originally Posted by Whipple Charged (Post 2884729)

So your saying the bussel should've been designed for a crash? How do boat builders test these, should they put test dummies in there and let them flip the boats? Have you seen some of the pictures from other boat crashes? That boat looks in VERY good condition considering the amount of force it took.

GM, Ford, Porsche..... all crash test cars, and guess what, doors still dent, frames bend, cars explode, etc and people still get injured and die in accidents.

This is certainly a tragedy and really wish the best for everyone. The fact that people are alive after crashing at 130mph should say more about the boat, then less. Most simply don't make it from such crashes.

And the one thing I can tell you, in my opinion, Outerlimits builds the strongest performance boat around. Almost all carbon kevlar lay ups. Decks are so strong, you can jump up and down without even seeing a 1/16" of flex. In P1 racing, the OL is typically the only one that doesn't show signs of stress cracks and delamination.