it looks like it was a 32 but is now a 27 ya hope all ok

Was that bouy lit?

Did the drive maybe fail first. Looks like scrape marks under the hull but hard to tell where they came from.

I would like to think I am immune from something like this happening to me but in realality it could happen to anyone. Just glad everyone is ok.

Take a close look at that drive... It split lower in half, no prop, shaft, everything missing...

that sucks...

Would be interested to know if this buoy was lit.

The buoy being lit is really of no consequence. Obviously he was going to fast for the conditions. It's sad to see but totally self inflicted. If you look at a chart it will tell you if the buoy is supposed to be light, the color, the flash pattern. The local notice to Mariners published weekly would advise if the light was out. Of course only if it had been reported/noticed.

What if mechanical failure caused the accident?
What if he was avoiding another boat or something else in the water?

I don't think we can call it self inflicted, given the lack of details that exist here or on on FB; at this point.

It is a charted lit buoy, you can tell by looking at it, but was the light out, was really my question. Either way, it's harsh to jump to the conclusion that it was operator error without knowing the story. If he was running 70kts in the dark, sure that's reckless, but if he hit this buoy at 20kts and it wasn't lit, that's a different story or if he maneuvered to avoid something and hit an unlit buoy... If it were me, I wouldn't play judge, jury and executioner off some photos and a story in the New London Day.

I almost clipped one 15yrs ago lack of attention on my half. Would of bin bad but was only doing 15mph.