1bagger

Too sad. All my best to the Familys of the lost.
Can someone tell me if the decks of boats are bonded together as well as bolted . Maybe something we should look at . On my Top Gun a couple of small screws that hold the rub strip have come loose but I sure hope there is more than that holding a boat together .

Twin O/B Sonic

Very Sad!

Seems we've had more than our share this season

After the last one, I went out and bought 100 MPH vests for everyone in my boat.
I now wear my vest when ever my boat is on plane.

So sad.

Hope we all understand "our" responsibility for those riding with us and those in boats around us. Only takes one small mistake/mechanical failure/second unatentive boat/captain.

I know in my Sonic I always felt false sence of security due to it's size as well.

God speed to those lost, prayers to survivor and thoughts and well wishes to all effected by this terrible tragity..

Gary

Jupiter Sunsation

They are now indicating the hull had a crack:

Family patriarch: Boat in fatal accident had crack
By Jennifer Brannock (Contact), Tracy X. Miguel (Contact)

Sunday, January 7, 2007

The husband and father of members of a Naples family killed in a boating accident near Marco Island said Sunday that he had noticed a “stress crack” in the boat they were using Saturday night.

Alan Molter is married to Linda Molter, 42, of 15095 Summit Place Circle, who died in the crash. Alan Molter’s daughter, Meagan Molter, 22, and her fiance, Harper Simpson, 31, who recently purchased a house in Golden Gate Estates, also were killed.

Photo Gallery
Fatal boat crash off Marco Island

Enlarge photo

Officials still are searching offshore for 20-year-old James Molter, also of Summit Place Circle, who is Alan Molter’s son.

Alan Molter’s daughter, 16-year-old Jennifer Molter, of the same address, who was a Gulf Coast High School student, survived the crash.

Alan Molter said Sunday that Simpson purchased the 32-foot Powerplay boat nearly three weeks ago. Alan Molter said he noticed a stress crack on the boat, but wasn’t sure if the crack was there before Simpson bought the boat.

According to a boat repair Web site, www.davidandangel.com, stress cracks occur because of voids under the surface of the gelcoat, and/or a lack of strength in the underlying fiberglass or compounds used in the structure of the boat.

Alan Molter also relayed to the Daily News this account provided to him by his daughter, who survived the crash:

Jennifer Molter told her father that Simpson warned the family members of an oncoming wave and told them to sit down. After safely navigating the first wave, Simpson again warned the family to sit, but a second wave tore the boat apart, throwing the family into the water.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and state marine investigators are trying to determine the cause of the accident. Crews were at work Sunday on a salvage operation and brought pieces to shore in Marco Island.

“It’s a terrible, sad situation,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Dani Moschella said. “This is a family that is devastated.”

The family members died when the boat traveling at high speed flew into the air, slammed back into the water and broke apart Saturday night off Marco Island, a Collier County sheriff’s official has said.

A search by the U.S. Coast Guard and Collier County Sheriff’s Office for James Molter resumed early Sunday and continued as of late Sunday afternoon. A dive team had searched for the missing man offshore Saturday until dark, when the search had to be suspended.

Operators of Rose Marco River Marina said crews left about 8 a.m. Sunday to begin salvaging pieces of the 32-foot boat that broke apart .

Perfectmix

Very sad news God Speed to all that were involved. My prayers go to the Families.

ciaoderhead

Tragic, Thoughts and prayers for all involved.

dykstra

iTrader: (1)

tragic

Phantom1

I'm sure that this will be brought up. A 33 PP stuffed in Key West in 1995/96 and the front end and deck tore completely off. Sounds very similar.

Very sad - my prayers to the families.

BRD

That was the first thing I thought of when I heard of this !
I was there that day in KeyWest and the story back then was that they stuffed into a big wave on the outside leg (and in race conditions)
How does that happen on a calm day on the Gulf just out havin fun off Marco ???
Thats just not fair !
RHC made a point this AM when we were talking about this ... I will allow him to chime in if he chooses to do so.
Again ... My Condolences and prayers to these folks .

Cash Bar

I think this was the '94 w/new 496's that was for sale in Miami the last few months. I looked for old pics but have not found any......

Jupiter Sunsation

I thought that may be the boat as well from what I remember about the deck graphics.