I really need to strongly disagree with the various statements made here about how "any 100+ mph boat can roll over" and how dangerous it is at those speeds and every other similar comment.

Of course, when we walk off our front stoops in the morning we can trip and crack our heads open. I understand that. But the trick is to avoid those possibilities at all costs.

Here's the thing. You *shouldn't* be going 100+ miles/hour in water conditions that don't make it safe. Period and end of story. You don't do it in a cross chop and not in a single engine boat in a cross chop for sure. You do it head into a light chop, in calm water, or in other conditions that are conducive to safe, high speed running without random variables such as cross chop, wake, lobster traps, etc. etc.

If you flip a boat it's very likely that you f*cked up. END OF STORY. *UNLESS* something mechanical failed you such as a tab, steering cable, throttle cable, etc. That we all sympathize with. Of course, though, those elements of bad luck are more likely overcome by driver skill when conditions are more permissible for high speed. If Murphy's law kicks in during the presence of rough water, cross chop, wake, etc. the driver is far less likely to succeed in overcoming it. Also, f*cking up doesn't make someone incompetent or a bad person. The best among us can screw up for a moment or for a few moments.

But don't talk to me about how rough it was, there was a big wave, etc. You shouldn't be out there doing that in those conditions. That's driver error and risk taking. Now I understand that some people enjoy the thrill and the challenge of overcoming such variables and certainly any grown man is free to make choices as he sees fit. But in those cases, excuses become less valid.

The trick is the succeed in not flipping a boat EVER - and that means don't go 100 mph if conditions don't guarantee vessel stability. I'm not a preacher or a high-handed know-it-all, but I've been running at 100+ miles/hour for maybe 1000 hours myself for almost 20 years and I know well enough not to eff around and approach the limits of the laws of physics. I know plenty of people including a few family members who have been thrown out of boats. I attribute my own perfect record less to good luck than to sound judgment.

In calm water or the correct amount of light chop, a damn boat operated by someone with good judgment and a cetain skillset is not going to flip on its own and I don't care if it's going 150 mph.

What I am saying does not necessarily apply to Mike from OL or anything else pertaining to this unfortunate incident because 1) I am not certain of the facts and I don't think I ever will be, and 2) I am not here to judge the incident. I am just talking in general and going forward. I am just tired of hearing people talk about how dangerous 100+ miles/hour is on the water and taking so much crap from people over the years - it's a uniquely enjoyable experience that needs to be done when conditions permit.

Bad luck can happen to me too and I certainly hope it doesn't and I am certainly grateful that Mike and the guys were lucky enough to walk away without a scratch. I am also grateful that we are not having a different discussion should any of the vessel occupants have been injured or killed, because I guarantee you that would be a very different and emotionally exhausting discussion.

Let the people speak their mind, right or wrong. I like the OL 29' but if someone has a different critical opinion I'd like to hear it, and have a conclusion drawn on facts. Educate, don't stiffle the flow of thoughts and ideas....

Overall I am in agreement with you.

Buzzards circling and bashing the boat. Are we reading the same thread? I see an intelligent discussion. A big factor also is that this is a new and unproven model that has already crashed at lower speed. Quoted from the press item: “We weren’t going very fast,” Mr. Makepeace said, as he was being tended to by medical personnel. “We just kind of caught a wave.” Let the discussion continue.

FYI.......aren't "LED" indicators driven by a mechanical device? Reminds me of the movie Top Gun where Maverick taps on a digital gas gauge on the dash saying they are nearly out of fuel. LOL

Ok, so I didn't want to touch this thread with a ten foot pole. But it seems to be going a bit nuts concerning a very serious issue. I was one of the first guys to say that boat could never go that fast in any water with much more than 1 footers. That being said I believe the original explanation from Mike was that they were going into a hard turn and it sounds like what he is saying is that he kept lowering the tab because the LED reading showed it still up. By the time he could realize there was a problem it was too late. Certainly, if that is in fact what happened than it is not hard to believe the boat could have flipped. No issues with the boat. It's driver error caused by a faulty gauge. Simple!
BTW I think it's Goose not Maverick hitting the fuel gauge. "We have no time for this Mav, we are way low on fuel".

Egad Goose! This powerboat rolling business makes for an engaging thread! No fuel left? Start flapping your arms. Low post count? Start flapping your gums. Flaps screwed up? Time for a dunk! We are auguring in!!!
Mav

exactly. continue on. Great thread. raylar just has an opinion like everyone else.

funny how life works... I have followed this thread from post 3...

yesterday runnin 55mph I had a trim tab solenoid go haywire and it buried a tab... sh*t happens, but it was an eye opener.

glad everyone is ok.

IMO, you do not buy or own a boat that size, capable of those speeds (or even ride in one!) unless you are willing to go for a swim.
A boat that size/speed throws a blade, sticks a motor, etc, etc, you're most likely going for a swim.
None of which has anything to do w/the quality of hull and normally the part that broke.
How many realize that surfacing a prop makes it a wearable part?? It has a life cycle and it will eventually fail. Ideally we find it is as a crack while doing our pre-flight inspection (saved my ass many a time) and before it becomes a catastrophic event. Assuming we actually do one.
If you are absolutely, positively not willing to risk any of the above you have no business owning or being in one of these monsters.
Wonder how many passengers in the 100+ MPH poker run boats understand this??
How bought this? Your buddy works at a shop specializing in Hi Perf Porsches and offers you a ride.
He over cooks a corner and puts it into a wall. Do you get out blaming the car and bad mouthing it to every one that will listen or write off that you should have known better?
Just sayin.....

There is an epidemic of ORANGE and BLACK boats rolling over lately. Same ole story, No pics on OSO, not the manufactures fault, etc etc. Its all politics.