Who among us has never made the decision to forego the life vests on a hot day? Accidents will happen in any motorsport and we all know the risk. No need to rehash the life vest thing. Condolences to the friends and family of the four lost boaters.

Great lessons I have learned from this thread...

1) I will sell my DCB and begin to boat in a lifeline jacket and helmet in my 12 foot jon boat with a 9.9 Johnson.

2) I will sell my Audi and begin to wear full body armor while exclusively driving my F250 to work daily (only until I can negotiate working from home with my employer).

3) I will give up hunting, shooting sports, red meat, salt, alcohol (except for one glass of red wine daily).

I am open to other suggestions from the rest of you Captain Obvious wannabe's that would like to protect me from myself!

Would a drive failure cause a big cat like that to spin out?

You can talk about these things from now until time stops. Most people think they already know what caused the accident or that they can come up with something that could have prevented it. The truth is nothing anyone knows or think the know can prevent an accident. It is just that I didn't know these people but it is beyond evident that they must have been amazing people and the people who loved them will continue to be haunted by these questions of what could they have done. The answer is nothing and I hope they eventually find peace in that.

I was personally involved in a bad accident years ago where my best friend and I suffer bad injuries. Thank god none lost their life. I was in a 120 mph cat running 35 mph. We hit head on with another vessel who had no lights on a particularly dark night in a bad spot on the lake. I know I was doing everything right that night but still can not understand how it happened and I didn't see them. I still replay it in my mind from time to time. Accidents happen no matter how hard we try to prevent them. All you can do is enjoy life with the ones you love and do the best you can.

This guy gives a pretty vivid explanation that is more than enough information to understand exactly what happened.

starts at :30
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/hall...boat/402766737

When tragedy like this happens it does affect us all, When I broke the news to Lorrie that Anthony and Tammy had both died riding in Art's Skater, well the first words out of her mouth - after she stopped balling - was that we are selling the Donzi. I said, "No Lorrie. The Donzi isn't a cat that goes 170+ MPH - and I no longer drive on the edge - that's not going to happen to us." Then I made a point of taking the Donzi out on the lake Saturday with Lorrie and some friends and didn't go over 75 MPH so she would feel safe.. We all had a great time, although Anthony and Tammy and Art and Melissa were always on the back of our minds.

If someone were to ask me what can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future, well the solution is easy but impossible. You must simply instill in every driver the fact that their primary duty as Captain of their boats is the safe return of their passengers to the dock.Nothing else even comes a close second. Having bragging rights, being first to the card stop, looking cool, is all secondary to the safety of the people who have entrusted their lives to you as Captain. Some people who operate machines that are unforgiving simply forget that, and in an instant it's is already too late.

Be Safe.

Prayers to all the families involved. God Bless. Every time my wife says ok go get one this happens... As a person interested in getting a 36-38' Cat Im just trying to figure out if it was excessive speed or does this still happen running at cat at 80-90 mph cruise speed?

Was Bob AKA Risktaker (Mark's partner in SOTW)?

Thanks for the link.

Very well put, Matt.