Just seems to be more and more the norm these days. I just sold my boat at LOTO in July and the biggest question was, how many people can it sit? I'm like, the sticker says 13 but I've never had more than 6 on it and even then I thought that was two too many. I'm sure the new owners have it piled on full all the time when they take it out.

Not for me but isn't that also why the big blinged out CC's are popular? So you can take 12 of your best friends with you?

Either way, RIP to the one lost and their family.

Back in the day, I'd typically only have 4-5 people on my Baja 292 with single IO but one shootout I had about 10 both days since I had the boat we could all ride on to the raft up. Boat got on plane with ease, did 30-35mph in the slop without getting beat up, and held the 10 people comfortably.
I'm assuming this is why they had so many on theirs also. I do remember having that many people onboard and being responsible for them was nerve wracking as hell.
My guess is they all went to watch the shootout in the raft up, had stopped somewhere for dinner, were heading back home, and were too close to a wave break when a large cruiser roller tossed them into it.

Another cruiser contributing to the cause of a serious accident. But hey, WP says it's all about the tourists. Don't get me started on that one.

Last year I came across a big Flybridge cruiser at 4 Corners plowing as bow high as they could. Only two peeps on it. Could not get away from their wake. It was brutal.

I dont know 12 people I would want to spend the whole day on the lake with.

Condolences to all those connected with this tragedy. RIP.

Drink driving is unacceptable by everyone’s standards. What are all the other occupants thinking when they jump on board the boat for the trip home? If they’d all spoken up, instead of ignoring the situation, maybe an alternate driver could have stepped in or maybe even secure the boat and find another way out.

Passengers too have to be responsible for themselves and stand up to the driver if they think he’s hitting the booze.

No two boating incidents are the same and it’s quite possible the driver was ‘only just’ over the limit and could go unnoticed but often, it’s pretty obvious for all onboard.

Think about it next time, there’s a degree of shared responsibility that ultimately rests with the driver but there’s usually more that could be done to prevent these tragedies.

RR

I know that corner well and it's definitely a tight corner if your hugging the shoreline. Personally I prefer to stay closer to the middle their but with a bunch of boats you could get pinched in too far... Very sad deal and hate to hear of the loss of anyone's life.

RAK,

This is why I just don't drink when we're on the water. There's just too much that can go wrong and too little cost/benefit. If I'm ever involved in an on-board incident (knock on wood), it will be because *I* farqed up, not because I was incapacitated from alcohol.

I also NEVER hug the bank rounding a point or curve. It just reduces reaction time to damned much.

Thanks. Brad.

Always a bad deal...may the deceased R.I.P.
As with all these incidences...the nightmare is just beginning for the driver of the boat. Between the criminal and civil actions that will be taken against him, his boating days are probably over. Dude could be a fine guy...made an error in judgement . With exception of teetotalers, I don't know anyone who owns a boat that hasn't drank and driven, but just like with automobiles, the times have changed.