I tend to agree with the sentiment that most if not all of these accidents are due to driver error. Unless there is a definite equipment failure, ie a drive breaks or the boat strikes a submerged object, something of that nature, then it seems fairly intuitive that the driver exceeded either the capability of the boat or his own skill level, or both. If not, he wouldn't have crashed.

Now, that being said, I don't think you can make a blanket case for a stepped hull being inherently "unsafe" or less safe than a traditional V, because you cannot reduce hull design to something so simple. Seems I remember that way back when, Powerboat (LPGA's authoritative reference tome of choice) categorized the Four Winns U-17 (or was it U-19) as essentially an unsafe hull, and there was nary a step in sight. In fact, that hull was almost certainly a splash or modification of the very successful Donzi 16.

It seems to me that the "stepped hulls are inherently unsafe" folks are really making an argument that stepped hulls are not as safe as they should be, which is a whole 'nother thing. Put it this way, a 41' Apache has a different set of capabilities than, say, a Donzi Sweet 16. Take the Apache out in 8 footers with a good driver and you'll likely come back with a grin; try the same thing in the Donzi and you'll likely not come back at all. Does this make the Donzi "less safe" than the Apache? They are both 24 degree deep V hulls, right?

Do stepped hulls turn differently than a straight deep V? Obviously, the answer is yes. A Viper turns differently than my wife's Mercury Mountaineer, but that doesn't make the Mercury an inherently unsafe vehicle, as long as you stay within its capabilities. If we had incidents of stepped boats sinking at the dock, I might buy the argument, but it seems to me to be a bit of a red herring. Specifically, if the Cig Gladiator is an unsafe design, one would expect to see all or most of them crashing or spinning. This does not seem to be case, unless there is some information that has not been posted here (which I doubt).

Obviously, we don't have the statistics, but I'm willing to bet that if we had accidents statistics for stepped hulls as a percentage of all accidents per year, we'd see about the same number as the number of stepped hulls as a percentage of the total performance boat population.

My 2 cents.

Note to LPGA: since you're now an attorney (to suppliment your part-time position as a marine engineer?), one would think that a person who nominally makes a living interpreting the English language would, in fact, be able to write in it. "Lyods of London" and whatnot. I mean, when I try to figure out what you're trying to say, I feel like this guy...

It was that Four Winns knock-off of the Donzi Classic line, pretty sure it was called the "U-19" or some letter / number model designation...

HAHAHHAHAHA
 

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHHA

I've been holding it in for fear I might get sued!!!!


Detective t2x I presume

Lloyd's of London is probably the largest insurance company in the world. We occasionally have their inspectors in to inspect some of our offshore oilfield equipment. They insure the majority of the offshore rigs in the world. A little off topic, but there is an answer.

The way I see it is this:

1. Newbie buys NEW boat.
2. Most new boats have steps.
3. Newbie wrecks new boat(via spinout or rollover or whatever.
4. Therefore most newbies will wreck stepped hull boats.
Inexperience has much to do w/ it.

Damn, even pleasure bowriders are now getting steps.
It's not easy to buy a new boat now without them.

As far as design and cars.
The 1980(+) 930 Porsche Turbo was an awsome machine. This was also a hard beast to tame for a novice. I've heard too many stories of guys spinning them out w/ too much oversteer.
But to the experience pro... it was a dream.

Have you ever had D-MAN look down on you from above with that fatherly "What the Hell are you doing Dummy?" Look? I didnt think so!

SCOPE guys dont wreck because we dont want to hear the lecture that will fallow.

Im afraid to get up on plane aorund him!

Sydways- your killin me!

He who speaks less usually speaks more:D


I am glade there OK to learn form it.


Rob

:D :D :D :D

Look over there!!!!! Someone lost the hatch on a Gladiator!!! Guess he forgot to put it down!


http://www.scopeinfo.com/images/2004...EU1148_RT8.jpg

Federal Guidelines:
In any jurisdiction one must prove that the product is defective. There are three types of product defects that incur liability in manufacturers and suppliers: design defects, manufacturing defects, and defects in marketing. Design defects are inherent; they exist before the product is manufactured. While the item might serve its purpose well, it can be unreasonably dangerous to use due to a design flaw. On the other hand, manufacturing defects occur during the construction or production of the item. Only a few out of many products of the same type are flawed in this case. Defects in marketing deal with improper instructions and failures to warn consumers of latent dangers in the product.

...it's the latter part of the law that concerns me the most...

just posted as an fyi...not suggesting anything...but knowledge is power.....what you see above is direct from the books....just an fyi...no implications to anyone or anybody living or deceased...ok?