MacGregorSailors.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/nyreg ... ident.html

27 people on a 34' boat seems like way too many. Sad that that these accidents happen. The story claims the boat was a recent purchase. My guess is the owner needed some boating education. A wave doesn't just capsize a boat with 27 people on board. That was a tragedy waiting to happen when they left port.

Familiar story. It's a lot of people but it will be ok because will go slow and the weather is nice...

If I recall the reports, the boat was in a turn and hit the wake of another craft. Can make for a bit of excitement for most of us, turned deadly in this case with a boat loaded with way too many people.

RobertB wrote:If I recall the reports, the boat was in a turn and hit the wake of another craft.

Pretty much guaranteed when you go out on 4th of July to watch fireworks. Deadly when you overload your boat.

I remember 2 or so years ago when a Mac. capsized on July 4th with to many people on deck and loss of children life.
I was out the 4th and saw to many people on small boats.
Dave

RussMT wrote:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/nyreg ... ident.html

27 people on a 34' boat seems like way too many. Sad that that these accidents happen. The story claims the boat was a recent purchase. My guess is the owner needed some boating education. A wave doesn't just capsize a boat with 27 people on board. That was a tragedy waiting to happen when they left port.

DaveB wrote:I remember 2 or so years ago when a Mac. capsized on July 4th with to many people on deck and loss of children life.
I was out the 4th and saw to many people on small boats.

Yes that was a 4th of July accident as well. And to be clear, similar causes for that tragedy as well. 12 people on a Mac without ballast and a drunk captain decided it was a good idea to see how fast it can go with fins down.

Grossly overloading a boat can lead to loss of life. Mixing too much alcohol with testosterone also.

27 people on a 34' foot boat!! Hard to believe that a number of those on board would not have questioned the number and refused to go on board.
Where do you fit 27 people??
I guess people's normal reservations and good sense get swamped by the occasion. I wonder if the skipper will be held accountable.

Update ...boat was a 34 foot Silverton cruiser ...apparently it capsized first, the sank in 60 feet of water.

People went under it to try to get to the missing three kids ( a really dangerous business) but apparently the doors were jammed and all the debris made entry and recovery impossible.

I think all those people would fit CG criteria of "manifestly unsafe operation" but of course on July 4th they have their hands full..

The latest NYT article on the tragedy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/nyreg ... h_20120706

This is a quote from an Associated Press report by Frank Eltman.

Phil Cusumano, a Boston-based safety instructor and yacht captain with 35 years of experience, said there is no question the boat was badly overloaded. He said he would limit a vessel of that size to six adults. Other boating sites suggested a maximum of 15 passengers.
"Twenty-seven is just crazy," Cusumano said. "I wouldn't dream of doing that. I wouldn't do it at the dock, much less take it out on the water. It would tip over with the first turn."

I have nothing useful to say other than I'm feeling sick over the loss of life, through no fault of those who died.

I just got back from a Boy Scout cruise on the keys in a 42' Morgan. We had 8 souls on board, so were well within the limits for our boat.

We went to see the fireworks off Matecumbe Key two nights ago and there were at least a hundred boats that arrived to watch the show. The Florida Fish & Wildlife and US Coast Guard boats were all over the place, checking visiting vessels for numbers on board, safety, etc.

I read or hear about stories like this and I get sick to my stomach for the kids!!

Rick

This is so unbelievably sad and sickening. I feel just awful after reading this. I try not to let my mind wander and think about what this must have been like for everyone....
We used to have a 32 ft. Silverton. I would say 10 people would be the MAX I'd put on it. I can't imagine how 27 people could even fit on something like that....
Very tragic....

I will bet alot of the people were up on the high bridge (say at least 6 people for at least 1000 lbs)- better view of the fireworks - causing the CG to be way to high for that boat. Seems the only individuals below the water line were the kids in the cabin.

Just pure neglaget on the Capt./boat owner. I never put on more than 6 persons and even than I ck for weight and were they go with full ballast.
A 34 ft Silverton with a hard shine keel should never have more than 800 lbs on flybridge. That boat was way over loaded and loss of life was to many persons on deck and bridge and could easy capsize.
I am willing to bet more than 10-15 were up at flybrige and rolled it over.
rest of them were on deck ,causeing the boat to be top heavy and roll over.
Dave

RussMT wrote:

DaveB wrote:I remember 2 or so years ago when a Mac. capsized on July 4th with to many people on deck and loss of children life.
I was out the 4th and saw to many people on small boats.

Yes that was a 4th of July accident as well. And to be clear, similar causes for that tragedy as well. 12 people on a Mac without ballast and a drunk captain decided it was a good idea to see how fast it can go with fins down.

Grossly overloading a boat can lead to loss of life. Mixing too much alcohol with testosterone also.