Last July 4th's Accident

[CmdrCamille]

Newsday is reporting:

Overloading was the primary cause of the boating accident last July Fourth in Oyster Bay in which three children drowned, an investigation by the Nassau County district attorney's office has found.

With 27 people aboard the 34-foot Silverton cabin cruiser, the Kandi Won was barely stable in calm water, according to findings to be released Wednesday.

A stability analysis conducted as part of the yearlong investigation determined that a wave or boat wake 2 feet high, striking the vessel from the side, would cause it to capsize.

That's what happened that night, after a fireworks display, as the crowded boat was returning to Huntington amid hundreds of other vessels, the DA's report concluded.

 

[Robski97]

Wow ... Someone actually reported the truth ....

Rob

 

[CurrentSea]

I would hate to be the captain and live with that. I know he lost alot that nite and no criminal charges were brought.
We all knew it was over loaded but no one wanted to say it.

 

[JVM225]

The 34's of that vintage are pretty sturdy boats, but I can't even begin to imagine how 27 people could squeeze aboard one of them.

 

[Robski97]

Dave,
Ud never have done it so its not even a conversation......

Rob

 

[Billylll]

I think many of us here on BE said the boat was clearly overloaded.
Bill

 

[Britanic]

I have a hard time with this one. I have the same boat (88) slightly different interior layout.
I cannot imagine 27 people, I really cant. I'm on the boat right now looking around, I would be uncomfortable with 12. She would be sitting low in the water with that many people.

I feel bad for this man as a father, but I am angry at his lack of responsibility for all onboard. How in the world did nobody else fail to take action and stop the boat from leaving the slip. It must of looked like a desperate attempt at fleeing a third world country bound for the US.

Was it really 27 people?? I keep to myself but even I would have called the Coasties if I saw that disaster leaving the marina.
Sad, tragic but mostly STUPID and assigning.

 

[CurrentSea]

Plenty of room....NOT!

 

[rommer]

True picture or photo-shopped? Person #25 looks to be being molested?

 

[JohnC]

Some people don't think. Three years ago I was at Liberty Landing with my boat and a friend at work tells me her boyfriend has a boat across the canal from there. So we make plans to go out one night. I offered to take my boat out but she said they were having friends over so how about I go with them. They were supposed to pick us up at the LL fuel dock but we were having trouble getting through on the phones. Then I see this 28' very old Pacemaker (same model as Hooper's boat in Jaws) with people everywhere coming by and realized that was them. About to head out into NY harbor at night... At that point I told my gf we're not going and let's just walk back to my boat and synch up with them when they got back. Not too long after that they returned, he did have the sense not actually to go much out into the open harbor and basically took them down the canal and back so they felt like they had a ride. He didn't stop for us because he realized he couldn't fit anymore. I counted when we met up with them and they had 21 people (all adults) on a 28' flybridge boat. Every square foot of deck space was taken up, including the bow, the flybridge, cabin, and cockpit. I think he realized he was overloaded (and I'm sure he didn't have enough life jackets) but didn't know how to say no when all these friends showed up. He didn't have much experience, the boat barely ran (he told me afterwards he had trouble starting it before they went out and I think one engine quit before he was docked) but hey, I invited everyone now I have to take them out for a boat ride at night... And I don't think anyone on the boat knew the slightest thing about boats to question it.

 

[BillyK]

One of the two most common problems in America is common sense. We have been dumbed down so much as a society that no one thinks anymore. Any sane person, boater or not, could look at that scenario and not go out for a ride. Never mind at night in unprotected waters. Now we are faced with even more legislation from more non boaters in Albany and Washington. When they are done, it may be too expensive to have these events.

Happy 4th everybody and a prayer for the deceased.

Billy K.

 

[HOGAN]

Duh! I could have told them this last July 5th...