Idaho Offshore Cat Crash

**WaterZebra** · 07-02-2022, 12:19 PM

Witness statements vary but sounds like it wave hopped or nearly blew over turning into barrel roll. Occupants spilled from starboard side but structural damage to port side sponson tip. Landed upright and not on its back. 4 dead. Found 1 and other 3 three days later. Other 3 were found in 60-90 ft of water which means that none were wearing PFDs of any kind.

**Lake X Kid** · 07-02-2022, 12:37 PM

In Idaho 2010 this boat accident, took a life and injured three other people.

It is sad when the day starts out as a pleasant adventure on water, and then becomes tragedy.

**WaterZebra** · 07-02-2022, 01:14 PM

We'll see what the autopsies say. My money's bet on alcohol being a factor.

**rgsauger** · 07-02-2022, 11:17 PM

This just sucks. It still amazes me how many folks will hang it out without wearing a life jacket. Even more so when they hang it out with passengers onboard with no fking life jackets!!! The safety of the boat and its crew still resides with the captain.

**OnPad** · 07-02-2022, 11:35 PM

I drove by the crash site about 2 hours before it happened.
It wasn't really rough, but very windy. From what I've heard it blew over. Ripped one engine off, and other was hanging by the rigging.
There has been lots of woody debris in the river/lake, due to heavy rains, damaging our wood containment system. I haven't been running flat out in my Bullet, because of it.

My opinion is if your going to run that hard, you should do it by yourself. If your going to pack people around in a fast boat, you should have quality vests for passengers, and encourage them to wear em.

**JBS** · 07-03-2022, 05:45 AM

Prayers to the family. We've had a couple of tragic accidents here recently. A good boating day can go south real quick.

**CUDA** · 07-03-2022, 06:58 AM

Is that one of the newer wide body boats?

https://cdapress.com/news/2022/jul/0...dentified-cda/

**OnPad** · 07-03-2022, 09:15 AM

Idk, it had 4 strokes hanging on the transom.
I witnessed a boat last year that looked awful similar, running well north of 100mph, in what I would consider, rough water.
As JBS said, prayers go to the family.

**Instigator** · 07-03-2022, 02:43 PM

Killed all four aboard, all four recovered.

Looks to be a hi 30’s MTI.

W/the new motors….., and their power……, I think it’s a thing to come.

Scary thing too, the bigger the boat, the bigger, false sense of security.

**SlingShot** · 07-03-2022, 04:05 PM

This is so very sad, everyone must respect the speeds these boats can obtain...
I have a life long friend in the "high performance" industry...
I always carry his following quotes with me..
"beware of the throttle on the bottle"
"you never know what a cats going to scratch you"
Chris Cestaro owner of Ocean Performance
I'm on my 28th "skiff" and using these 2 quotes I am here to live another day in this sport we all love...
peace...

**CUDA** · 07-04-2022, 08:27 AM

With the move to these wider boats and big outboard power this will become more common, driving boats over 115mph is not for everyone who can afford it, just extra wind in that big tunnel and take off.
Respect the fact you have passengers, drive accordingly.

**WaterZebra** · 07-04-2022, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by CUDA

With the move to these wider boats and big outboard power this will become more common, driving boats over 115mph is not for everyone who can afford it, just extra wind in that big tunnel and take off.
Respect the fact you have passengers, drive accordingly.

NOBODY should be building these cats unless they are in full deck canopy race configuration. NO excuse for not being strapped in. In this case, more $$$$ than common sense. The wrongful death lawsuits (including dealer who sold it) will follow prayers and burials.

**rgsauger** · 07-04-2022, 03:22 PM

Water zebra, responsibility has to rest with the captain. My boat will run faster than I can drive it. I know that. I want to break 80 so bad I can’t stand it but my skills stop around 77 right now. Maybe in time I will get there. many people have been over 100 mph arguably safely With my model of Hull. . It’s kind of like buying a Corvette, they will all run 200 miles an hour now. It’s a drivers responsibility to use it in a safe manner.

I hear what you’re saying but that’s a slippery slope. No crotch rockets. No vetttes. No Allison’s with 225 pro maxes. Damn sure no streams with 2.5 mercs. The whole thing sucks. Very sadly, I wonder if the passengers were terrified because the captain wouldn’t slow down or were they having the time of their lives blissfully ignorant of their precarious situation?

And no fking life jackets. Absolutely zero excuse for that. None. Not one damn excuse. Or reason.

not saying that all would have been saved. Not even suggesting that one would have been. Just saying that was reckless irresponsibility on behalf of the captain. “Put these on or you’re not gettin on board”. So easy to say and enforce. I do.

**Instigator** · 07-04-2022, 07:03 PM

My argument for that is, where’s the rescue boat and are they trained to dive on an inverted boat, passengers strapped in, able/prepared to cut them out/rescue them??

I am willing to to PM you a story of an OB drag race legend (no names used) that went over, while playing, while strapped in, no one there to help.
He lived but it is an ugly story.

I used to run a fair sized race/rally and always had capsule boats show up.
We depended on local rescue people to cover us.
I ALWAYS made sure they, as in, drivers snd rescue people knew the risk before moving forward.

And then crossed my fingers and prayed.

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

NOBODY should be building these cats unless they are in full deck canopy race configuration. NO excuse for not being strapped in. In this case, more $$$$ than common sense. The wrongful death lawsuits (including dealer who sold it) will follow prayers and burials.

**Chaz** · 07-04-2022, 07:10 PM

Nowhere does it say that they weren't wearing life vests. The OP said that three were found in an area that was 60-90 feet deep. That is not to assume that they were on the bottom ... just how deep the water was where they were retrieved.
(opinion's are like .. well you know. How bout waiting on the official report)

The most logical post in this thread is that:

"the bigger the boat, the bigger, false sense of security"

The least logical:

"NOBODY should be building these cats unless they are in full deck canopy race configuration. NO excuse for not being strapped in."

Is that what we need ... a bigger nanny state .. ??????????

So .. any boat that "has the capability of going 100 mph or more" needs to have a canopy .. ????

You ever try to leave the sand bar in a canopy boat .. ?? how many bathers did you mutilate while backing up ..???

Ever hung up side down in a capsule boat by the harness .. ??? You do realize they fill from your head .. up. Should oxygen be mandatory as well .. ???

The problem with knee-jerk, woke , mandates .. is they usually cause more harm than good.

True it's a tragic waste of life that affects the families as well as the entire boating community. And yes everything is fine until someone gets hurt or killed. When lawyers get involved because the bread winner is now gone ... everyone usually get called to court in a shotgun suit. Most get dismissed, but they still have to incur the cost of defending themselves.

Accident's are a part of life, the way to lessen them is :

"beware of the throttle on the bottle"

"responsibility has to rest with the captain"

Words to live by ...