Super boat

pro-rig · 09-11-2011, 10:51 PM

Just seen this on fb, very sad.

at Press Release – November 9, 2011
Nov 09, 2011 No Comments by SBI On behalf of Super Boat International, Jeff Tillman and Robert Morgan were involved in a single boat boating accident this afternoon in Key West, Florida. They sustained injuries incompatible with life. Both men were pronounced dead at Lower Keys Medical Center. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families.

Chris Davies · 09-11-2011, 11:04 PM

Big Thunder Marine - a 46-foot Skater catamaran with four 1,200 horsepower engines - crashed during the third lap of Wednesday's race inside Key West Harbor. Robert M. Morgan, of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Jeffrey Tillman, of Kaiser, Mo., were piloting the boat as throttleman and driver respectively.
Rescue divers were deployed within a minute of the accident, and the crew members were taken to a nearby hospital. Race officials say both men later died from their injuries.

Jon Fuller · 10-11-2011, 07:59 AM

As it appeared to go in upside down, backwards, I wonder if the hatches opened (given the hinges are at the front of the hatch, so opening side would have been leading) and let in an unbelievable force of water around the cockpit

not nice.

Any pics of the recovered boat? I wonder how the canopy faired.

Adam · 10-11-2011, 08:16 AM

the pictures are not good and don't even know if it is good taste to post yet. But pretty complete failure of the canopy and major damage to port side deck.

Hydrostream · 10-11-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

Any pics of the recovered boat? I wonder how the canopy faired.

Theres not much canopy left, deck suffered a serious amount of damage also.
Both screens blew out also, I wonder if the rear canopy bulkhead blew out.

Alacrity · 10-11-2011, 04:40 PM

The boat looks just awful, the impact must have been tremendous, all we can do is hope the lights went out in an instant. Awful, what their poor families & friends must be going through.

I don't know if I should be linking this, but it is out there anyway. Accident pictures

Mods, feel free to delete it if you feel it shouldn't be there so soon.

larby · 10-11-2011, 06:15 PM

Oh Jesus, that's in seriously bad shape. Those poor guys, the forces involved must've been absolutely immense. It makes you wonder what the point is in canopies if they end up like that after a crash. Surely they could be improved on to stay intact or built as a 'safety cell' of forms?

James

hunton69 · 12-11-2011, 02:27 PM

Another sad day on Friday at keywest.

Mike Ward · 12-11-2011, 05:02 PM

Source: Raceboat International

A third powerboat racer has died in the Key West Super Boat World Championships, which opened Wednesday. Page Motorsports throttleman Joey Gratton of University Park died Friday night at Ryder Trauma Center after the 38-foot catamaran with twin 850-horsepower engines rolled over twice near a turn in the last lap of Friday’s race.

A memorial service is slated at noon today at the race pits at the Truman Waterfront. Stephen Page of Fort Myers, the boat’s owner and driver, is reported in good condition at Lower Keys Medical Center, and could be released as early as Saturday.

Race officials said Page swam out of the overturned boat by himself, but paramedics had to pull Gratton out.

Gratton is the third fatality in what may be the deadliest week ever in the history of Key West powerboat racing.

Big Thunder Marine owner/throttleman Bob Morgan and driver Jeffrey Tillman, both of Missouri, died in Wednesday’s opener after their catamaran leapt out of the water and landed upside down in front of Mallory Square.

Race director John Carbonell of Super Boat International Productions, said Sunday’s final race will go on as scheduled.