Hatteras badly damaged, hit by speed boat

[RT46]

I have attached some photos of a recent boating accident which involved at least one fatality.

The photos were taken from a news chopper.

There are three pictures attached.

The first two pictures are of a vintage Hatteras Convertible S/F (looks like a late 60's 34-36 or early 70's 36', not sure)

The Hatteras has extensive damage to the left (port) side of the hull near the aft portion of the house extending over the gunwale into the cockpit.

The Hatteras was struck on the left by the boat in picture number 3 which appears to be an approximately 25-32' high speed cat with twin outboards.

The operator of the speed boat in picture number 3 was arrested for BWI.

There were several people aboard the Hatteras headed to a fishing tournament. One person aboard the Hatteras in the cockpit was missing after the collision. It is presumed that the missing person was struck by the speed boat as it crashed through the Hatteras. Unfortunately, the passenger's died and his body was recovered by Police divers the next day.

This accident occurred at approximately 450am.
At the time of the collision it was still dark and it was raining on and off in the area.
Visibility was somewhat limited.

It appears that the speed boat was operating at a high rate of speed at 4-5am in the morning with limited visibility and the operator is alleged to have been intoxicated.

That Vintage Hatteras convertible can cruise around 18 kts, maybe 20kts with the wind and current behind it. I know many have been repowered with diesels and can cruise in the 25kts range.

Unfortunately and tragically, an innocent passenger aboard the Hatteras was killed when the speed boat struck Hatteras.

What is amazing about the picture is that the Hatteras stayed afloat, and on scene engaged in the rescue and recovery effort despite the extensive damage.

There were no other reported injuries aboard the Hatteras.

 

[Pascal]

Is that the accident which just occurred on the GSB?

 

[RT46]

Pascal, you are correct, it happened in the Great South Bay under the Double Span of the Robert Moses Bridge on Saturday June 23, 2012

 

[jim rosenthal]

Evidently this is a 38 Hatteras convertible, which is indeed what it looks like. A shame this happened, poor devil was just on deck minding his own business.

 

[lisaann]

it was a 24 skater capable of close to 100mph the hatteras was a 38' the hatteras was under the bridge with the skater aproaching from the oppisite direction. the speedboat may have confused the bridge lighting with the hatteras running lights. last second the hatteras swurved to starboard exposing the port side

 

[jim rosenthal]

The driver of the Skater was evidently arrested for BWI; I don't know if they have a 'vehicular manslaughter' or 'reckless homicide' charge in NY state, but that is probably what it would be down here. It's a shame all around. Any idea how fast the Skater was going? these are very fast boats.

 

[34Hatt]

Its not a 38' once again the News is WRONG.

It is a 1967 34C Silver Bullet owned by Richie Leigh and Richie's son was running the boat I met Richie Sr in Montauk many years back. He came to one of our Rendezvous also, Great guy he also knew my boat and its P.O. Richie did a lot of work to Silver Bullet and she was really nice 34C.

My heart goes out to the Family of the decreased and to the Leigh family of the loss of their friend. This is very sad news.

 

[34Hatt]

Silver Bullet was re-power and had a pair of 3116 in her I think they were the 300hp version because I remember him saying around 18-20 kt cruise.


Derek did you know him or the boat he is very close to your moms house had the boat behind his home also.

 

[Avenger]

No, I didn't, but how tragic either way. I can't imagine trying to spend a fun day out fishing and ending up having to go to a funeral. My prayers go out to the family.

Hopefully they'll hang the worthless pant-load that did this. He gives drunks a bad name.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Dan, you're right. The second set of photos clearly show what the boat is. The first set are not nearly as clear and the perspective is distorted.

 

[Freeebird]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/2...ter-drunken-boating-accident-off-long-island/

 

[Avenger]

That report is just as screwed up as the other one. It's probably just luck that they even got the names right.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Amazing how many times a year you read/hear about something like that happening...
Makes you wonder how many "close calls" there are.....
Know I see dozens a year here in N. Florida alone

 

[67hat34c]

The go fast boat must have been going pretty fast to do that much damage. In this boat the fuel tanks are pretty much under the water line. Likely took of the top of the port tank.

I have photos of an old owens in Key west with a 17foot checkmate in it that hit in about the same place. the Ownes did not go down either. the check mate hit side and over top of port engine which kept it from going under the water line. On the hatteras it didnt hit the engine based on point of impact, only the fuel tank which is we all know is pretty stout also.

Well the driver of the speed boat has to live with it. Hope the family of the decesed is cared for.

 

[Boatsb]

Dan do you know if the used to own a striker by the same name way back when? I remember a customer in that area with the striker and did a bunch of work on it in the 80's.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Dan do you know if the used to own a striker by the same name way back when? I remember a customer in that area with the striker and did a bunch of work on it in the 80's.

INteresting. THere is a 38 Bayliner in my club (Westerly YC) with the same name and virtually the same font. It's owned by a friend and is the replacemnt for a similar sized mid-1960s Chris Craft also with the same name and lettering. Wonder if there is a link between the owners?

 

[34Hatt]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/2...ter-drunken-boating-accident-off-long-island/

That is so screwed up it not even worth the time to click on it

 

[34Hatt]

Dan do you know if the used to own a striker by the same name way back when? I remember a customer in that area with the striker and did a bunch of work on it in the 80's.

Scott I have been thinking about it and I do think he did say he had a Striker many years back. I know he had his hat at least 15 years or more. 75% sure it was him, real straight forward type of guy no bullshit. I have a picture I will email you maybe you will recognize him.

 

[Boatsb]

I think he owned the striker way back in the 80's ad had a cooling issue on the stbd engine that sooted the ER. We cleaned it up but the engine needed attention after that. I saw the boat in orange beach about 3 years ago still having issues with that engine but still not rebuilt.

 

[bostonhatteras]

That is terrible. However not only are drunks causing problems but over confidence. I was almost t-boned by a 40 foot coastie last year. I was entering marblehead channel from the south, in the dark, doing about 18 knots. This all occured after some fireworks display over marblehead harbor last mid july. First, the catamaran commuter boat 'lightning' cut straitht across my port bow with barely adequate room on his way out of marblehead channel. No sound signal, no radio message on 13 or 16. Just using his high speed to bully the way through. The lightning was followed closely by a 40 or so ft coast guard boat, not a new 44 style, but an older model. Clearly approaching me on my port, or him having me on his starboard approach definitively gives me the stand on vessel priveledge. The pilot must not have seen me or was not paying attention because we were on a distinct collision course. Being the priveledged vessel, I was also bound t maintain my set heading. This I did. The coastie stll did not see me until I let out a long blast of my single kallenberg with 120 psi behind it. Its loud! At this the coaste swung HARD to his starboard and we past each other port to port with about 30 foot clearance beam to beam. I continued to lay on the horn as he went by me. Atgan no radio communication on any channel I was monitoring. I highly doubt they were intoxicated on the coastie but were certainly distacted and almost caused a major accident. I can only imagine how thy would try to cover it up if they did hit me. Only thing I would have going for me would be a stove in port hull as evidence.