85-Foot Motor Yacht Sinks at Launch

[Cormorant]

Multimillion-Dollar Yacht Sinks After Launching in Washington State - ABC News

Refund, please!
A new, multimillion-dollar yacht capsized when it was launched in Anacortes, Washington, dumping six people into the water.
Wade Benda, the yacht's mechanic, was on board the vessel Sunday after he and a team spent nearly three years building the boat when it suddenly flipped over.
The crew was reportedly going to deliver the yacht to its new owner when the maiden voyage went terribly wrong.




PHOTO: An 85-foot-long yacht overturned while it was being launched at an Anacortes, Wash., May 18, 2014.


"I'm relieved that I'm here on the ground and I just want to thank the good Lord above that, I'm here it was just a scary moment," Benda told ABC News' Seattle affiliate KOMO-TV.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
However, Benda said he thinks the boat's stabilizer hit some rocks when it first rolled near the ramp. He told KOMO they then tried to "thrust" the yacht into deeper water, but to no avail.

All six people on board were rescued.
Not rescued: The deep-pocketed buyer's summer plans.

[David M]

I wonder if it was caused by flooding or an erroneous stability calculation?

[SaltyMonkey]

They forgot to put the ballast in.

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by David M

I wonder if it was caused by flooding or an erroneous stability calculation?

Its pretty obvious that they've never visited the Wasa.

Shipyard Personnel Freed with Fire Axe as $10M Motor Yacht Capsizes at Launch [IMAGES] - gCaptain Maritime & Offshore News

Roddan Engineering, a firm which had been engaged “to review build progress, track weight and prepare an Intact Stability analysis” notes in a letter dated 19 July 2013 that the vessel was “lighter than other Northern Marine builds of similar length, thus requiring more ballast to sit on a desired waterline.” The firm recommended “that partial ballasting be done currently, with final ballasting for trim and desired waterline to be performed at launch.”

[Cheechako]

a cautionary tale for those who love to spew numbers , calculations, ratios etc!
"figures done lie, liars figure" haha

[BandB]

Well, the boat is now upright and floating although held in a sling by a 600 ton crane. Insurer and Coast Guard going to do stability tests before hoisting it over the fence to land. Meanwhile, Northern Marine closed. Employees told yesterday afternoon.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by BandB

Well, the boat is now upright and floating although held in a sling by a 600 ton crane. Insurer and Coast Guard going to do stability tests before hoisting it over the fence to land. Meanwhile, Northern Marine closed. Employees told yesterday afternoon.

Yeah, those boat builders are on a short string as it is. They couldn't survive this one I'm sure. The marine architect...now he may have problems!

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yeah, those boat builders are on a short string as it is. They couldn't survive this one I'm sure. The marine architect...now he may have problems!

Well, I don't think they used an outside marine architect. They used a designer a bit. And the buyer's captain had lots of ideas and input but he was fired in December. Yesterday's event just led them to do what was probably already inevitable. They've been in turmoil off and on for years. This won't be the first bankruptcy for Northern, although a different legal entity this time. You can mark these up as losers: Northern, Insurer, Buyer, Buyers of other boats in construction, employees, vendors. Winners: Lawyers. Really sad, not for the principles as they will be fine, but for those without jobs and those due money and those who have invested in boats they don't have.

[weavis]

Sad...

[BandB]

Originally Posted by weavis

Sad...

Yes, can you imagine you're the buyer of the boat that sank. You're standing there watching this big moment. You've already paid millions toward the boat. Probably paid $8 million by now. And you see it turn and sink. Then, while it's still upside down in the water, they tell the employees their closing. Bad situation turns worse turns worse.

And meanwhile others told, no more job.

[SaltyMonkey]

How would this thing ever float? Look how much top she has and how little keel?

[hoppy]

LOL

I just found photos of the boat before the launch

[SaltyMonkey]

I just don't see how this could work?

[BandB]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

How would this thing ever float? Look how much top she has and how little keel?

Well, she's floating now. But of course she is in a sling. In cases like this before with stability issues, what I've seen is lots of work with ballasts, with equipment, tanks, everything to try to make it stable. Improving it greatly but never quite getting it right.

It certainly requires ballast as the naked boat it tall and light.

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

They forgot to put the ballast in.

“lighter than other Northern Marine builds of similar length, thus requiring more ballast to sit on a desired waterline.” The firm recommended “that partial ballasting be done currently, with final ballasting for trim and desired waterline to be performed at launch.”

I can only surmise the 'final ballast' was stored on the flybridge until after launch.

Look at that thing. It's invitation to turtle.