Power Boat Capsize?

[ViribusUnitis]

We hear about sailing mono and multi hulls capsizing all the time.

I don't recall hearing about a power boat of the trawler type capsizing.

Are there any examples of 40 foot power yachts capsizing? If so, any common themes?

Thanks

[GordMay]

Perhaps, nobody survives to report the incident.

[Dulcesuenos]

Large sportsfisher that almost went all the way over, seriously injured the captain, another large boat killed a capt last year in the same inlet. Pretty nasty spot I'd say.

Man in critical condition after nearly drowning in Jupiter Inlet

[Seahunter]

Physics applies to all boats, sail and power. Perhaps you're just reading what you want to read. All boats can capsize in varying conditions. That's why NA's utilize capsize screening and angle of vanishing stability formulas in boat design. Formulas

[vintageray]

I've read lots of accounts of powerboats capsizing and the crews sometimes either trapped inside or clinging to the hull.

[Capt Phil]

There is a great shot on the wall of the Red Sails restaurant on Shelter Island, San Diego of a 60+foot power boat off one of S California's shoal prone points. As I recall it almost vertical in the photo. Also, a 50 footer was rolled in the 'Potato Patch' just north of the Golden Gate bridge back in the 80's, I believe. Front page news in the SF Chronicle at the time. Also check out USCG training films of rescues and drills off the Columbia River bar. The common theme was heavy weather, high, steep waves caused by shoaling close to the coast and, with the exception of the USCG, dumb seamanship IMO. Capt Phil

[ViribusUnitis]

Originally Posted by Seahunter

Physics applies to all boats, sail and power. Perhaps you're just reading what you want to read. All boats can capsize in varying conditions. That's why NA's utilize capsize screening and angle of vanishing stability formulas in boat design. Formulas

I have no question that it's possible. It just doesn't seem as common in the news for the trawler type boats to go over as the sail boat. Of course as you say I might not be looking in the right news sources.

It seems like in every "heavy weather" story I read about a sail boat, a monohull has a "knock down". We get stories once or twice a year about cats that flip.

I don't recall reading such storied about the trawler type motor yachts. Now that I think about it I do recall a number of "sport fishers" that are basicly planing boats that end up coming up upside down. Like mentioned before, typicly the stories involve extremely poor seamanship.

[impi]

Originally Posted by ViribusUnitis

I have no question that it's possible. It just doesn't seem as common in the news for the trawler type boats to go over as the sail boat. Of course as you say I might not be looking in the right news sources.

It seems like in every "heavy weather" story I read about a sail boat, a monohull has a "knock down". We get stories once or twice a year about cats that flip.

I don't recall reading such storied about the trawler type motor yachts. Now that I think about it I do recall a number of "sport fishers" that are basicly planing boats that end up coming up upside down. Like mentioned before, typicly the stories involve extremely poor seamanship.

..... Ever watched the movie based on true facts called 'the perfect storm'.....

[ViribusUnitis]

Originally Posted by impi

..... Ever watched the movie based on true facts called 'the perfect storm'.....

Only problem with that movie is while we know that boat didn't make it back, we don't exactly know what happened to it. Nobody survived.

[impi]

That's the problem .... Usually the cats have survivors to tell the story ...

[mcm]

I was one told that for power boats use the following guide.

In a fully developed sea state, when the waves reach the same as 2/3 of the water line length, then the vessel is in danger of capzize.

i.e..a boat with 30 ft w/l is in danger at 20 ft sea state seems it would be in danger before that, but, thats what an experienced delivery skipper posted.

[Adelie]

I think perhaps several things are at play here.
1). Fewer powerboats survive to tell the story.
2. Lots fewer recreational powerboats making long offshore passages so likelihood of being hit by overpowering waves is much lower on a global scale.
3. I had a third reason but forgot it by time I had typed up the first two.

[markpierce]

Perhaps it is because too many wanna-be (no/little experience) sailors want to circumnavigate the world. (Gee, how many OPs here have said they want to sail around the world by themselves this/next year but have no sailing experience?)

[rgscpat]

A slightly different topic would be commercial fishing trawlers that have had weight added topsides after their initial design, making them much less stable. To bring this back to the original topic, I wonder if this has ever been an issue for recreational power trawlers or other recreational power boats. Power boats would also differ from sail perhaps in regard to what happens to stability and survivability when power is lost.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by ViribusUnitis

We hear about sailing mono and multi hulls capsizing all the time.

You hear about that "all the time"?

We hear about racing sailboats, now and then, who are pushing the very limits, capsizing. But the average cruising sailboat? I don't think I've heard of one capsizing in years. And I've never heard of it, except for those that got caught in truly horrible weather (like, a hurricane).