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Did everyone see this? What a sad story!!!!
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/hitandrun_boating_accident_in.html

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Very sad story indeed... there is no need to be going fast at night and then no to stop when you hit something.... :@:@:@

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There is a long thread on CW and there seems to be people on there that knew the man who died. Amazing the speculation that goes on. I hope the NJ state police dig in on this one.

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Wow....what a tragedy. Being in a Boston Whaler probably saved the lives of the other folks who were on-board as well.

It's one thing when you hit someone, it's another when you leave the scene. For this alone, I hope the NJ state police throw the book at this guy.

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That's a sad story, they'll find that boat abandoned in a garage or under a tarp in a yard under a tree. A good bet would be that "Alcohol" was involved.
mw

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They have found the boat - the guy lawyered up and had the lawyer contact the police. Really a sad story.

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Also Legislation floated up yesterday on tougher laws on floating parties and speeding at night. Speed limit of 10MPH on Bays and rivers.

In my entire boating life, I can't think of a reason (other than an emergency) to drive faster then that...

Very sad story...:( This man was a highly respected member of his community Glenfels, NJ and school board member. Also had a captains licence from what I read, how ironic...

Also left behind 2 teen age boys and mother in serious condition... Very very sad....

This story hit local TV...

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Its too bad its takes another tragedy to wake up the new laws. But, will anyone abide by those laws at 1AM and will anyone be there to enforce the law?
Not that it matters much but can anyone see what madel or year the whaler is. In one of the pics on another news link I saw it shows the 2 jump seats in fron of the console. That boat took a real hard hit and faired pretty well. They say the port side has no damage. I guess the speed boat flew right over? Unreal!!!!

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Nightime operation's near where I keep my boat can be "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS", often I can hear the Muscle boat's leaving the waterside bar's and nailing the throttles for a few minutes, they scream down the channel, I always fear that some poor guy is gonna get it. I had a near miss one night with a boat that was speeding and reckless with a drunk operator chugging Beer, and I had heard stories of near misses but, it was extremely Frightening to be a part of it (so frightening that I froze up w/fear, do I bail out, or stay w/the boat). During the dayI have seen full couches go floating by, logs, section's of dock, etc. (as we all have) and I always think "How can you see this at night", ya can't. I try and avoid the night w/ the boat, I even ran an extra "Stern Light" to light myself up a bit better if I get caught out there at night trying to make port.
The person involved in this tragedy ran from the scene, then "Fessed Up" w/ his lawyer after his "B.A.C." dropped, it always seem's to me that these people NEVER get enough punishment for the tragedy, and pain that they cause for others.
mw

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Remember, laws are for law abiding citizens. A new law will not stop the problem of speeding drunk boaters. A criminal is going to do whatever they are going to do regardless of any new or existing law.

More boating education and enforcement is what's needed.

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x2

Edit***Very sad story. No reason that it should have happened. Tragic.

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What kind of speedboat hit the Whaler? Cigarette? Fountain? Donzi? Formula? baja?

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Same thread on CW. It was mentioned there the boat was a 27` Imperial, not necessarily a go-fast boat. Maybe more like a Sea Ray. Have`t seen any actual pictures of the offending boat yet. Its in a Police compound.
rich

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I think the 27 Imperial was a short lived splash of the old 27 Magnum hull, while the mold was technically a "go-fast" mold and in fact one of Don Aronow's better designs over the years. Imperial in general was more of a faster cruiser type, i.e. Crownline.

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Imperial 27 SS is a go fast boat. It is not a cabin boat. See here:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1988-IMPERIAL-27-SS-EXPRESS-93295066

What is amazing to me is that the perp is not charged yet. I cant decide if it is because his family and lawyer are connected to LE and the DA's office, or if is more of an honest reason. If Brick police first were involved, and then passed it to the Point Pleasant State Police Marine Division, is it because they don't want the jurisdiction? Or is it because maritime law takes over? I don't know, and am just trying to help find the answers.

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It makes me thing twice about going out at night... and shake my head about being out at night before without an additional spot light

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A spotlight is the best defense at night, against getting run over, but you need to stay alert, and watch and listen for oncoming boats.
rich

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There is no defense from idiots. We had a little girl killed here that was being towed in a tube behind the parents boat in the canal (which is a no wake zone) by a fool on a jet ski. In pensacola a boat actually went completely through a house boat killing a lady on a couch in the living room. It goes on and on, but the botton line is, to many careless and fool hardy individuals behind the wheel of a boat which take much to lightly how much responsibility comes with it.

Duf

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As many drunks as there are on the road, I think there are many more on the water. You can spot them at the ramps, as they fumble their boat out of the water. Unfortunately they never seem to injure themselves.
rich

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Absolutely spot on. There are many I know that will not start the boat without a Beer cracked already.
I know one guy who sold his boat because he drank too much when on it and meeting up with other boats.

As for running at night, I experience the most dangerous time to be just as it is getting dark. Boats rushing back in that have no lights, jet skis, etc.
Hard to pick them up. You have to look 2 or 3 times especially crossing a channel.