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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Boating Accidents

Bonefish Grill owner Chris Parker was on top of the world. After gaining experience in the Hops Restaurant organization his seafood grill concept had taken off with the financial backing of Tampa-based Outback Steakhouse. Outback has lots of cash and was looking for a new restaurant concept to supplement its Outback and Carraba's brands. Bonefish seemed to fit the bill. He was up to 30 restaurants. Life was good.

Then tragedy struck. Parker took two friends out to Tampa Bay on his 36 ft. Spectre Catamaran. The Spectre is a powerful boat, with two 650 horsepower engines and a broad but shallow beam which provides it with transverse stability so it won't roll over. But with every design change, there are other characteristics which pop up. On the Spectre, the large "sail area" created by its tunnel hull makes it vulnerable to catching air underneath, and flipping over.

Reportedly Parker had pushed his Spectre to over about 100 mph near Tampa's Gandy Bridge when it caught some air and flipped backwards. Parker was killed. His two female companions were taken to Tampa General Hospital. One is in serious condition.