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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Boating Accidents

I don't mean to make light of the tragedy aboard the Ethan Allen on Lake George, but part of the problem that resulted in the boat having poor stability is that its stability and trim calculations were used assuming that the average passenger would weigh 140 lbs. In fact, the average passenger weighed 178 lbs or 27% more.

The boat was built in 1966 at a time when most Americans were trimmer than they are now. Adding to the problem was the fact that a canopy had been added in 1979 and reinforced in 1989. The canopy, being up high, made the boat "tender" or more likely to turn over.

Adding together the weight of canopy, and the added weight of the passengers, the boat should have been certified for only 14 passengers. It was carrying 47. Twenty of them died.