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Part 1: Northern Marine 90' Yacht Capsizes Upon Launch...!

Discussion in 'Northern Marine Yacht' started by olderboater, May 19, 2014.

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  1. lovinlifenc

    lovinlifenc Member

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    I read that post and the only thing you were missing was the author did mention that if the CG was off (hope that was right), then it would cause tilt when bouyancy was achieved. Of course he discussed the leverage, etc.


    This tilt, i suppose, may be attributable to ballast, or water ingress, or another factor such as wind. It simply isn't known yet what specific factors were contributing.
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Yes, I lived on Lake Norman until June 30, 2012. Since then I've logged many days on many boats and researched many builders. You're right, I never had an interest in purchasing a boat from Northern. In fact, much of the knowledge I have of them came not from me making an effort but from others approaching me. And as to my boating experience this isn't about boating, this is about how you run a business and my experience in that regard is extensive. I only have a few hundred sea days but thousands of business days.

    The fight is nasty already and will become worse. I feel horribly for the victims. As a boat buyer, I feel badly for those with construction in progress. Where I have facts I've said so. Where speculating I've said so.

    I was also just in the PNW where information flows freely. It's a small boating world.

    And as to their history, none of that is speculation. It's publicly available information. Also, I admit to anticipating them filing bankruptcy being speculation but pretty reasonable when people send the employees home and close the doors. And I admit to a real issue with businesses operating in disregard for others and then retreating to protection behind bankruptcy laws.

    You tell me how you would feel if you were an employee who was just terminated with no notice. Tell me how you'd feel if the boat in the water or the boats in the fence were ones you'd paid millions in progress payments toward. Tell me how you'd feel if you'd sold them items you'll never get paid for. I'm not in any way involved directly with them by personal choice, but that does not mean I don't feel for those who are. I have an issue that we seem to be so concerned about a builder or boat brand or design as opposed to those truly hurt by their closing of the doors.....AGAIN.
  3. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Settle Down Cowboy

    Are you certain of this? I don't know one way or the other, but if you don't have first-hand information don't make claims of fact. Again- I don't know anything about it, but would be careful before assuming that someone wearing a Fraser jacket is the owner's representative.

    What part of my comment is misinformation? I believe I said:
    I can guarantee you that Josh Gulbransen IS a friend of mine (unless you know something that I don't about our friendship). I can also guarantee that I am surely not one to make false statements, and that Josh did assure me that he was not the project manager.
  4. lovinlifenc

    lovinlifenc Member

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    If I was an employee who may have been responsible for the mess, or someone who is an innocent "victim"?

    The only problem with your narrative is.. If the problems are as systemic, as you keep insisting them to be, then surely nobody will be surprised by their update in employment status.

    As the boat buyer, I would feel mad. I might feel horrible, but that would also would depend on whether it was my mismanagement, poor decision, or another factor that I controlled.

    If I owned the company? Well, I carry business insurance, but there have been times when my only option was to sell some invoices. I never put all of my eggs into one basket, though. I also require pre-performance payments before I lift a finger to do anything other than contract negotiations. My clients value what I do, and they are aware of my reputation, so they are willing to risk the possibility that their only recourse is to sue a bankrupt entity.

    Yeah, I think we all get it. So, continue, if you insist.
  5. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    Probably the same basis as the "gurus" on the trawler forums (where this topic seems to have taken on a life of its own) who can look at a picture of a small boat's stern and tell what the fuel consumption is and which locker the beans are stored.

    Most of them have some truly bizarre ideas about naval architecture and stability but that doesn't seem to hold them back.
  6. 61c40

    61c40 Member

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    What material do they use for ballast on this brand of vessel? concrete,grout pig iron ingots?
  7. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Lead is usually used on yachts as it gives the most bang for the buck

    By this I mean you get the most weight in the smallest space- a very important consideration on a yacht , not that it is the cheapest material to use.
  8. MarineESQ

    MarineESQ New Member

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  9. tirk

    tirk Member

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    But gold has certain tax advantages, so long as you keep it quiet! :D

    (I'm sure I heard this wheeze rumoured to have been found on one or more Russian yachts trying to escape Greece when austerity hit a few years ago.)
  10. MarineESQ

    MarineESQ New Member

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  11. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    I think posting that has caused the govts server to take an early memorial day vacation. (It wont load for me)
  12. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Thanks for the daily teaser to get the day started. :D

  13. beached

    beached New Member

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    Here is a pdf of the page.

    Attached Files:

  14. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    That link has been parsed. Should work now.
  15. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Actually there are four current cases there against New World Yacht Builders. And if you want more reading just search Northern Marine for a few older ones.

    Of course all this is before the latest events. And just the tip of the iceberg with all the other potential claims. Amazing sometimes the disparity between public image and reality.
  16. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno

    Pennsylvania Ave comes to mind on this Memorial Day week-end,

    something about a Nobel Peace Prize. ;)
  17. Joe Petrich

    Joe Petrich New Member

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    Standard procedure for an end launch whether it be on a ways or on a trailer is to do launching calculations to determine how the vessel will behave when transitioning from land to water. When a vessel is end launched the aft portion of the hull will float first while the forward section will be supported on land. This 2 point load means the midships area will be unsupported and the boat will roll. Think of an old IOR boat running downwind at hull speed the ends are supported while the trough between provides no support. This is why they roll and broach so much. Now on a launch the forward portion of the hull should be supported by a cradle which has poppets designed to support the boat a ways up the hull to resist the rolling. The NM boat had only a single point support on a single dolly up forward which would allow the boat to roll upon launching. If the boat was less than optimally ballasted the roll could have gone past the vanishing point of stability thus continuing on over onto its side. The open transom door may have allowed a bit of water in as well (it would be nice to have pictures and video looking at the boat from astern).

    NM has launched many boats this way and so may have been unconcerned when the boat first started to roll.

    In any case there may have been a Perfect Storm of conditions contributing to the sinking.
  18. rhinotub

    rhinotub Member

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    It totally is.

    "fireside chat, Irish Setter, let me tell you a story, kiddies", annoying....
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    That would have been one wild, far fetched, with a lot of imagination,,, perfect storm of a launch (sh$# pile of bad luck)..

    Naw, Somebody screwed up.

    Even if she was launched with a minimum ballast per order pending static test, Lifting by the stern with a slightly higher (as a stern swell / following sea) bow should not have been a problem IMHO.
    Let me say it this way; If relaunched, Personally, I will never step foot on that boat if she is tied to a dock and free rum on board (For those that know me, this is serious).
    ,rc
  20. Belle

    Belle Member

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    What about free rum and a boat full of young naked nymphomaniacs lounging around on stacks of millions of dollars cash with a sign at the entrance saying "Help yourself?"
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