On 10-3-23, at 0935, st croix dispatch received a 911 call of an unmanned motorboat circling on the st croix river near troy beach. The boat is a 1997 smoker craft 170 pro tourney with a 2021 yamaha 75 hp 4-stroke (installed in march 2023). 

Both people onboard drowned. Eyewitness observed the boat circling unmanned, scanned the area and observed a single person in the water. As the witness approached the subject in the water, he sank below the surface and never resurfaced. 

The victim boat had a lowrance elite 9ti2 chart plotter mounted at the helm. A subsequent download revealed at 092328, the boat was recorded traveling at 25 mph at 212.7 degrees true. At 092333, the boat was recorded traveling 0 mph at 283.2 degrees true. The boat traveled a short distance than began circling for approximately 42 minutes before running out of gas. 

The likely point of ejection was at the sudden change in speed, 25 to 0 and 60+ degree change in direction in a short amount of time. Both of the victims were recovered close to each other and east of the likely ejection area as if they were trying to swim to the closest shore. 

Both bodies were recovered with no prop injuries. The believed passenger had ribs 11 and 12 broken on his left side. Same person's toxicology was .024. 

Mechanical inspection with certified yamaha master technician revealed no broken or worn components. There was no hydraulic or other type of steering assist system installed meaning this boat had severe steering torque. 

I drove this boat to recreate the circumstances of letting go of the steering wheel and the boat reacted as shown in its chart plotter download. With no steering torque mitigation, the boat immediately and violently turned hard to the right and is the likely cause of the ejection. Interview with owner's family stated the victim and family knew about this steering issue.

St Croix River
Troy                          