There are many different causes of Washington State boat accidents. However, many people are only familiar with some of the more common causes, such as operator mistakes, boating under the influence, or adverse weather conditions. In some cases, WA boating accidents may be caused by the mistakes made by the boat's builder. Last month, a Snohomish County was killed in a boating accident that may have been caused by a Washington boat manufacturer.
Washington State resident 48-year-old Cindy Tate was an experienced boater using the Lake Stevens recreation area in good weather in July when her boat flipped over, killing the woman and injuring nine other passengers. According to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, the boat was taking on water and sunk much faster than it should have. These anomalies led authorities to investigate the boat's manufacturer. Tiger Trax boats like Tate's were built by Phil Warnock in the late 1990s and have a history of malfunctions and sinkings. According to former workers at the boat manufacturer, the builder used low-cost foam on the boat's hulls, making them unsafe and making them more likely to take on water and decrease buoyancy. Snohomish County will investigate the boat's make, although they will also investigate whether the boat was overloaded with ten people. Also boat maker Warnock has not been in trouble for fatal boating accidents in the past, his boats have been known to take on water and his business has been in trouble for fraud in the past. Warnock now makes boats under the brand name Mirage.
