Bonefish Spectre back on Ebay.....

Chris Parker, a founder of the Bonefish Grill restaurant chain, went missing in Tampa Bay after a high-powered speedboat he was driving flipped at more than 100 mph.

Two women who were on the boat with him were hospitalized, authorities said. The accident occurred about a mile south of the Gandy Bridge as Parker's boat sped alongside another boat, whose occupants were unhurt. They pulled the women from the water.

At the time of the accident, authorities said, the temperature of the water was about 60 degrees and Parker was not wearing a life jacket.
Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said Parker had been headed north toward the Gandy Bridge at speeds in excess of 100 mph when the front of his 36-foot Spectre racing boat lifted out of the water.

It came back down on a wave and lifted again, and this time the underside of the aerodynamic boat was hit by enough air to flip it over backward, Wade said. The three riders were tossed out.

The boat, its sides battered by the water, eventually righted itself. It drifted a mile toward the bridge before authorities hauled it out. The two people in the other boat were not involved in the crash, Wade said. They rushed to Parker's craft and pulled the two passengers out of the water. They did not find Parker. The passengers were taken to Tampa General Hospital.

"There's no way they should have been going that fast in an area with a lot of boats coming up on the Gandy Bridge," said boater Dave Bodner, 50, of Tampa, who helped search for Parker. "It's unsafe for them and the people around them."

Jim George, a former Coast Guard captain and Air Force pilot who works at MarineMax boat sales in Clearwater, said that "the faster the boat goes, the less of the boat is touching the water.

If a boat hits the wake of another boat, or any other sort of wave, it pitches the front of the boat into the air and forces the boat's engines deeper into the water. That gives the boat a lift like an airplane wing.

"Basically the driver of the boat was driving faster than conditions allow, something wasn't right, or they were totally inexperienced," he said. "It's a dual hull boat; that's the worst kind for catching air."
 
Bonefish was started by Parker and a partner i believe. They sold to Outback who expanded. We still have a Grille in South Tampa. good food, a little expensive, but higher quality dining experience.
 
It's funny how the boat on e-bay has totally clashing colors painted where all the damage was repaired. No attempt to try an make the thing look original. Yet any undamaged area were left alone. almost seems like they've patched it together on a tight budget (even scarier)
 
I remember hearing about this. Too bad! Such a tragedy. The guy selling it always sells high end stuff with a story. Lots of wrecked Lambos.
Did the boat go down? was it badly damaged?
 
It is Outback's fish restaurant just like Carrabas is the Italian alternative. I don't think they sold out to OB, I think it was more of a partnership deal.

Actually, it was a private chain of restaurants started by Parker, and later sold to OSI. The very first location was on 4th street in St. Pete just a couple miles from me. Chris was a great guy and he is missed. RIP.
 
I was just at Bonefish a week ago, Outback last Thursday.

One of our own who hasn't been active in a while was instrumental in getting Bonefish up and going in Chris Parkers early day. He use to send me gift certificates from the franchises he owned, I let him and his family stay in my place in Myrtle Beach for free, etc. Good people and know the loss was hard on him.
 
I have a couple of photos of it in the water as rescue crews secured the scene. Would it be OK to post them here or shall I refrain out of respect for Chris? You cna clearly see the massive delamination damage to the forward port bow sponson. The rear starboard damage is underwater.
 
Provided we'd be looking at a boat only, I don't have a problem with it - and considering it's a boat currently on the for-sale market, it would be a valuable tidbit of information for someone who might be considering the purchase.
 
Here's a photo from the e-Bay ad showing the same forward side. And the top where you can see the shape of the flag matches.
 

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Actually, it was a private chain of restaurants started by Parker, and later sold to OSI. The very first location was on 4th street in St. Pete just a couple miles from me. Chris was a great guy and he is missed. RIP.

I have been to the old 4th st. location many times (they recently moved out to a new location across the street/bigger spot). My sister in law lives in Placido Bayou a couple blocks behind the old location.
 
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