On February 28, 2009, Nick Schuyler went on a deep-sea fishing trip with three friends: NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley, former University of South Florida football player and Nick's best friend. What was supposed to be a day of fun and relaxation aboard Cooper's twenty-one-foot vessel turned nightmarish in the Gulf of Mexico, seventy miles west of Tampa, Florida, when a tragic mistake caused their boat to capsize. With no food or water, no emergency beacon to alert authorities, the four athletes clung to the overturned hull through the night—battling hypothermia, hallucinations, hunger, dehydration, and huge pounding waves, as they prayed, spoke of their loved ones, and shared what they would have done differently with their lives. In the end, only one would reach dry land alive. Much more than a riveting true account of survival, Not Without Hope is Nick Schuyler's inspiring story of courage, resolve, and friendship.

In the twilight of a summer evening, on a bustling Iowa lake in 1929, two speedboats collided. Nine people were killed, and boating in the state was changed forever. "The Death Boat" is the story--told in detail as never before--of the crash on West Lake Okoboji in northwestern Iowa. One boat, Zipper, had been a prime attraction at Arnolds Park, an amusement park and entertainment mecca on the water that drew vacationers from across the country. The other, Miss Thriller,was a newcomer to the lake touted as the fastest boat in the world carrying passengers for hire. Friction, even sabotage, ensued as the boat operators competed to become king of the lake. The rivalry ended in disaster. Within hours, before the last passenger's body had been brought to shore, questions swirled: Had Miss Thriller's, captain been careless? Did the inexperience of the other pilot cause the collision? Did the bitter rivalry figure in the deadly encounter? And finally, would the recovery of Miss Thriller, from its resting place 96 feet deep in West Lake Okoboji reveal the accident's cause? The enduring mysteries of the crash long have remained in the dark, much like Miss Thriller, after she sank into the depths of West Lake Okoboji. "The Death Boat" pieces together accounts that shed light on those mysteries.

This updated and revised edition has even more information to help you understand the complexities of boating accidents. In this edition are expanded chapters on boat accident reconstruction, an entirely new chapter on skipper responsibilities, and updated information recreational boating law. Whether you are a beginner or experienced litigator or any expert dealing with a boat accident, the information contained in this excellent resource will save you hours of research time hunting through less complete texts and online services. If you are a lawyer or an accident reconstructionist, this book will help you find appropriate data, analyze it, and determine cause in a boat accident. The book is a compendium of information useful in litigation dealing with activities in and on the water. The third edition of Boat Accident Reconstruction and Litigation covers everything from the way boats function to how they are designed. It introduces you to fluid mechanics and explains the numerous formulae and other methods used to analyze boat accidents. It even includes an extensive series of appendices of useful Coast Guard regulations and rules. Topics include: Swimmers and personal floatation devices Major boating accident case citations Safety equipment Transportation and marina issues Personal watercraft and types of boats Maritime law Accident reconstruction Alcohol Product liability issues Water skiing The attorney-expert relationship Skipper responsibilities