Driver was thrown from Tritoon and boat in spin at Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2022

Driver was thrown from Tritoon and boat in spin at Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2022
Mark Fargo was thrown from his tritoon on August 28th, 2022 at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.
Driver and first responders all good.

[@davidjessee7701]

I’m a marine mechanic with years of seeing stuff f ing up!!! The only malfunction is the guy had more money than brains!!!!

[@thomasdowell4368]

DIRECT HIT SIR, I BELIEVE THAT EXACT SAME THING, TOO DAMN GOOD FOR SAFTEY EQUIPMENT. These folks all were very fortunate that no one was seriously injured or killed.

[@barryd.thomassr.9156]

KILL SWITCH ???

[@rapidtransit8373]

FINED AND BANNED FOR 2 OR MORE YRS.

[@drakkus13]

Very true. Kill switches are made for a good reason. This idiot didn't get the Memo on wearing or clipping the kill switch on. Well at least he will be remembered as the "Triton idiot"

[@bobhanson2111]

This whole race thing on the Lake of Ozark needs to be banned.

[@samson3026]

He created a very dangerous situation and should be held accountable. His decision to not wear the lanyard should not be taken lightly.

[@yogamatt443]

Back up just a little. Why did he fall out of the boat?

[@craigsmithx]

I would give him 3 days in jail.

[@Mr_Clean]

​@@craigsmithxor just permanently banned from competing in shootouts ever again

[@healthy2202]

@@yogamatt443 the people talking on the event said that it wasn't a planned turn. I wonder if a steering cable came lose.

[@Mr.Free2Play]

First off, where is his cut off cable, that should have killed that boat's engine the moment he fell off?? That's my question.

[@leslie476]

Mandatory disqualification from the sport, period.

[@NaptownPete]

I have recovered 2 of these runsway situations where we dragged a long dockline behind another boat. Dropping that line in front of the runaway boat to foul the prop and stop thr boat.

[@mountainplumbing]

These people have no business trying to stop any boat. Clearly no one trained them.

[@healthy2202]

I don't know why they didn't do that. Its the easiest thing to do. better than squirting water hoping to hit something to stop it.

[@ChainsawFPV]

I agree with the rope trick. But the water cannon was def creative. Lol

[@noyopacific]

Tossing ropes in the water to foul in the prop is a much better solution than the commentators "genius" suggestion that another boat should pull along side so a crew member could jump into the runaway boat. 😂

[@johnprendergast1338]

As previous owner of many boats, my last and favorite boat was a party barge ..Because it was slow, comfortable and fun ...

[@brianhanel6897]

Failure to use a dead man's switch on any boat should be a jail sentence

[@christopherleveck6835]

Reports are that the lanyard either broke or was cut as he went overboard

[@2dronetek2]

That boat is living its best life right now.. No human to boss it around. I can almost hear it yelling "hell no! I won't go!!" at the police.

[@SGTSLACKASS]

Underrated comment.

[@zzzxxzzz3248]

If it's a propeller drive , just throw some floating rope across the path of the boat and foul the props ! Stops them every time !

[@integr8er66]

Exactly what I was thinking, and the guy with the water cannon was a jerk to damage the boat with the spray after it was obviously disabled

[@TheFox2racing]

Exactly what I was thinking.👍😎

[@ddjsta]

No shit. Even a jet boat gets tangled in rope . If you own a boat and it hasnt happend your lucky.

[@kittyztigerz]

will not work with over powerful engine i have seen it chopped up rope in no problem but chain hec it be good bye drive train lol

[@bigdaddykeithcarter1624]

Dummases, never heard of prop fowling, as many times as they cut it off, could have been fixed if 5 minutes

[@Duckman501]

I’m not buying the “kill switch malfunctioned” as a reasonable response. Those things are engineered to withstand abuse and when they do fail (usually a short) the engine won’t start. He put many people at risk no matter how you tell the story.

[@michaelervolina3227]

Actually these switches can malfunction and not shut the engine off.

[@bradchristy8429]

The lanyard broke. They are just plastic.

[@DeadlyLuresCEO]

You never got a bad one? LoL they malfunction and/or get made wrong all the time. I bought one, worked opposite the way it's supposed to. Lock on, doesn't run, pull it out and it runs. 😂😂

[@robertcates4066]

He didn't hook it up, could have been real bad!!!!

[@bunsguns8222]

They are crap.

[@TheTtribe]

Maybe they should "ADD" a requirement for a deadman switch on the drivers seat. Just like they put in most if not all riding mowers. That way you would have to have two failures for this to happen. Thats heavy uncontrolled boat near people who are anchored and can't get out of the way quickly.

[@justdoingitjim7095]

I built a one man fishing skiff with electric propulsion and I put a dead man switch on the seat bottom. It works great and it works with any weight driver.

[@nomad634]

He thought he was to good for regulations, assumed he would never need such a device and refused to wear it because it was beneath someone of his importance and skill. Luckily no one was hurt, but it is usually the bystander that pays for the stubbornly arrogant.

[@airgliderz]

He's an idiot, always needed, you and, "his", assumption is always wrong that you don't need it. Period.

[@AtimatikArmy]

Or maybe he could have simply forgot.

[@airgliderz]

@@AtimatikArmy clearly your wrong, forgot, no. He chose not to or disabled it. He fucked up, lucky he didn't kill someone.

[@michaelhalk6632]

Alec Baldwin!! Its not my fault the gun went off!! Oops sorry the kill switch failed not my fault!!!

[@nomad634]

It was a props gun. I mean yall will protect trumps reputation no matter how embarrassing it is for you huh?

[@LiveLearnProjects]

The guy with the water cannon after the boat was stopped is making sure this thing doesn't come back again... hahaha

[@Mk4Thumper]

He was overhauling the fire! LOL

[@ryannewman5036]

Glad no one was hurt but damn guy with the fire hose definitely doesn't own a boat.

[@zzzxxzzz3248]

Should have thrown a floating rope across the path of the boat and fouled the props ! Stops them every time !

[@fatmanwithalittledrone7078]

You ever see them with an axe on a fire site

[@Eric-gi9kg]

My question... Why didn't they attempt to foul the props with netting or ropes?

[@6-Iron]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[@Saltfly]

Such an easy problem to solve.

[@kaceycarter2972]

They were throwing ropes and buoys. They were all over the area. Pay attention arm chair rescueers!@@!!

[@kennethwood713]

that would require common sense , common man look who we have in the white house, Corn pop slayer

[@LaJuanHughes]

Good Idea to get water In the engine

[@flently]

Watching these guys in boats chase this boat around trying to stop it needs some Laurel and Hardy music playing. It's the boat equivalent of digs chasing their tails.

[@Conan-ny1um]

Actually Benny Hill soundtrack would be perfect!

[@EstebanGonzalez-og7mb]

Running at top speeds with no kill switch. Genius

[@Hole_Motorsports]

Also just a complete shitbox of a boat to get out of shape in flat water like that

[@BBD40]

Throw a net into the propeller

[@TheJollycoppers]

A boat that still tries to win the race, even without its driver...that's a good boat.

[@bobhanson2111]

The boat committed many point deductions however in case you didn’t notice it kept cutting the course boundaries short not staying on the outside of the course markers. It was determined afterward to dis-qualify the boat.

[@604cuinkillah]

My kinda boat🏁🏁🏁

[@tundralife5570]

Did the fire team hit the throttle back with water pressure!? 😂 Maybe hit the intakes but either way well done. 👍🏻

[@steveredmond6468]

Has anybody but me heard of thrown a big huge rope in the water so the prop can get wrapped up and it shuts the motor down wow be nice to see a professional out there

[@ralphholiman7401]

Racing souped-up pontoon boats has got to be one of the most American things I've seen in a while!

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Ikr, it's like poor mans (but still pretty rich) cigarette boat racing. Crazy stuff

[@craigsmithx]

We are insane on this side of the pond.

[@deborahsimpson4968]

How is it steering itself in straightaway then steering itself into a sharp 180⁰ then straightaway then sharp 180⁰. instead of steering consistent either consistent or steering irratticly?

[@S.E.C-R]

How did the water canon spraying it stop it or did I miss something?

[@fincaesmeralda6565]

So how was the boat stopped??? I saw the fire boat spraying water on the boat.. did that kill the electronics and cause the engine to loose power??? Anyone care to explain cause I’m clueless.

[@markymark959]

It’s pretty ridiculous that this guy did not follow the rules requiring the Kill switch lanyard be worn….who failed to check that?

[@hines862009]

Plastic lanyard or clip can become brittle and break while enough of clip staying in to keep engaged.

[@darrellcook8253]

Looks like the pilot. And no seat kill switch that has to be overridden when going slow like for docking/trailering And you have to stand up.

[@orriebeck5002]

Great Job!

[@eugeneweeks3325]

The thought of racing pontoon boats just became something I am gonna do. I didn’t realize there was such a thing but I love racing anything.

[@bbayerit]

Shudda got the Arkansas State Police out there to perform a PIT on it!!! 🤣😂🤣😈

[@krrrruptidsoless]

And turn it in another direction?

[@tedsmith6137]

I'm surprised it took so long to decide to use the water cannon. With the engine hatches open it was the obvious thing to try first.

[@joshastana849]

They hit the throttle with back with the stream.

[@billyrayband]

perhaps the lanyard failed, but doubtful. But this also shows a serious problem with any boat that has twin engines spaced apart, including catamarans and pontoons like this one. Any loss of power on one side at a moderate speed will cause a sudden sharp turn. Could be a prop failure, a supercharger belt failure, a electrical failure, etc. I would think twice before I bought one and never operate one without the lanyard.

[@bradchristy8429]

Kind of nailed it on both counts. Reports are that the lanyard either broke or was cut as he went overboard, and, yes… The blower belt failed.

[@dakotaautosales9673]

That boat doesn't have 2 motors gumby

[@bradchristy8429]

@@dakotaautosales9673 Yes it does. It threw a blower belt on the starboard engine, causing it to die, which led to a severe left bow steer.

[@billyrayband]

@@dakotaautosales9673 it sure does, two stern drives, one on each side.

[@tripdunagan4948]

I have been behind the helm of at least two boats with twin engines and that simply isn’t the case. The boat will continue to track straight with one engine falling off even at wide open throttle. The problem is a pontoon is simply not designed for speed and people should quit trying to make them into speed boats. The slightest turn of the wheel and the boat darts.

[@onenuttybuddy]

I saw the same kind of thing happen with a go-cart, many, many, years ago. It was cool fall morning and my friend and I were playing basketball, in his driveway, across from the school bus parking lot. School was closed and parking lot was completely empty. Just after we started playing, a guy drove up in his station wagon(I told you it was while ago!) The man got out with his two 1st grade children, a boy and a girl. The boy helped his father get the kids sized go-cart out of the back of the wagon. Dad and kids talked about where the cart was going to be ran. The boat went first. He drove 5 or 6 times around the lot. My friend and I were looking over, watching them have fun, just every few minutes. The boy pulled to the loading, unloading place for the cart. The little girl got in the car. Then she slowly took of on the car. She was going a little slower than the boy was going. We were still playing when all of the sudden my friend stops me and says, " Look! There's some going on over there that doesn't look right. The cart was going in pretty tight circles around and around, and around. The dad was talking to someone who had stopped by in their car and wasn't paying any attention at all to what was happening. The little girl was wearing a long wool scarf, dangling over the seat. She was slumped over to one side and not moving at all. We both ran over the go-cart and as we got closer could see the scarf tangled in the drive train and sprocket badly chocking the child. We could tell she was passed out and her lips were blue. I jumped on the rear of the cart and hit the kill switch while my buddy jumped on the side of the cart and began cutting at her pink scarf with the pocket knife he carried every day Eventually, we go the scarf off the little girls throat just as the father was running to us, on the cart. She immediately began to breathing again. The little girl made a full recovery and my best buddy had saved that little girls life.

[@hotchihuahua1546]

Good thing he left the engine covers up and a good move on the part of the Fire rescue boat ! 👍👍

[@opeyonecanopy]

That was awesome!

[@robqwertyuipp8750]

What was the point of the water cannon?

[@idvette]

If the lanyard was in poor enough condition to fail, it shouldn't have passed tech inspection, it takes very little pressure to activate a kill switch. It should also have a throttle return spring that would bring it back to idle speed, but that must have failed too? They'll have to step up their safety measures after this one

[@Travis-lw4jm]

Boats don't have return springs like that.

[@idvette]

@@Travis-lw4jm if it's racing it has to have one

[@Travis-lw4jm]

@@idvette No they do not. I have been building race and pleasure boats for 12 years. If the throttles slammed closed everytime you take your hand of the sticks there would be some serious wrecks caused by it.

[@Hole_Motorsports]

@@Travis-lw4jm lots of jet boats do

[@Travis-lw4jm]

@@Hole_Motorsports sure plenty of carbureted engines or jet boats with a hot foot do have return springs. But not big boats or pontoon boats...

[@nevadaboy9769]

Its Alive, Christine is back!

[@robertmashburn8330]

I’d say the Driver was embarrassed beyond repair! Should be fined significantly enough to make him understand rules are generally for a reason. If that boat had done a lot of damage, guess who’s paying. Kick him out!

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

DQ'd.

[@christopherleveck6835]

Reports are that the lanyard either broke or was cut as he went overboard

[@dbest4541]

How fast was he going?

[@aaronmartins4077]

Like 35 haha

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

How many gallons of gas?

[@BoatLover]

Oh I love watching this 😂😂 the thought of a 4x8 board with a motor racing across the water it’s so comical 🚤💩💩

[@Jerry-ko9pi]

Maybe install radio kill switches like in monster trucks. I think someone on a jet ski could have came along side and gotten on quicker.

[@1320fastback]

Deadman switch worked perfectly 👍

[@barthintz5605]

Why was the shootout being held during a thunderstorm?

[@jeannelorenzo3518]

was not a thunderstorm, just rain...they do stop races if it is a thunderstorm

[@gotstars]

one ski rope would of stopped it it tracks in a sec

[@kennethwood713]

legend has it the boat is in Circle Bend Florida

[@AbovetheAverage]

2 guys on a wave runner could've handled the situation with minimal damage.

[@eldnah2]

Exactly!

[@4406bbldb]

The chase boat is getting outsmarted.

[@johnb9825]

Cool how they used the fire monitor to push the throttle lever back.

[@artvandelay8030]

..yeah that tracks. For an encore I think they should parachute with umbrella's.

[@mason.2880]

Oh my gosh that would be so scary if it went straight to the boats watching hope he’s okay

[@jonperley7304]

BRILLIANT!!!!

[@danlaur7973]

The boat operator should be barred from any further competition

[@kylegreene1583]

That sure did look like a drunk tipping over🤣🤣🤣

[@lindacares2215]

Kyle I fully agree it looked so strange how he fell out of that boat

[@joshblack4291]

No killswitch engaged?

[@raycasson1774]

Somebody throw the spike strips..😂

[@thnksno]

My boat will do 60MPH+ it also has SeaStar hydraulic steering, it won't turn on its own, it will go in whatever direction I last touched the wheel. I'm scared to run it without the lanyard.

[@myfavoritemartian1]

Years ago we stopped a runaway boat with a fishing net with floats.........it wrapped around the propellers.

[@sidrojoe]

"Look mom, no kill switch!!"

[@rossjohnson1301]

I was kinda mad when the cut the feed when this was live but I'm glad they put the whole thing up here

[@godofplumbing]

This is the aqua version of lawn mower Racing.

[@8180634]

How was he not wearing a lanyard?

[@healthy2202]

Don't you know who he thinks he is?

[@bradleyjanes2949]

Squirting it with water was genius

[@pepsipeanuts521]

What did they do to stop it i believe fowling the prop is standard procedure for a pilotless boat oh i had to watch it twice to understand seems they reversed the throttle with the water Cannon

[@topnotchpiperdad]

300 gallon on board,6 months later?

[@mattconnelly9889]

Why isn't some sort of seat belt or harness required?

[@jaymerino1912]

The boat is a big nascar fan.. only turns left..

[@csgarage3682]

I would like to know the consequences for the boat driver! What penalties he suffered? Thats whats important here

[@emc84]

He got wet.

[@auzmo]

His boat got trashed. Thats pretty bad

[@nerblebun]

I've lived around & on my own sailboats at marinas for decades. Also owned several different power boats. I don't believe the pilot for one second his lanyard & cut-off switch malfunctioned. I've experienced going overboard myself in a tight turn, and watched it happen to others a few times. Every time the boat goes into a tight turn & remains in a tight turn; however, this particular boat traveled a couple hundred yards in a straight line in each direction, then turned starboard. That, I don't understand.

[@deborahsimpson4968]

Exactly.. except that first circle. It. makes no sense.

[@moncorp1]

I've got a kill switch on my boat that hasn't worked for years. It starts and runs just fine.

[@whitecapmadness7181]

The first 4 cop boats swarmed in, to flex biceps and show their autoritay

[@lv2mine]

Fireman saved the day 👍🥂🙏

[@onenuttybuddy]

How to stop a runaway boat traveling in a continues circle:: Take a heavy mooring rope, 20ft. long Tie any life jacket to each end of the rope Position one of the chase boats on. the inside of the runaways path As the runaway passes by, throw one of tied on life jackets into the cockpit area. Let the rest of rope, and tied on lifejacket, drag behind the boat. Eventually, the remaining rope, dragging off the back of the boat, with the boat continuing to make inside turns, will force the dragging line to get tangled in the prop/props, killing the engines.

[@tearoffabite]

no app for that?

[@tonychavez2083]

You would think they would require a kill switch lanyard for all racers as mandatory?

[@squirrelmaster1225]

people amaze me... he couldn't have fallen out any slower

[@BabyCharlotteschannel]

Yeah but boat's turn Soo much quicker and with far more g-force then any other motor powered vehicles it is hard to fathom unless you have been in one that hooked and turned!! Believe me, it will throw ANYONE right out like a ragdoll..

[@GoldenCroc]

@@BabyCharlotteschannelsure, but not the boat in this video. As the op said, it wasnt all that many g forces at all in this case.

[@healthy2202]

Right, It was like something from a comedy. They shouldn't have picked him up due to the danger. Let Darwin get his pound of flesh.

[@hooner2009]

Why wouldn't you just throw out a fishing net to disable the propeller?

[@mjodr]

Do you see a commercial fishing trawler hanging out or something? These are performance boaters and emergency services. Nobody has a huge fishing net just chilling on their boat there.

[@bradchristy8429]

I’m thinking a substantial chain with enough floatation to keep it afloat. Wouldn’t be that hard to engineer or build, and could be deployed just by releasing it off the back of one of the service boats on site.

[@blauer2551]

Just some rope

[@hines862009]

@@bradchristy8429 chain is dumb for in water ...heavy duty stap mesh would be it.

[@bradchristy8429]

@@hines862009 I would want to make sure. You’d be surprised how much torque many of these engines have. They could rip right through a strap mesh.

[@sanctitysnake]

For First Responders: Foul the props! A hand held (line) rope stretched between two responders straddling the bow, just drop the line as close to the bow as reasonably safe can be done, then let the props snag the line and choke the engine down. 50 ft. line works well, should have plenty of "loose end" to wrap itself fully around prop(s).

[@gregoriobernstine421]

Prop foulers would be great in these circumstances

[@danielbrown9422]

Seatbelt?

[@hambonejones6910]

Souvenir for a lucky fan

[@scottlarson9348]

One way to flood the engines.... guy should have known better. Good job and glad no one got injured

[@davenhunter99]

Why wouldn't somebody just try jumping on the damn thing my God

[@mwww2589]

Cause if you miss your in a world of trouble

[@allaire123]

Same reason you would not try and snag a line above deck, it could work but the chance of causing human injury is way to high. A floating poly line would have been the best way to fowl the props, if no floating line then use anchor line clothes lined between two boats.

[@blankeny]

Living on the Lake of the Ozarks, I'm quite sure that when water patrol finally stopped the boat. It was cited for wreckless boating, and one officer threw all the cushions overboard, stating they had been drinking...

[@bobhanson2111]

Kelly Anne Bishop. We’re you watching the video or did you make a comment without knowing what happen to the Pontoon Boat. The guy driving was racing the boat to qualify. Drinking was not involved he was throned out of the boat and either wasn’t wearing a lanyard with the kill switch or there might have been a malfunction of the lanyard are possibly the kill switch. No where in the filming of the boat being stopped and water patrol boarding the boat do you see them throwing anything overboard.

[@GREGORYJHALL]

😆 watch the video again

[@healthy2202]

Boat owner was heard responding to why he didn't have the kill lanyard. " Don't you know who I think I am?"

[@mattgaming8717]

Good aim with the water cannon to shut it down.

[@MrScby11195]

I had this happen on a jet ski the lanyard got twisted up and when I fell it pulled the clip off My life jacket I got lucky because they just go back to idle so it went of 50 feet and then started doing circles so I was able to swim over and reach up for the key I broke off the plastic clip and went and got a metal locking clip

[@martyg9964]

Every time I see these runaways at races I don’t know why the safety boats don’t carry a coil off Polypropylene line to toss in the path of the boat. A length of 1/2 or 3/4” floating in front will stop it or slow it down!

[@msparky3499]

He finally found a way to get his 15 minutes of fame!

[@shawnkiesel5349]

Now that's what you call a Ghost Rider. 😆

[@sabine3769]

Weres the kill switch cord

[@built4wheelin275]

The cord broke in two when he was thrown out

[@drive9997]

That was Friday night short track racing

[@jameslane8364]

The driver is safe and no one else is

[@timothywestman283]

So many ignorant things going on in this Video. First off, who builds High Performance pontoon boats?

[@hornsofdio6634]

its obvious - no plans for this one was ever thought of

[@rethinkinc.5385]

….some say on a cool still night you can still here that ole tritoon running strong.

[@captainwhiplash]

They figured it out. Yaaaaaayyyyy

[@user-nq5eu4op7l]

The way he fell out of that boat with no effort I'm sure it's Mr Clean under that helmet.

[@jeffkerr7418]

Haha maybe. He did take a crash course in boating. 🚤

[@SadShane]

Maybe he had put Amor-All on his seat for some shine but it made it super slick.

[@geraldkoth654]

Throw some heavy floating line in the water and let that boat tangle its props.

[@eddieroberts3402]

Years ago a dealership I worked in sales for sold that make of pontoon. I think its ridiculous to create a high performance craft out of a "box" that will run 100+mph. During a test run of a triton powered by an high ouput i/o the owner and another salesman took a turn, the tritoon bit the surface hard, turned sharp, ejected them both. No vest. No kill lanyard. The toon jumped a seawall and busted into a multimillion dollar home. The dealership owner's leg was broke so bad only skin was holding it together. Airlifted. Screwed that leg up for life. Boxes aren't meant to run 100mph. Toons are for slow cruising not friggin' racing. I'm a high performance boat driver. I'm like hell to the no I'm not driving that. Ridiculous

[@ameyring]

Tritoon = ugly speedboat

[@eddieroberts3402]

@@ameyring crazy dangerous. I'm Merchant Marine with a 100 ton vessel license. Before that I taught high performance boat driving. Very familure with these crazy fast "boxes" I refuse to even ride in them. Not meant for speed at all. Playcraft is one brand we sold back then. I quit all that after 30 years. Now Captain on a riverboat. Lower Mississippi River

[@johnry888]

They are actually very fun and multipurpose boats. We have raced boats for years they act alot like a catamaran does. They are wind sensitive and wave sensitive. He was trimmed in way to far probably to keep from porpoising cause of the waves and wind there. The prop he's using was lifting the rear of the boat causing a hook. Plan and simple everything that goes fast must be respected and can hurt you. That's why you do it at an event like this. If you don't like it don't watch or go. Fyi fast pontoons are the rage right now many a twin outboard big hp

[@3mtech]

If you re going to be stupid(humans generally) you better be tough. Riding lawnmowers with supercharged V8s. Darwin wins

[@amandaowens2016]

That boat🚤 didn't need a driver 😂🤣😅 it knew the course very well !!!! Lol

[@ABfromWindsor]

I can't believe that this happened at an event like this, where did this guy think he was going for a family outing. Just a stupid decision, Fire and Rescue are Hero's.

[@br18od]

This is why I use a Fell Marine MOB Killswitch !!!

[@jameslane8364]

Wow that's why they make a rip cord that attaches to the kill switch that attaches to the life vest so it stops the boat