Even small power boats (dual consoles) have visibility issues when powering forward at under planing speeds or momentarily when going forward to get "on plane".
Part of the issue has to be around the driver's choice to proceed, knowing he can't see. I get in my car, start the engine and look up to realize ice and snow are covering my windshield. I don't say, "what a horrible day." and start driving, no, I get out and clean my windows off. The time I nearly mowed down the kids in the road, I couldn't see what I was sure was a clear road past the oncoming truck and his headlights. Usually, I just stop and let the vehicle go by when that happens, but this time, I was in a rush and things moved fast. If I'd hit those kids, I would have been partly at fault for going when I knew I couldn't see. I thought, on my rural road with so little traffic, that the chances were miniscule that I'd have a problem.
Presumably, the driver had driven that boat before and knew it's attributes. He knew he was in a busy waterway. He knew fishermen sometimes troll, drift or anchor along the channel. To say, "I couldn't see over the bow" is not any excuse. That just shows an even larger disregard for the welfare of others.
I don't know what was going on with him. 75 years old is not, too old in itself, but he was impaired by something. His health, his mental state, a chemical, who knows. It was tragic and I feel bad for him.
That doesn't mean he shouldn't have consequences. It just means that, if it were I? I would be suffering already, just like I constantly think about those kids I managed not to hit.
Many modern powerboat have a reverse sheer and dropped bow for just that reason, to give better visibility when driving up to and on a plane. However, to not have those features can't be seen a equipment failure.
The regs require that you do everything you can to keep a proper watch and that should include not operating if to do so would be to move blindly.
- Will (Dragonfly)