[PICS] $1.7 Million MTI ZR48 Corvette Boat Takes Out Trees During 130 MPH Crash in Louisiana

Two people had to be taken to a hospital after a crash in Louisiana last week involving a $1.7 million MTI ZR48 Corvette Boat.

Witnesses say the 2700-horsepower boat – manufactured by Marine Technology Inc. – made a sudden right turn and crashed into the shore of the Tickfaw River in southeast Louisiana, knocking down trees along the way and sending two of its five passengers to the hospital.

According to a post on Facebook by Bruce Grady, reports say that the boat was allegedly doing 130 mph at the time of the crash. “Anyone who sailed a cat knows what happens when a hull digs in!” Grady writes. “At high speed the operator trims the motors out to give more lift less drag in these high performance boats. Rule no. 1. Do not attempt to turn any cat at high speed with motors trimmed out.”

The ZR48s didn’t include any engine options from a real C4 Corvette, instead opting for a pair of much more powerful Mercury Marine V8 engines that produce 1350 horsepower each, paired with a jet drive system for efficient and responsive performance, according to hotcars.com. However, those engines do have a Corvette-themed look with ZR1-type supercharger covers, and Top Speed says the ZR48’s top speed is a whopping 180 mph.

The “lightweight but incredibly strong” carbon fiber hull is modeled after the shape of the Corvette with genuine taillights and Corvette badges, but it’s the interior – capable of carrying six passengers – where the boat most resembles its automotive inspiration with a real C6 dashboard, shifter, and steering wheel. You’ll also find an impressive entertainment system with an 8,000-watt stereo paired with an Apple TV, a rolling DJ booth with a generator, five TVs, and 900 LED lights for a ground-effect glow.

Check out this aerial photo that shows the swath of damage cut into the trees by the ZR48. Reports say that while the photos from the scene don’t show a lot of damage to the hull, it’s worse than it appears. On the other hand, the ZR48 was still apparently capable of floating as shown in an iPhone video shot as it was pulled out of the trees after the crash.

Still, we wonder just how much it will cost to repair this hyperboat. Of course, if you have to worry about that, you probably wouldn’t own such a craft in the first place, would you?

Source:
999ktdy.com

Related:
[VIDEO] C7 Corvette Inspired ‘Jet Car’ Takes to the Open Water
[PICS] C7 Corvette Body Mounted to a Speedboat in Turkey
https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2011/10/06/1-7-million-corvette-zr-1-themed-boat-is-menacing-in-carbon-fiber/