It kind of makes you wonder what happened, and how there was another boat out at 1.15am to pick them up out of the water!

Was marker working....I never navigate without the plotter tuned in on location even in day light conditions.

 How they hit that?? Pissed maybe?

There is more to this than has been disclosed to date, commiserations to the family of the deceased.

One can only speculate as to what happened. Doesn't look like they were moving too fast though. Please be safe on the water fellow Fishwreckers, stuff can turn pear shaped mighty quick.

 I was fishing up the Serpentine River one night during the week and it was pitch black.A tinny came flying past flat out through a narrow section by the bridge luckily it didn't collect my lines or anyone else's. Also there had been another small boat fishing there a bit earlier. This is exactly how an accident could happen. Not saying the incident above was the same and really feel for the people involved.

 Certainly hit that marker hard by the looks. Something don't add up to me with the boats being out there at that time. Also why didn't they see the light. Feel sorry for the family tho. Not good to lose any family member at any time. 

 Could of been an evasive move at speed and hit the marker. Would explain why another boat was there. 

Very sad for all involved condolences to the young mans family.
I believe there isn’t anything more to this than a very poor unfortunate mistake. For those that grew up in Mandurah and know the waters back to front would know how poor the lights are at night time on the water. With the estuary surrounded on all sides by thousands of house lights and street lights it’s sometimes impossible to see the navigation lights as they blend into the back ground lights.

However, I am of the view that it is flawed. If you look at chart WA 913 you will see that the channel is well marked and lit with the lights having a range of 5 miles (ISO 4s 5M) so says the chart and there is not a house within cooee of the estuary at or near Boundary Island also I can't see there being many house lights on at 0115 hrs.

I am fully respectful of your expression of your point of view it's "an unfortunate mistake"
It's just that a quick look at the area were the incident took place leaves me to believe that there is a lot more to be told about how this tragedy has come about.
As a fairly regular user of the Mandurah estuary system at night I am of the belief that the circumstances which have lead to this loss of life should be disclosed so that other users of the estuary my benefit from disclosure of the circumstances and thus benefit the general boating population so as to help prevent it from happening again.

Questions like
Has the serviceability of the markers at the time of the event been confirmed,

Are they (markers and lights) adequate for the safe passage at night for recreational boaters on that particular part of the estuary.

My copy of chart WA 913 indicates that a speed limit from a point immediately to the north of Boundary Island is restricted to 12 knots until the Mandurah estuary proper is reached.

My copy of Recreational Skippers Workbook (5th edition)yes I know it's a bit dated, page 13 under the heading General speed limit restrictions, Without the approval of D O T you may not drive a powerboat at over 8 knots, dot point 4 states in any water having a depth of less than 3 metres.
To me it appears that there is a contradiction between the chart indicated speed restriction and that set out in the skippers ticket handbook.
Fellow members I am not out to be little or condemn as wrong another members point of view and his right to freely express such a view.
I sincerely hope that I have not caused any affront to MHWoody86, it is not my intent to do so, I just feel a lot of valid (IMO) need to be answered,

Lets not forget a person has lost their life in what should one of the safest water ways in the state.

HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE AND BRING PAIN AND SUFFERING TO THERE FAMILY'S BEFORE THEY WAKE UP.

DON'T SPEED AT NIGHT ON THE WATER !!
REMEMBER'
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-14/two-men-found-dead-inside-six-metre-catamaran-central-queensland/11513356
GOOGLE :BOATING DEATHS IN WA AND BE REMINDED.
Even in open water you can come to a halt very quickly from collecting a cray rope around the prop.
Stay on watch all the time.
Keep a eye out maybe someone else has fallen off another boat and is in the water.
Especially around Rotto Thomson Bay and anywhere there is alcohol close buy.
Had some scary misses from dickheads swimming back to their boats in the dark.

NO WINNERS HERE !!

 My son and i turned up at the Mariners Cove ramp at 0330 to launch and knew something big was going on as there was a few cop cars two ambos and a few boats.  I nice polite officer just said that we would not be able to use that ramp as "We'll be here for a while". My son then seen on Facebook that there had been a boating incident and that someone had been killed.

So we launched at the Leslie St Ramp and headed off out thru the estuary towards The Cut. As we were approaching the marker where the speed increases to 12kn i could make out an anchor light up ahead. I slowed and then worked out it was actually moving. It was the Police boat moving along at less than 5kn with nothing but an anchor light on not even cabin lights. Could've easily been another accident right there we could’ve believe it? Yes i know it's the masters’ responsibility to maintain a watch but really no nav lights on or even a spot light considering they would've been looking for debris or the missing boat!

Keep in mind that at this stage (0400) the boat involved in the incident had still not been located.

So fast forward to Saturday the wife and I were launching at Mariners Cove for a quite crabbing session. As we were just about to leave the ramp the police boat pulled up so i asked the officer if he had a minute for a chat. 

I suggested that during the debrief of this incident that it should be mentioned that it might've been a good idea to warn us that when we were heading out into the estuary in the dark that there might be a boat out there somewhere and to take care and to report to them if we see anything. He replied by saying that and I quote “we don't have the manpower to put an officer at every ramp mate". To which I replied I wouldn't think so but we were here at 0330 at this actual ramp and the officer could've given us a heads up to be careful for floating debris or a f*@#ing missing boat!. He got a bit defensive at this point and said we can't disclose information on an ongoing investigation blah blah blah. I said mate it was all over Facebook for an hour before we got there.

I said mate all I’m saying is that the police were aware that there was a missing boat out in the dark in the estuary and that they knew we were heading out there and they could've at least said be careful. 

He just turned his back and walked away with nothing intelligent to say. (Luckily the wife was close by or I could see a move on notice coming my way)

To say I was pissed off was an understatement these guys are there to protect us and I got the impression that that was the least of their concern. 

https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC_F_MarineNonComplianceReport.pdf

https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC_F_MarineIncidentReport.pdf

In defence of the poilice; at that time the facts would not have been established - 1 person dead, 1 injured and a missing boat. 

Your mention of facebook is a good example. Chit chat makes it onto social media very quickly and at this early time in the morning; its unlikely that the family and correct authorities would have been notified of the death. The last thing they need is the family finding out about it on facebook.

A death also means correct process to be followed for potential murder investigations. 

Outside of informing you that the ramp was closed; I'm not sure what else they could of told you. 

Agree that the police boat should have had better lighting. Possible they were being discreet and not wanting to draw attention to the scene.

Geez 0330hrs to go crabbing? That is keen. Surely mentioning there is a missing boat without providing any further details is hardly giving any secrets away

 It’s becaus 95% of Cops are cockheads 

Until you need them ..  

 Geez looks like I’ve fired a few of you blokes up. Should have not said 95% in general but 95% I have come across. Sorry sea Kem you might have a few mates who are coppers but every time I have encountered them wether that’s social, being pulled over for whatever reason I have got nothing but attitude while all’s im trying to be is friendly. Seems like a lot of them have a chip on there shoulder. Just my opinion. Il take the whipping though

took It on the chin ..