Hi Rick,

...Clear evidence of exemplary seamanship, and properly clearing the decks in preparation for an attempt to outrun a hurricane...

Actually, I think there are plenty of bows that would have withstood whatever that boat was subjected to... In this case, it appears that it all started going wrong with the egregiously poor design and execution of the anchor roller on that boat...

One of my biggest pet peeves on production boats these days, the absurdly cantilevered and amazingly projected/unsupported affairs some of these things have... Primarily a result of the "market's" desire for self-launching and retrieval, coupled with plumb bows, many of these rollers don't look like they'll handle more than 20 knots of breeze in an open roadstead anchorage...

There are photos of the boat in the surf, showing the roller twisted way off to port... As the pic below shows, the roller eventually parted company with the hull, taking a substantial chunk of the foredeck with it, thus allowing the rode to commence slicing through the hull...

Anyway, looks like that boat is likely coming off that beach in pieces, as the owner currently lacks the funds to post the $50 bond to get himself out of jail:

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/08/boater-rescued-during-irene-has-trouble-land

Beginning to sound like this ill-fated voyage might have been a classic example of "Here, hold my beer, and watch this..."

best regards,

Jon