[SampleMan]

To those who may find this deliberate sinking odd, if a vessel has to be abandoned, it cannot be allowed to drift as that makes it a "Hazard to Navigation!" Either sufficient capable people would have to stay on board to safely navigate the vessel OR it must be sunk!

So we must wonder why the father didn't stay aboard when the family was offloaded, so he could bring back the boat.

[Uncle Chip]

He wanted a new boat and intended to get it by suing the Coast Guard, the ocean, the wind, the waves, his daughter, his parents, her parents the cellphone company.