Ortemonds from Erath had passion for power boat racing

ERATH - Father and son, Leon and David Ortemond, died together doing something they loved - boating.

The two were together Saturday afternoon testing out a 36-foot long Skater boat, which was a power boat, owned by David. For unknown reasons the boat crashed and exploded in a canal in Iberia Parish.

Funeral services will be held Thursday and Friday at David’s Funeral Home in Abbeville.

The Ortemonds owned at least two power boats. But they never raced those boats in professional races or amateur races.

The Ortemonds were part of a unique fraternity of pleasure power boat owners. There are around 2,000 in the United States and about 15,000 in the world.

When they hauled their boats to Alabama, Michigan or Florida, it was to take part on a power boat “Poker Run” that covered anywhere from 50 miles to 200 miles. Like motorcycle owners who can ride in a poker run each weekend in South Louisiana, power boat owners have to go out-of-state to find an event.

The Ortemonds traveled north, south and east taking part in the poker runs. Over the last 15 years, they have met many people in the boating world. So, the tragic news of their death, has stunned the boating world.

“They have touched so many people,” said Stu Jones, who oversees the Florida Powerboat Club. “Leon was an incredible person. He was genuine.

“David was a great kid who helped his father. David knew his dad was the boss. He worked hard for his father. It was amazing to see the father and son combination.”

Jones was in Destin, Fla. to meet with boating friends who had not heard of the death of the Ortemonds.

“They (Ortemonds) were well known in Destin,” he said. “I am about to tell them the news and they will be shocked.”

Pleasure power boat tragedies are rare, maybe one death every 15 years. When two, who are considered the “ambassadors” of pleasure power boats, die, it is a shock.

“They are extremely experienced drivers,” Stu said. “I know the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents are investigating the accident. There is a long list of things that can happen that forced him to lose control.”

David Peterson, owner of a pleasure power boat and the co-founder of the website: powerboatnation.com, said owning a pleasure power boat is safer than owning a motorcycle.

“When someone is killed in our sport, it is a big thing, usually a freak accident” said Peterson, who has known the Ortemonds for four years.

Although a power boat that races and one that is used for pleasure riding have a lot of similarities on the outside, they are different. One big difference is the motors. Pleasure power boats are not geared to go as fast as racing boats.

“It is like looking at a race car and a regular car,” explained Peterson.

He said many boat owners travel in their pleasure power boats to watch power boat racing. He compared it to your neighbor owning a hot rod and taking it out on weekends. “When (power boat owners) get together, they talk about their boats and what new things they have on it. Everyone knew David and Leon.

“They will be missed because they were so well liked,” Peterson said.