I have my boat at Westport and know the missing teen. I think to blame negiligence at this point is just the news people trying to create controversy. I fill my boat up all the time at Westport and the employees are very good and take the time to not spill gas in the water from overflow. Let the investigators do there job!

I keep my boat there too and know Nate as well. Not only is Nate very conscientious, the owner of the Marina (Lowrey) is too. Accidents happen…even if they don’t sell newspapers. Let the investigation run it’s course, and let the track record of the Marina speak for itself. May peace be with Nate’s family and the Westport family.

We also store our boat at Westport. All of the workers are always on top of their game and extremely knowlegeable and helpful. I would not jump to any conclusions that Westport or any of the Westport employees are at fault here. My heart goes out to Nate's family and friends.

I to have a boat at Westport and know them to be easily distracted when there are many things going on at once. I would not dis-count the early suspicion of negligence at this facility. I do hate the loss of any life and my heart goes out to the family, but if suspicions are proven to be correct, I am sure there will be a long line people who have 1st hand experience of the faults of this marina.

My wife and I also have our boat at Westport and I have nothing but great things to say about the people and service we have received from there. Our thoughts go out to Nate and his Family and we will all miss seeing him around the marina. Don't immediately jump to negative conclusions please, just let the investigation unfold and feel for the entire Marina staff and Nate's family, they have lost a friend and family member.

This is my first year as a boat owner and obviously my first year at Westport Marina. From the owner to the all the Dock hands they have always been friendly, professional, kind, and have made this new boat owner feel like part of the family. I was in Holland when I got the news and my heart is broken at the loss of such a promising young man. To what end does it serve to accuse this innocent young man of negligence? Sounds like Mr. Chandler is fishing for a lawsuit. As for Joe if you are so unhappy with Westport Marina talk is cheap LEAVE !! PLEASE just shut up and LEAVE. As for me Westport Marina will be MY marina so long as I have a boat on Lake Norman.

We also have our boat at Westport. I can't say enough wonderful things about Lowrey and his operation. We know Nate well. He's always been very conscientious. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nates family and his extended marina family. Please don't jump to conclusions. Take time to pray for the community that's hurting

We also have a boat at Westport and are incredibly saddened by what has happened. I find the speculation of negligence irresponsible. The staff at Westport has always been wonderful, friendly and helpful. I have never witnessed any of the employees as being absentminded or distracted, they have been just the opposite in my presence. This is just a tragic accident. We are praying for Nate, his family and friends and hope they find some peace.

I have docked my boat boat at Westport for 4 years now and have nothing but the upmost respect for all the workers there. From the sales team, service and dock masters they are all great people and this is a huge loss to everyone there. Everyone is a huge family and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone there. These are great people and this is just a accident and no one will be found at fault in my opinion.

I was part of the crew ON BOARD the boat the day this explosion occurred (one of the women who jumped off the top after it exploded). I can tell you from first-hand knowledge - this is NOT a form of negligence. This was a complete accident, and the owner of the boat has ALWAYS practiced safety first. For someone to say this was negligence - I guess it goes to show, no matter what the tragedy, or how many lives are lost, there will always be someone there looking for a way to make money. It's disgusting! Mr. Chandler, you should be ashamed of yourself!

Talk about circling the wagons....people of any experience in life know that, short of natural disasters there are no accidents! Someone did something which lead to a certain result. As for the people who blindly jump "onboard" with Lowry and Westport, you should be ashamed because you do not know what really happened. I, as all, feel terrible for the loss of such a young promising life, but unless he himself created the explosion, then someone else is responsible and I would dare say that no matter how safe people perceive things to be around a marina, there are always mistakes in judgment or actions which lead to an "accident". I hope the family takes all possible measures not to only find out who is responsible, but make them accountable for the loss of this life.

Here, here! Finally a post which does not try to paint a very unrealistic picture of Westport. I have had a boat there for many years in the past and I can tell you first hand that anyone who says that Westport is perfect does not have a true view of things. I agree the people there are nice, but that does not mean that they are not responsible for the death of such a wonderful young man. I will be one who does wait for the final investigation, but would also urge the family to inquire with the state for an investigation of there own, because as nice as the people in Denver are, some things are just over their heads, and I believe this investigation is one of them. As far as Westport goes, if negligence is involved I hope the family takes all recourse allowed them under the law. And as for Lowery, if there was a problem, perhaps its time to step forward and speak rather than mysteriously staying quiet when a young man lost his life at at your marina.

You can delete those last three, apparently the enter button only makes Post Comment work, it doesn't actually give me an extra line, nor does shift-enter. At any rate, Mike, I think it's in very poor taste to post this on an open forum. You should be contacting the family of Nate if you want to represent them in a negligence case. It's obvious that you have a knack for ruffling people's feathers so I'm sure you're an excellent attorney but really, it wasn't until everyone said show a little respect that you actually did, show a little respect. Maybe you should re-read your first post?