Hellkats Powerboats Founder Rey Marino Missing After Tuesday Night Accident

Editor’s note: Less than two days after this story was published, Rey Marino’s body was recovered early in the morning on November 12.

According to local news sources and updates from the United States Coast Guard Southeast—the Coast Guard’s 7th District located in Miami—Rey Marino, the owner of Miami-based Hellkats Powerboats, was reported missing late Tuesday night after his company’s latest 32-foot catamaran was found along the Julia Tuttle Causeway, between Miami and Miami Beach, a few hours after he left to test the boat.

Hellkats Powerboats founder Rey Marino is still missing after taking out his latest 32-foot catamaran for a test session on Tuesday night in Miami Photo by Scott Kottmann/Wozencraft Insurance

The 36-year-old Marino (below) reportedly departed from Pelican Harbor Marina at around 7 p.m. to test his company’s new 32 Super Sport Widebody powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R engines.

According to reports, the owner of the new boat was waiting for Marino at the marina and started making phone calls when Marino did not return to the launch ramp. That’s when two of Marino’s friends went out to look for him and found the boat with damage to its front. They then called authorities, which prompted the search.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials towed the boat back to the marina and have been searching for Marino since. The search is currently still active by a variety of local agencies, according to the USCG Southeast Twitter feed. Authorities urge anyone who has information on Marino’s whereabouts to call Sector Miami at 305-535-4472.

Prayer chains have obviously grown since the news was reported earlier this morning—as have tributes to Marino on social media, including one posted by Marino’s business associate and friend, Shaun Torrente of Shaun Torrente Racing.

“Please keep the family of Rey Marino, a friend and client, in your hearts and minds as a search and rescue effort is underway to find him,” Torrente shared on Facebook. “We are hoping for his safe return.”

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