(IIRC, that tourist boat was a catamaran, not a bow rider.)

Not at all. It was kind of a tubby, round bottom mono hull. The USCG
started to do a stability test on a sistership by filling barrels with
water on the gunnels. They had to stop about halfway through the test
because they were already at the safety limit for maximum listing.
USCG testing was not required for licensing because it was being
operated on an inland lake, and the New York State certification
standards were not nearly rigorous enough. Lots of blame to go around
as it turns out.