Local news reports are all over the map. Some say lost boat was a fishing boat ,some say a sailboat. Does anyone have the facts?
Latest Ches. Bay boater lost, questions.
- Thread starter DAVA390
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There was this one off NJ.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/29744336/crews-respond-to-boat-fire-off-of-ocean-city-nj-coast
All U Get
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/29744336/crews-respond-to-boat-fire-off-of-ocean-city-nj-coast
All U Get
Found this link, so sad.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/rescued-mi...lands-chesapeake-bay-bridge/story?id=32977020
All U Get
http://abcnews.go.com/US/rescued-mi...lands-chesapeake-bay-bridge/story?id=32977020
All U Get
I sail in the Upper Bay and know the water north of the Bay Bridge can be pretty choppy and that is also a major shipping lane. In this case, there were 6 people aboard a 17 ft sailboat: 2 adults and 4 kids. Supposedly they were having trouble with the outboard engine and at one point all 6 people were at the stern of the boat. Their combined weight unbalanced the small boat and they were swamped by a wave on the stern. The weight of that water aboard made it easier for successive waves to break over the coaming, and the boat sunk in a matter of minutes. The people aboard were not wearing PFDs. Though one of them later said there were some life vests aboard, they did not have time to find them in the confusion of the sinking boat. The sailor who pulled 1 of the adults and all 4 kids from the water said he never saw the other adult.
While the (presumed) loss of the second adult's life is a tragedy, it is a miracle that there was a sailor so close by able to render aid and that there was not a greater loss of life, given the circumstances.
While the (presumed) loss of the second adult's life is a tragedy, it is a miracle that there was a sailor so close by able to render aid and that there was not a greater loss of life, given the circumstances.
The article says that kids were age 5 to 13. That doesn't sound like weight should be an issue if you consider that the combined weight of 2 kids may be less than 150 pounds. They may have been more or less the equivalent of 4 adults. In NJ, all kids under 14 are required to be wearing PFD, not just have them on board. If that is the requirement in this case, that is a serious infraction. Sad story considering it sounds like 4 kids lost their father.
In Virginia 13 and under must wear PFD. A 17' boat is kind of small... I can see how two adults near the stern ... both lean the same way at the same time ... dip a corner of the transom as the chop hits and then the **** hits the fan faster than you know how to respond. I guess the take home lesson is wear your PFD. On my boat, if you are on deck you must have your PFD.... Not a perfect rule I know... but it just gets too hot in the cabin to wear it sometimes...
17 ft. center-console mobo, with 6 passengers. Apparently none of the wee ones had their required PFD donned. The crew got lucky and were rescued by a sailboater. Captain missing. PFDs are a hot mess this time of year, have a plan.
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/...oat-sinks-near-bay-bridge-20150809-story.html
First-hand report
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/chesapeake-bay/214281-tragedy-near-bay-bridge.html
4th post is from sailor who performed the rescue.
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/chesapeake-bay/214281-tragedy-near-bay-bridge.html
4th post is from sailor who performed the rescue.
wow, what a sailnet post. That must have been a crazy experience.
Just the other day we did man overboard drills on my boat. never know.
Just the other day we did man overboard drills on my boat. never know.
I read the SailNet thread, it was great that 5 were rescued by the quick thinking and actions of a good sailor. Sad that 1 life was lost and the potential was there for the other 5 to have drown as well since NO ONE was wearing PFDs.
This got me thinking, WHY are people so adverse to wearing a PFD? Its pretty easy for a responsible parent to insist their child wear one, even easier for an irresponsible parent to allow a child to go without one. Pretty hard to convince an adult, when they insist they can swim just fine, to wear one.
People are adverse to wearing PFDs because they aren't 'Cool'... I'm serious. Yes, its a stupid reason to take that kind of a risk with your own life, let alone allow child to go without one. There are other more rational reasons like 'They inhibit movement', especially for seasoned racers who are very active on deck. If people are just pleasure cruising and getting some sun a PFD seems like it puts a damper on the fun (and your tan), in a situation that doesn't seem to present itself as dangerous.
But what PFDs am I talking about? You guessed it, the old school bulky orange things. I mean seriously, if you have the high tech auto inflate off-shore PDFs why wouldn't you want to sport it? The reality is most of us might buy those for ourselves and the First Mate, but when it comes to having additional stock for guests most people buy the economy 4 pack of the ye old orange collars. When we offer up the international orange hi-vis Dork marker to our guests they look at us with a repulsive expression and say "No thanks, I can swim".
So my advice is this. Buy good PDFs that people will want to wear. Kids and Adults alike will think they look 'cool' and want to don them for a more Seaman-like appearance. Yeah, those Spinlok OffShore rigs ring up at $275 a pop... but I found that Mustang Survival makes a sweet looking auto-inflate off-shore harness that looks the part but doesn't break the bank. Do some bargain shopping!
When I had a Jet Boat about 7 years ago (don't judge, it was a fun scoot), I bargain shopped on e-bay and got 8 Water-Ski/Wakeboard style sport PFDs in various sizes, most were the Jet Pilot brand. They were quality made and looked pretty slick, as well as safe/very buoyant. Nobody ever gave me a funny look on the boat when I offered them up to wear. As a matter of fact, do you know hot it is to see two nice boobies squeeze together and push up when you help a gal zip up the front?
This got me thinking, WHY are people so adverse to wearing a PFD? Its pretty easy for a responsible parent to insist their child wear one, even easier for an irresponsible parent to allow a child to go without one. Pretty hard to convince an adult, when they insist they can swim just fine, to wear one.
People are adverse to wearing PFDs because they aren't 'Cool'... I'm serious. Yes, its a stupid reason to take that kind of a risk with your own life, let alone allow child to go without one. There are other more rational reasons like 'They inhibit movement', especially for seasoned racers who are very active on deck. If people are just pleasure cruising and getting some sun a PFD seems like it puts a damper on the fun (and your tan), in a situation that doesn't seem to present itself as dangerous.
But what PFDs am I talking about? You guessed it, the old school bulky orange things. I mean seriously, if you have the high tech auto inflate off-shore PDFs why wouldn't you want to sport it? The reality is most of us might buy those for ourselves and the First Mate, but when it comes to having additional stock for guests most people buy the economy 4 pack of the ye old orange collars. When we offer up the international orange hi-vis Dork marker to our guests they look at us with a repulsive expression and say "No thanks, I can swim".
So my advice is this. Buy good PDFs that people will want to wear. Kids and Adults alike will think they look 'cool' and want to don them for a more Seaman-like appearance. Yeah, those Spinlok OffShore rigs ring up at $275 a pop... but I found that Mustang Survival makes a sweet looking auto-inflate off-shore harness that looks the part but doesn't break the bank. Do some bargain shopping!
When I had a Jet Boat about 7 years ago (don't judge, it was a fun scoot), I bargain shopped on e-bay and got 8 Water-Ski/Wakeboard style sport PFDs in various sizes, most were the Jet Pilot brand. They were quality made and looked pretty slick, as well as safe/very buoyant. Nobody ever gave me a funny look on the boat when I offered them up to wear. As a matter of fact, do you know hot it is to see two nice boobies squeeze together and push up when you help a gal zip up the front?
This time of year the Chesapeake Bay is +90 F and 100% humidity. Heat index 100F. The water temp is 82 F. Not an excuse, but you won't find many boaters (other than the JetSki folk who have to wear them) wearing a pfd (or much else). The kids have to wear them, by law. Very busy location, lots of day boaters mixing it up with marine traffic.
Not a few days ago I was talking to a fellow boater at our lake. I was talking about the law of the sea that my Grandfather taught me: You help out another boater. Even on our small lake, this is important!
This guy lives that law, and reading his account fills me with emotion and gratitude towards him, as well as towards the USCG.
I always joke around that there could be a USCG guy pushing a pencil in Kansas, completely land-locked, but he's still a hero to me...
This guy lives that law, and reading his account fills me with emotion and gratitude towards him, as well as towards the USCG.
I always joke around that there could be a USCG guy pushing a pencil in Kansas, completely land-locked, but he's still a hero to me...