minuteman62-64
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2011
- Messages
- 1,350
On a routine "tour" of the Shelter Island Launch Ramp yesterday I noticed a 15'6" Bayrunner alongside a large RIB tied to one of the piers. Since I have the same boat I strolled over to take a closer look - get ideas for improvements/share experiences/etc. As I got closer I noticed the Bayrunner was draped with kelp fronds. Talking to the guys in the RIB, found out they were with Sea Tow and had towed the boat in.
Turns out the guy had been offshore in the kelp beds fishing, caught a wave that swamped him and was rescued (barely) by a passing sportsfishing boat. The waves were up to the extend that the surfers were heading out. My buddy and I hung around till the guy showed up to retrieve his boat. Bit of a problem since he didn't have tow insurance and didn't have a credit card to cover the $1600 tow fee. He finally figured out something with his checking account and was able to get possession of his boat.
When he backed his trailer in we went down to see if we could help him put it on. He said a rogue wave had washed over the stern and swamped the boat. The boat then overturned, but stayed floating. Looking at the boat it's a miracle it stayed afloat because the rear seat plywood was broken away and all the floatation was missing. I'm guessing there was an air pocket trapped under the boat that helped keep it afloat.
Oh yeah. He wasn't wearing a PFD
Here's the news story, complete with video of the rescue: http://www.cbs8.com/story/26573731/fishermen-save-man-clinging-to-capsized-boat
The news person made an issue of the guy being alone. Not sure how much of a factor that was, given all the other problems. Seems like there just would have been one more careless boater to be rescued.
Turns out the guy had been offshore in the kelp beds fishing, caught a wave that swamped him and was rescued (barely) by a passing sportsfishing boat. The waves were up to the extend that the surfers were heading out. My buddy and I hung around till the guy showed up to retrieve his boat. Bit of a problem since he didn't have tow insurance and didn't have a credit card to cover the $1600 tow fee. He finally figured out something with his checking account and was able to get possession of his boat.
When he backed his trailer in we went down to see if we could help him put it on. He said a rogue wave had washed over the stern and swamped the boat. The boat then overturned, but stayed floating. Looking at the boat it's a miracle it stayed afloat because the rear seat plywood was broken away and all the floatation was missing. I'm guessing there was an air pocket trapped under the boat that helped keep it afloat.
Oh yeah. He wasn't wearing a PFD
Here's the news story, complete with video of the rescue: http://www.cbs8.com/story/26573731/fishermen-save-man-clinging-to-capsized-boat
The news person made an issue of the guy being alone. Not sure how much of a factor that was, given all the other problems. Seems like there just would have been one more careless boater to be rescued.