Another boat goes down near Pensacola
 

Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs in the
drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put on
the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside down
capsized boat.

In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of miles out
(at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the stern
and attempting to pull it loose.

This was a few months ago.
LD

"LD" wrote in message
.. .
Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs in
the
drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put on
the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside down
capsized boat.

In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of miles
out
(at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the stern
and attempting to pull it loose.

This was a few months ago.
LD



20 foot cuddy cabins are not meant for ocean use other than near shore with
calm seas. 20 foot bowriders (or bowriders in general) are not meant for
ocean or Great Lake usage, only for inland lake use.

What were the circumstances surrounding this tragedy?

According to the Pensacola News, this occurred on July 24, and they were
found 25mi S of Pensacola. The article "Officials: Rescue a lesson in
safety", stated that "several waves slammed into it as the boaters tried to
motor the anchor loose". Although they were commended for "quick thinking"
and "proper safety measures taken" they don't really tell why the boat went
down. They also don't say whether the boat was a cuddy or an open
fisherman. (I have a Wellcraft V-20 Steplift, cuddy). I'd like very much
to know specifically what type hull, where the anchor was tied and what they
were doing to help it go down. I'm emailing the paper asking for more info.

As to the previous incident, only two people were on board, both dead, so
they assume (with anchor tied to the stern and caught in the wreck) they
tried to motor the anchor loose.

I agree that bowriders have no place out in the ocean but I frequently go
out 8-12 miles in my 20' cuddy. First however I check the weather and look
for 2' or less in the Gulf, "bays calm to a light chop". If the forecast is
up to 5', we don't go out, . I've found that if the wind is from the south
and it's 15 knots or greater it's probably a "stay in the bay day". If the
wind's from the north at 10-20, we still can go out 2-3 miles before there's
any effect from the wind.

BTW, there's another post here, about VHF/GPS. I wouldn't think of going
out more than 1/2 mile without both if these.
LD

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"LD" wrote in message
.. .
Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs in
the
drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put
on
the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside down
capsized boat.

In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of miles
out
(at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the
stern
and attempting to pull it loose.

This was a few months ago.
LD



20 foot cuddy cabins are not meant for ocean use other than near shore
with
calm seas. 20 foot bowriders (or bowriders in general) are not meant for
ocean or Great Lake usage, only for inland lake use.

What were the circumstances surrounding this tragedy?

Thomas D. Ireland wrote:
You mention the Massachusetts. What kind of ship was it? I am curious!

Tom

LD ) wrote:
: Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
: capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs in the
: drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put on
: the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside down
: capsized boat.

: In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of miles out
: (at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the stern
: and attempting to pull it loose.

: This was a few months ago.
: LD



--

There's probably the key: anchor tied to the stern.

We lose fishermen in the Columbia River here in the Pac NW every so
often for the same reason. They will anchor off the stern, then sit in
the current absolutely backwards. When the river rises very suddenly
(due to an increase in the opening of a spillway, etc), the transom
becomes submerged and the boat swamps. The same thing could easily
happen if a large wave came aboard a boat anchored with the stern to
the weather. The anchor could keep the stern from riding up the face of
the wave as it would ordinarily tend to do, and instead of riding over
the wave the transom does through it. This is far more survivable if
it's an enclosed bow plowing into a wave than an open cockpit.

A 20-footer is going to have a minimal amount of freeboard. Easier yet
to swamp.

This is "the" USS Massachusetts, a WWI ship sunk to create structure for
fish.
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/.../bb2-mass.html
It is by that name on the official charts. They picked a really bad spot
for this one though. At low tide part of the hull is exposed and a warning
buoy is 50-75 yds away. I heard another boat went down a couple of years
ago, tore the back end of the boat off when they hit it.

"Thomas D. Ireland" wrote in message
...
You mention the Massachusetts. What kind of ship was it? I am curious!

Tom

LD ) wrote:
: Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
: capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs in
the
: drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put
on
: the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside down
: capsized boat.

: In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of miles
out
: (at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the
stern
: and attempting to pull it loose.

: This was a few months ago.
: LD



--

I was thinking of rigging a coastal cruiser and came upon an image of the
Massachusetts. It was the US Coast Guard's first ship, a two masted,
gaff-rigged top sail cutter. Looked good underway, thought it might have
foundered there but I guess not. Thanks for the info though, I will
remember it!

Tom

LD ) wrote:
: This is "the" USS Massachusetts, a WWI ship sunk to create structure for
: fish.
: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/.../bb2-mass.html
: It is by that name on the official charts. They picked a really bad spot
: for this one though. At low tide part of the hull is exposed and a warning
: buoy is 50-75 yds away. I heard another boat went down a couple of years
: ago, tore the back end of the boat off when they hit it.

: "Thomas D. Ireland" wrote in message
: ...
: You mention the Massachusetts. What kind of ship was it? I am curious!
:
: Tom
:
: LD ) wrote:
: : Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
: : capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs in
: the
: : drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put
: on
: : the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside down
: : capsized boat.
:
: : In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of miles
: out
: : (at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the
: stern
: : and attempting to pull it loose.
:
: : This was a few months ago.
: : LD
:
:
:
: --



--

It doesn't need a large wave to sink the boat if the rope is tied to the
stern and truly hung up on the bottom. After attempts to remove the anchor
the angle is now steeper than 45 deg, it should be easy to calculate what
happens when you "nail the throttle" trying to pull it
loose!
LD

wrote in message
ups.com...

Thomas D. Ireland wrote:
You mention the Massachusetts. What kind of ship was it? I am curious!

Tom

LD ) wrote:
: Another one, a "20' Wellcraft". This time the three men (apparently
: capsized while trying to unhook their anchor) were saved after 21hrs
in the
: drink. Almost by pure chance. The good thing they did is quickly put
on
: the life jackets, tie themselves together and hang on to the upside
down
: capsized boat.

: In case you missed the last one, a couple drowned only a couple of
miles out
: (at or near the Massachusetts) apparently with an anchor tied to the
stern
: and attempting to pull it loose.

: This was a few months ago.
: LD



--

There's probably the key: anchor tied to the stern.

We lose fishermen in the Columbia River here in the Pac NW every so
often for the same reason. They will anchor off the stern, then sit in
the current absolutely backwards. When the river rises very suddenly
(due to an increase in the opening of a spillway, etc), the transom
becomes submerged and the boat swamps. The same thing could easily
happen if a large wave came aboard a boat anchored with the stern to
the weather. The anchor could keep the stern from riding up the face of
the wave as it would ordinarily tend to do, and instead of riding over
the wave the transom does through it. This is far more survivable if
it's an enclosed bow plowing into a wave than an open cockpit.

A 20-footer is going to have a minimal amount of freeboard. Easier yet
to swamp.