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View Full Version : Boat sunk @ HRBT today (Saturday)



home cookin'
05-23-2009, 04:48 PM
Around 10:00 Saturday I was drifting over the tube close to Fort Wool. Several boats around. Looked back at one that seemed to be showing a lot of bow, as if coming off a plane, or leaning funny. I saw a lot of bottom paint. Then the bow went up at a 45, then straight up! I guess it was about 25' boat, never saw the engine, I think maybe a cuddy.

Another boat was right there and got the guys off of it; no one hurt. It drifted on out with the tide and about 4' of bow straight up. Later I talked to the owner (hollerin' to the marine patrol boat he was on) and he said he had a low stern, took a couple of waves and then down she went. Pesonally, I thnik he had to have water in the hull first--no plug, popped a sea cock, bad seal on a I/O, or something. It was calm and boat traffic light.

I called it in on the hand-held and I guess others did too; there were a number of official boats on scene quickly, even the security boat from the base.

What was astounding was how fast it sank. There would have been no time, once the stern quarter was awash, to grab anything, like a life preserver, radio, ditch bag, cell phone in a baggie, child in the cabin. Makes you think about being out there in the cold, dark, or alone. In nature, there are no rewards or punishments, just consequences.

RickyF
05-23-2009, 05:07 PM
Glad they got off safely!!

codenurse
05-23-2009, 05:59 PM
I was there when two marine police boats were standing by the hazzard to navigation. They turned the boat over to SeaTow. On my way back from Oceanview SeaTow refloated it and towed it away. I'm glad all got off safely.

home cookin'
05-24-2009, 07:51 AM
what size and hull type was it? was it an I/O?

I would have loved to see that; how did Sea Tow float it?

BTW if anyone wants salvage there's another flipped boat at the mouth of the Lafayette. Been there since Easter!

hookinfinger
05-24-2009, 07:58 AM
Glad they are safe.

Was it anchored off the stern ?

home cookin'
05-24-2009, 10:37 AM
it may have been; he said he got water over the stern and the CG said an anchor was deployed, although that could have beeen theirs they tied to it to slow the drift (and it didn't hold going out the channel--as one would expect.) But there really weren't many waves or much chop.

I heard that the guys who drowned in Florida earlier this spring were stern-anchored, too.

hookinfinger
05-24-2009, 12:54 PM
it may have been; he said he got water over the stern and the CG said an anchor was deployed, although that could have beeen theirs they tied to it to slow the drift (and it didn't hold going out the channel--as one would expect.) But there really weren't many waves or much chop.

I heard that the guys who drowned in Florida earlier this spring were stern-anchored, too.

Yup. That is what the sole survivor from the Florida sinking said. They were anchored at the stern.

A strong current can pull your stern under. A wake can do the same.



Dennis

dwkoller
05-24-2009, 05:03 PM
It is amazing when things start going wrong on a boat, how quickly they can become a non-recoverable disaster. Glad everyone was okay.