How a good fishing day can go bad quickly

[TenMile]

Wow -- long read, but really shows how a good day can turn into your last day pretty quickly: http://www.glangler.com/_blog/Great...Adrift_and_Thanking_God_for_a_Coleman_Cooler/

 

[Rockfish]

Very lucky guys to be alive. The big difference is that our water has tidal currents and is not 70 degrees which is about heated pool warm. I don’t think they would have all made it if it had happened in our ocean under similar circumstances.

 

[Pippen]

Wow. Quite the ordeal and told very well in great detail.

 

[scott craven]

Just goes to show never be over confident on the water, treat it with respect.
if you think it looks too rough it likely is.
fishing can wait till a better day arrives.

 

[peetz]

Just goes to show never be over confident on the water, treat it with respect.
if you think it looks too rough it likely is.
fishing can wait till a better day arrives.

I couldnt agree with you anymore on that one .....can be very unforgiving

 

[Big Green Machine]

Back up motor power would have helped prevent waves coming over the transom as you can maneuver your boat accordingly, I still don't have backup for my main, geez. The life jackets we have on hand but are not wearing. So many things went wrong.

 

[trendsetter]

Makes you think twice about that 16 mile journey across the strait to fish thrasher without a partner boat. Water around here is 50-55 degrees most of June. 3 hours expected survival time according to that chart.

 

[firelight]

I don't think most people are prepared for something to happen that fast. Time to go over the gear again.

 

[Foxsea]

So many things went wrong.

X2: When you read these tales (of survival - the dead aren't talking) it's apparent that one mistake is not usually the cause of the event but rather an unimaginable combination of contributing factors:
1) questionable weather
2) an unfamiliar and untested boat with inexperienced crew
3) no float plan
4) no on-the-water orientation or emergency plan
5) inadequate safety gear and outdated equipment
6) pfd's not worn
7) a simple foul-up (line in prop) compounded by a poor decision
8) slow to recognize the potential for swamping - inadequate pumps and no bailing
9) no kicker or sea-anchor
10) no training or experience in using the emergency gear (eg: flares)
11) no ditch bag
12) inadequate radio and failure to call for assistance
13) drifting apart, attempting to swim 5 mi. to shore.
...and the list goes on.

 

[seadna]

X2: When you read these tales (of survival - the dead aren't talking) it's apparent that one mistake is not usually the cause of the event but rather an unimaginable combination of contributing factors:
<stuff clipped>

How true. It's usually 3 or more questionable/bad decisions that result in these kinds of problems. It's really important to have a safety orientation with any new crew, to review it on occasion with more experienced crew and to always go over the "what ifs" so that everyone knows how to react in certain situations. As the skipper, in particular, you need to have thought about all the various things that could go wrong and how you will respond.

 

[Klob]

Thanks for the post. It's good to read those once in a while to realize it can happen to anyone any time.