Monohulls don’t sink after all

[Chotu]

This guy was just found about 90 miles off cape canaveral.

30 some odd foot power boat.



Lucky he was spotted. He was out there for at least a full day and overnight.

Looks like a very uncomfortable night.

[SVSOLITAIRE]

I’ve read several articles and they all just state a 32 foot vessel. I was trying to see what type of boat this is. I don’t know motor boats but isn’t that a fin keel? And if so, what motor boats have keels like that. I’ve been operating under the assumption that it was a sailboat.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by SVSOLITAIRE

I’ve read several articles and they all just state a 32 foot vessel. I was trying to see what type of boat this is. I don’t know motor boats but isn’t that a fin keel? And if so, what motor boats have keels like that. I’ve been operating under the assumption that it was a sailboat.

From what I see, that’s the bow and a danforth or fortress anchor on it. Looks like a pretty standard Grady white or some other similar thing. I don’t know these boats either.

Edit: I take the anchor type back. Looks like a mantus and a danforth had a kid. Ha ha

[rslifkin]

From what I've read on it, the boat was some kind of Sea Ray express cruiser. The piece sticking up is the bow pulpit, so the boat is tipped vertically on end (stern down).

[CaptTom]

Funny how some boats will settle that way. The stern goes down and an air pocket is left in the bow.

On one delivery I did, we spent a lot of time cleaning the rode locker to free up the plugged drain. Looking at that picture, I'm thinking maybe not having that drain acting as a vent could be a good thing.

[GRIT]

On cats, some folks put non-skid on the underside of the bridgedeck; in case of the unlikely event of a capsize, they can better stay "aboard" the boat.

Perhaps, on these smaller power boats, a chair on the bowsprit would be a good "in case I capsize" safety feature?

Lucky fellow; glad he's ok. I'll bet that was a stressful time; wondering if he'd ever be found.

Cheers.
Paul.

[psneeld]

Good luck hoping your boat bow will keep an air pocket like this one did.....

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Good luck hoping your boat bow will keep an air pocket like this one did.....

I know darn well mine won't. Between the access hatch, drain, and windlass chainpipe, the chain locker is nowhere near airtight. Forward bilge might take a bit longer to replace its air with water, but that's not perfectly sealed either.

[CDR Smith]

The photos I saw (taken by the crew of the cargo ship that rescued the guy) were startling. He did not appear to be wearing any kind of pfd as he swam toward their ring buoy or coming up over their ladder. He'd apparently experienced a mechanical a couple days before. After drifting, he awoke from a nap to discover the boat was taking on water. Why (it appeared) he did not don a pfd is a mystery to me.

[Martkimwat]

Originally Posted by CDR Smith

The photos I saw (taken by the crew of the cargo ship that rescued the guy) were startling. He did not appear to be wearing any kind of pfd as he swam toward their ring buoy or coming up over their ladder. He'd apparently experienced a mechanical a couple days before. After drifting, he awoke from a nap to discover the boat was taking on water. Why (it appeared) he did not don a pfd is a mystery to me.

Probably did not have one, powerboaerts generally seem to have a much more lax attitude to PFDs and personal safety, than sailboaters do, seem to think the engine will get them out of trouble???

[Rigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Martkimwat

Probably did not have one, powerboaerts generally seem to have a much more lax attitude to PFDs and personal safety, than sailboaters do, seem to think the engine will get them out of trouble???

I know over 50 power boaters. They all have PFD's aboard. As a rule they usually make the children wear them, but almost never wear them themselves or ask the adults to. As to dinghys/tenders, I normally don't see adults wearing them either.

[CaptTom]

We're all speculating now. I'm glad he's OK.

But (to join in the speculation) I was wondering what happened to his radio. Granted, that far out a VHF with a relatively low antenna might not have reached shore. But if he'd been drifting for a while, it's possible he was closer to shore, and other fishermen, at first.

I don't think not using a PFD (or radio) is a power OR sail thing. I've certainly seen it on both. I might not wear one if I were drifting and napping. And who knows how long he had to retrieve it once he figured out what was going on.

We can all talk about what we would have done, but if we're going to be honest, we weren't there and we don't know the whole story. I do know that things can happen very fast in a situation like that.

[Cliffhanger]

No PFD? No radio? No Epirb? No PLB? No liferaft? No life bouy? No dan bouy? No flares? .........and 86 miles offshore? ......Really?

[billgewater]

My wife suggested that he was trying to do some hull cleaning, but forgot how to turn the boat up the right way again.

[Heathenly Twins]

Originally Posted by Chotu

This guy was just found about 90 miles off cape canaveral.

30 some odd foot power boat.



Lucky he was spotted. He was out there for at least a full day and overnight.

Looks like a very uncomfortable night.

I don't think I'd go sailing again after that, yikes. Talk about your neverending nights! Poor guy.