Boys missing, boat found...

Wow. 14yo, 19' boat offshore. Very sad. I always say, alot can go wrong very fast.
Safety first.
 
Talked to a "friend" this morning who works at Ponce Inlet and is in a position to have access to information. He said the engine cover was gone and looked like they had engine trouble. Also said there was no VHF radio and there is no PLB/EPIRB registered with NOAA for that boat or either one of the boys.

We also had some pretty strong thunderstorms all week end.

For years, I have avoided Jupiter Inlet like the plague. Wind with a East element + mid falling tide = gets very snotty very quickly.

All in all, a really bad combination of circumstances.

Bob
 
And where are the parents letting two 14 yr old's take a boat out in the ocean by themselves???
 
The mothers were on TV and said both had their boating safety certificates. A 19' boat going to Bimini with two 14 year old boys? I can't believe the parents would allow this. Sounds like minimal safety equipment and no radio, or PLB/EPIRB. I'm sure for a few 100 dollars in safety equipment they could be found in hours. Very sad and can't understand what the parents were thinking letting two 14 yr old's take a boat out in the ocean by themselves??? The report said they put $100 of gas in it so I'm sure it's the parents money. Prayers for all.
 
Letting the boys go out by themselves is one thing, but if the boat was without normal offshore safety equipment then that is a whole different issue. That would say the parents had no clue about what it takes to safely boat, especially offshore.
 
The story I saw on the evening news said the boys told their parents they were just going fishing nearby (inside) and then proceeded to take the boat outside the inlet without their knowledge.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Anchor Management

And where are the parents letting two 14 yr old's take a boat out in the ocean by themselves???

Click to expand...


What I heard was that the boys were supposed to be fishing along the river. I imagine they just took it on themselves to go out the inlet.

George
 
That's the problem, kids lie about their plans. Happens all the time and they think they are smarter than parents.
But, with that said, this should be a lesson to parents that safety equipment matters. Radio. Cellphone. Flares. It's a boat and stuff goes bad quick!
 
Unfortunately we will probably never know what actually happened. Having lost a son myself I know the pain and I really feel for the parents. The guilt they are going to feel is unimaginable.

Bob
 
Update from CBS Evening News: No Change, Nobody Found
My update: Praying, Not giving up Hope
 
We can pray they are bobbing around with preservers or that they were picked up. The longer this goes on the worse we can expect. Very sad.
 
Saw the mother's on the news. They seemed very calm considering.
They explained they are part of a boating community and 14 yo boys on a boat is normal.
I don't know, as a parent and as a kid who did some crazy stuff both on the water and off, I still feel there was not enough safety engaged here but I continue to hope they find these kids bobbing in the water somewhere.
 
Just think how the presence of a PLB would have changed the entire story. Sad.
 
If possible, they should have stayed with the boat. A radio or PLB attached to a life jacket should be common sense for offshore boating.
 
The big question, and the mists important, is why do small boats capsize... The priority shouldnt be to survive after the boat capsizes but prevent the thing to go turtle.. Almost all the time, small boats capsize because they take on water which will obviously happen if dead in water in rough seas.

So nr1, set something to keep the bow in the wind and wave but nr 2 have enough battery and pumping capacity. I bet their little boat only had one battery and one bilge pump, if it was even working.

This is why I get so pissed off when I see the USCG auxiliary inspection form which doesn't even reqjire a single bilge pump!!

Then for when the crap really hits the fan, yes: VHF, epirb etc... But if you can prevent the damn thing from flipping your chances of surviving are much higher.

And of course education... Both the USCG Aux vessel check and th state requirement education are a joke. Look at th test and the question...almost nothing on preventing such accident, it is all about regulations where to put the reg sticker, how many drinks can you have, etc.

As to letting kids that age go fishing outside the inlet, it's up to the parents to make the call. If these kids have been raised on the water, let the parents decide.
 
Pascal, the admiral and I were just talking about the very things you just posted. She pointed out to me that "not everyone" has a sea anchor or enough pumps including manual ones, "like you do". I agree with you, not enough attention paid to offshore survival. I carry my own ditch bag when I go offshore in another's boat. Maybe I'm a tad anal about it, but if I go into the water I want to improve my odds of being found as much as possible.
 
I am having this argument with a Auxilary guy on my dock.
Every year he gives me a saftey sticker.
This year he tells me I need a copy of the navigation rules to pass.
He says boats over 35' need it. I looked and it's boats over 39.4' and I am documented at 36.6' becuase Coast guard looks at LWL not LOA.

Besides the fact, what good is a book of nav rules going to do for me when my boat is sinking?

A better requirment would be all boats that go offshore must have a working EPIRB or PBL.
For $250 your life is insured!
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

The big question, and the mists important, is why do small boats capsize... The priority shouldnt be to survive after the boat capsizes but prevent the thing to go turtle.. Almost all the time, small boats capsize because they take on water which will obviously happen if dead in water in rough seas.

So nr1, set something to keep the bow in the wind and wave but nr 2 have enough battery and pumping capacity. I bet their little boat only had one battery and one bilge pump, if it was even working.

This is why I get so pissed off when I see the USCG auxiliary inspection form which doesn't even reqjire a single bilge pump!!

Then for when the crap really hits the fan, yes: VHF, epirb etc... But if you can prevent the damn thing from flipping your chances of surviving are much higher.

And of course education... Both the USCG Aux vessel check and th state requirement education are a joke. Look at th test and the question...almost nothing on preventing such accident, it is all about regulations where to put the reg sticker, how many drinks can you have, etc.

As to letting kids that age go fishing outside the inlet, it's up to the parents to make the call. If these kids have been raised on the water, let the parents decide.

Click to expand...


Those electric aquarium pumps are for maintenance, not damage control. When I get back home to an actual computer with a keyboard I'll e-mail you an inter sting anecdote.
 
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