CD25 Swamped in Cook Inlet

tpbrady · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:07 am Post subject: CD25 Swamped in Cook Inlet

I heard from a friend of mine this evening about a CD25 that was swamped in the Cook Inlet on Saturday. The seas were around 6 feet plus at the time. The boat was trying to retrieve its anchor using the windlass and the motors. Apparently they ran over the anchor line and fouled both props. From that point on how the boat swamped was unclear, but it filled with water and floated with the bow out of the water. A nearby charter operator rescued the people on the CD25 and attempted to tow the boat toward the beach. They were unable to do this and set it adrift. On Sunday the boat was on the beach near Anchor Point and was recovered although it was a total loss.

That's all I have heard about it, so if anybody hears anything else it would be nice to hear the details and learn from it.

dogon dory · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:05 am Post subject:

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:43 am Post subject:

tpbrady · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:05 am Post subject:

Dan,

From what I hear it was definitely a 25. A lot of the charter operators didn't go out after 10 that morning because it was too rough for the clients. Not having a windlass, I always use a bouy. The vast majority of the charter captains who have windlasses still use a bouy to get the anchor to the surface. Having been associated with the charter business in the Cook Inlet for the last ten years I have heard of several boats that sank (not swamped) after getting their motors and anchors fouled.

I like the bouy and will always have one even after I get a windlass.

Redƒox · Guest

Couple things I was wonderin: Were they using poly rope ? (it floats and poses a threat like this)
This has happened in the past in the Cook Inlet Exclamation

swampings from the stern in that aweful current out there.

Have anchored out there long ago and I know how bad it is... I just don't anchor there anymore. Drift-fishing is good enough for me.... even though you may loose more gear that way. A fella better not be too relaxed when retrieving anchor there that way.... lord knows I came close to tangling my anchorline in prop out there... waves kick-up, making it hard to determine exactly where your rode is, waves also push bow around changing your course in situations like that. This is where I would opt for that "windlass' I never want to add to my boat complexity Crook

gljjr · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject:

Tyboo Mike,

When you are on the Columbia, do you use the Columbia River System anchor with the large bouy and anchor lift? Or do you just use your windlass?

After reading these peoples woes I am thinking I may just invest in an anchor lift system similar to what is used on the Columbia.

I sure feel for these people! I hope everyone was OK. Boats can be replaced, lives can't!

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject:

Lynn Marie · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mike for making that post,

You said what I would have said if I had had anchor bouys enough to jump in and do it. The bottom line about that mishap is, if in fact the line got wrapped around a prop, that it was most likely pilot error. I only say that because I like Mike have used the anchor windlass on this boat and many others from here to Alaska without over running the anchor rode. I have watched hundreds if not thousands of others use the anchor ball/bouy system without mishap of over running the anchor rode. And yes I too have spent my share of time on the foredeck pulling in the slack with the skipper at the helm steering in the direction my arm is pointing, without over running the anchor rode.

The tragedy that happened in Cook Inlet does not sound like an equipment failure or a bad choice of an anchor retrieving system but a mistake made. As Mike said it is always good to learn from mistakes. We may learn more from our own rather than someone elses but hopefully we will all always learn. My guess is that the owner of that vessel has learned and wished that he, like us had read about a situation such as this and hence avoided his perilous mishap.

All that being said, my best wishes for the crew of that boat are for speedy recovery from all that has come to them and may their future voyages be with Gods speed and protection.

Tim

Chivita · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:50 pm Post subject:

I have been repeatedly told that a large portion of the boats (in the under 30' range) that sink up here, sink due to a wave over the stern. The make, model, manufacturer or material does not seem to matter. "Unsinkable" boats may still float, but they can get flipped by the wave tossing everyone into the cold stuff.

I notice that more people wear PDFs of some sort up here than any other area I have ever visited. Due to the water temp, even with that you still only have about 15 minutes before you lose your core body temp and perish. Greg pegged it when he said you can't be too relaxed, even on a C-Dory!

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:56 pm Post subject:

tyboo . let me fill in as smarty pants for you. anyone can piss on a electric fence and learn a lesson, but a smart man only needs to hear the blood curdling scream of another man to learn the lesson.

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 10:01 pm Post subject:

Tom, that is perfectly stated. Thanks.

And hey, smarty pants, it's good to see you back here. Where you been?

My IRA · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 10:01 pm Post subject:

Surprisingly, more boats sink from defective leaking through-hull fittings than from the wave over the stern swamping. Several years ago, we watched the "Dusty Rose", a 27 ft. diesel powered Sea Sport, swamp and sink in relatively calm waters 36 miles West of Newport.

The skipper and crew were busy landing Halibut when the engine stopped running. Quick inspection noted a major leak from a through-hull fitting but it was too late to save the boat. Fortunately, several other boats were fishing the same area of "the chicken ranch" and the crew were rescued. Check those fittings and hoses located below the water line. Smile

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 10:15 pm Post subject:

tyboo.. man I have been working a lot and just to tired to post. worked the weekend and took my sons friends to the lake for his birthday. bbq and tubing. It was a great day. I just dropped the boat at the plant monday and will be boat less this weekend. I have to post some pics some time this week. all the kids jumping off the roof of the Susan E.

Helen O · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 1:02 am Post subject:

Mighty Bite · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 3:03 am Post subject:

Point taken Mike, but I've gotta go with the splashwell filler with a quick removal system as the best option, at least for my purposes. Pop 2 pins and it's out of there. A matter of very few seconds.

I have pulled the anchor line with a bouy for years, until I put the windlass on, without a problem. Having said that, stuff happens and nobody is immune to a bad situation. Getting the anchor line fouled in the prop or props is usually the makings of a tough day, particularly in a bad water environment. Cook inlet can be especially unforgiving and is an area where too much caution can't be taken.

My thoughts and best wishes go out to the skipper and crew of the CD25.