C-Dory 22 Accident

Any loss of life is hurtful. If get more details we may find out that some safety issues got ignored. You will last longer on top of the boat than in the water. Mexican Pangas have a line from one side to the other under the boat, it stops vibrations but if also allows one to climb on top of the boat if upside down. Flares, personal safety beacon, waterproof handheld, float plan, perhaps a valise life raft, if conditions are realy bad (rogue waves do not count on this one) near continuous radio contact, cell phone in waterproof carrier that allows it to be used, lots of things that float, ditch bag, and so on. Every water town has a church where they ring the bells. It part of life on the water. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Bob
 
bobjarrard":11wabq8u said:
You will last longer on top of the boat than in the water.
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First you have to get out of the upside down underwater cabin.
In time we’ll get all the details. So tragic for this man’s friends and family.
 
colbysmith":1s0fpasy said:
Unless bottom painted, I believe most C-Dories have a white bottom.
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No, whatever color the stripe is, the bottom is the same color. Hard to confirm from the grainy picture, but it looks like a gray stripe 22. Tragic.
 
WOW, That is not good news. Sorry to hear that, but thanks for the posting. it is a sure reminder of several things. One, that life is uncertain. No one ever plans an accident. (If they do it is called a planadent.) That we should be forever thankful that there are those who put their lives in danger everyday to keep us safe (USCG, Fire and Police, SAR Ops, and often those nearby, neighbors in a way).

It would be great to hear the rest of the story, and I hope we do so we can learn from that.

I agree, it looks like this has a gray bottom, so also, gray shear and cabin stripe if it is stock. "Normal" C-Dory color scheme is that the bottom color matches the shear stripe and cabin top brow and surround stripe. (HOWEVER, nmi in their search to be unique, has messed with that scheme several times. (IMHO that is messing with the unique look, like a trademark, or brand, of the C-Dory. --- a whole nuther rabbit trail to go down -- not now.)

The lesson to learn from that photo is that color, whether gray, or light colored bottom paint, white, or something else DOES NOT SHOW UP with any contrast to it's surroundings. IF your boat is upside down in the water, a contrasting color is a HUGE asset towards your survival. (Ask Colby which color he would prefer looking for from the air.)

This is a "Local" PNW C-Dory. I do hope we can get some good, further, follow-up on this story.

Interesting to not see any OB evidence.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

One year old, stock color pattern.
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First off, our condolences go out to the family of the victim who's life was taken in this accident.

The following link, https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/forms-libra ... BayBar.pdf shows the hazards for reentering the Yaquina Bar. Even thought the accident took place 1 mile north of the north jetty, I am thinking it took place in the "D" zone on the chart. There is a long reef going north from the north jetty in this zone which should be avoided.

We posted a video in our C-Brats photo album under 'Newport Oregon' showing us reentering the Yaquina Bar. If you look closely in the background beyond the tip of the north jetty, you can see the size and power of these swells breaking over this reef. They can capsize a vessel much larger than a C-Dory.

Sad initial report as we wait for details and the cause of the accident.
 
No, whatever color the stripe is, the bottom is the same color.
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My bad. I just looked at some older pictures of my earlier 22, and you are absolutely correct.


The lesson to learn from that photo is that color, whether gray, or light colored bottom paint, white, or something else DOES NOT SHOW UP with any contrast to it's surroundings. IF your boat is upside down in the water, a contrasting color is a HUGE asset towards your survival. (Ask Colby which color he would prefer looking for from the air.)
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I agree with you Harvey, and have never thought about the stripe color being what my bottom would look like wrong side up. While I like Blue, I'm now wondering if that's a good color? Suppose it depends upon the water coloring and rather it's day or night. I'm beginning to think the Red C-Dorys have an advantage! But then again, the dark red isn't exactly florescent at night. As for what I preferred looking from the air, a bright white or red flare followed by bright white lights on your person would get attention. And if there isn't a lot of froth, a white hull still stands out.

This also brings up the idea of wearing PFD's in a cabin boat. While I routinely will wear one when in the cockpit or walking the bow, particularly in rough or cold water, it's rare I wear one inside the cabin. I can probably only think of two times. One was on our Columbia/Snake River cruise when we got into some 4-5' crap, and I think once when in the North Channel in some 6+ crap. But as this accident shows, our boats can be turned over if the right wave hits it. I can think of a few other times that maybe I should have had a PFD on, even while inside the cabin. However, perhaps not an inflatable. It sounds like these folks were wise in having theirs on, rather they grabbed them at the last minute, or had them on earlier.

Colby
 
I don't think it is a C Dory. The bottom is parallel with the water, there is no engine lower unit sticking up and the stern looks like it is tapered, I would think that with a 400 lb, motor+ kicker + batteries and fuel on the stern that a C Dory would ride bow up as that's where most of the floatation is and air could be trapped in the bow.
 
davidJ":3jzr9qe4 said:
I don't think it is a C Dory. The bottom is parallel with the water, there is no engine lower unit sticking up and the stern looks like it is tapered, and I would think that with a 400 lb, motor+ kicker + battery's and fuel on the stern, a C Dory would ride bow up.
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It is identified in the article as a 22 foot C-Dory.

Colby, I wear mine inflatable ALL the time. It is a Hydrostatic (pressure sensing rather than water or humidity dissolvable tablet style). I know there are inflation issues prior to egress from an overturned cabin, including getting a door opened, so exiting from upside down is not going to be fun. Getting the door open, or sliding a window is not likely until the water pressures equilibrate.

There are tones of things we could learn from this story If we get the follow-up.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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It looks like the person that called in the report said that it was a C Dory and maybe it is, but if it is, then I would say that the picture they are showing us is a generic file picture of a upside down boat. The floatation in a C Dory doesn't start until you get in front of the gas tanks and most of it is under the V berths,
 
Tragic to have loss of life. If this is a C Dory (and no reason to doubt that despite the photo.), it would be the first loss of life that I am aware of. The 3 (counting this one) C Dorys which rolled were in near shore and shoal areas, with apparently large seas running. There is a document of a 25 which was swamped by stern to waves due to fouling of prop and anchor rode.

There are few boats which will survive rolling in surf--big waves. The 22's are not self bailing, and a heavy wave into the cockpit will swamp the boat. The boats are light and will rise very rapidly with stern seas normally.

The life jacket issues are valid. We rarely wear life jackets in the cabin...on the other hand we have never been in conditions in the c Dory which were threatening enough to cause capsize or rolling.
 
Gary and Colleen, your video going in across the bar shows the tip of the North Jetty I think.
The one “Crossing the Yaquina River Bar, 6/29/20” I believe shows the area where that Area D breaker line is, (Just right at the end) and it is in the 1 mile range where some of the breakers are busting on the shallows. That could do serious mayhem.

Kudo’s to you who cross that bar. May it be like flying, “every takeoff should have an equally successful landing”.

Please correct me if I’m wrong here. It has been a while since I was there.

Stay safe out there.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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