Overturned Boat Center Harbor

[Waterbaby]

Prayers to their families, how very sad. I'm not going to make any comment on not wearing PFDs.

[Skip]

Full story of this tragedy can be read HERE in this morning's Citizen.

[twoplustwo]

our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the two boaters.

[SAMIAM]

I happened to be using the boat ramp when the fisherman arrived to report the overturned boat.....I had to get out of there quickly because Center Harbor rescue responded in a matter of minutes.They had a boat in the water with EMT's and wet suits very quickly.Obviously a very well trained and experienced response team and its too bad for everyone that it was too late to save them.

[codeman671]

Very sad story.

I will probably get flamed for this, but why would anyone want to be out there in a 12' jon boat on a windy day with water temps as low as they are? It sounds like they set themselves up for trouble. They put themselves in harms way and unfortunately came up short. Jon boats are not made for this type of conditions. Two guys, gear and rough water don't mix with a 12' jon.

[This'nThat]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Very sad story.

I will probably get flamed for this, but why would anyone want to be out there in a 12' jon boat on a windy day with water temps as low as they are?

I suspect they were caught unawares when the wind picked up. If they went out early in the day, the winds were light -- around 4-5 mph. See the chart below for May 2, Laconia -- the winds suddenly became strong, which might have caught them by surprise.

[tis]

What a terrible shame. If only they had read our post about WEARING your life jackets when the water is they cold, and HEEDED it, they would probably still be alive. What a waste.

[Pineedles]

You are right Tis it's a shame, but the more we talk about wearing your life jacket, despite an ability to swim well, hopefully more people will heed the warning. I just sent my cousin the link who is a fisherman and ironically has a place at Cavalier's Cove. My condolences to the familys.

[tis]

Yes, I would not wear my life jacket in the summer in a small boat, canoe or kayak, because if I fell out I could swim, but when it is this cold, I don't care how good a swimmer you are, you can't move.

[Mr. V]

Very sad.

The newspaper article refers to death by "hypothermia," but that seems to be a misnomer.

The correct terms: "cold shock" and "swimming failure."

Google educated me a bit on this unfortunate issue: see link:

http://www.seakayakermag.com/2008/Feb08/cold-shock.htm

I wondered why a good swimmer couldn't swim 100 feet or so to safety: now I know.

Still, very tragic.

[Kitt]

Originally Posted by This'nThat

I suspect they were caught unawares when the wind picked up. If they went out early in the day, the winds were light -- around 4-5 mph. See the chart below for May 2, Laconia -- the winds suddenly became strong, which might have caught them by surprise.

Thanks for posting this info...one of the men was my uncle, and I'm sure he thought he would have time to put on his lifejacket and get back to shore if the weather got too rough. Just the fact that there were lifejackets on board tells me that he and his friend were caught by surprise...it's very possible they hit thier heads when the boat capsized, too.

Thank you to everyone on this forum for your prayers and kind thoughts...our family takes great comfort from the fact that he died doing something he loved.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Originally Posted by Kitt

Thanks for posting this info...one of the men was my uncle, and I'm sure he thought he would have time to put on his lifejacket and get back to shore if the weather got too rough. Just the fact that there were lifejackets on board tells me that he and his friend were caught by surprise...it's very possible they hit thier heads when the boat capsized, too.

Thank you to everyone on this forum for your prayers and kind thoughts...our family takes great comfort from the fact that he died doing something he loved.

Hello Kitt,

My husband and I were very sorry to hear about the loss of these two fishermen. Even sadder to know that a forum friend lost a loved one. Our condolences to you and your family for your loss.

Saturday morning started out quite calm and mild and then the wind did pick up considerably. I'm sure they both were caught unaware. You should definitely take comfort in the fact that your uncle was doing something he loved to do.

With sympathy,

Celia & Paul

[steadyon]

Very sad!

I had the pleasure of meeting Dan recently. He did some terriffic drywall finishing in my house a couple of months ago.
What a nice guy! I would come home from work to hear him singing to his head phone radio and he would give me a big smile when I walked up the stairs to say hi.
Then he would tell me funny stories about sleeping out in his bob house.
seemed to love fishing and the Patriots.
My heart felt condolences to all of Dan's family and friends and I am glad to have met him.
To those who are commenting on boat safety, I really don't think this is the thread! The guys have lost their lives!

[John E]

I'm also very sorry to hear about this tragedy.


As a waterskier, I'm sure anyone skiing in those temps would have a wetsuit or even more likely a drysuit on.

[jrc]

It is sad that these men lost their lives. Most fishermen know the dangers of cold water and prepare for it. But accidents still happen.

You really can't compare falling unexpectedly from a boat, fully clothed, with heavy boots and fishing gear with intentional exposure like water-skiing. We've all seen pictures of these polar bear clubs running into figid water in January. You can dunk yourself in cold water for a few seconds or minutes with relative safety, if you're prepared and have someone to back you up. With a wet-suit you can even tolerate more. White water kayakers often brave very cold spring rivers with wet-suits.

It's not just the water temp, it's the whole set of circumstances.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Very sad story.

I will probably get flamed for this, but why would anyone want to be out there in a 12' jon boat on a windy day with water temps as low as they are? It sounds like they set themselves up for trouble. They put themselves in harms way and unfortunately came up short. Jon boats are not made for this type of conditions. Two guys, gear and rough water don't mix with a 12' jon.

I completely agree, I was out fishing in the morning, we put in and left Center Harbor around the same time frame as these guys did. It was windy and it was clear there was a bit of a chop which only got worse as we progressed down the lake were things really opened up. Every year I see folks out there fishing in small, sometimes barely sea worthy boats with very little free board visible and wonder what goes through these people's minds. It's insane to do this, especially this time of year when the weather and conditions can change rapidly and without warning. With the water as cold as it is there is no room for error here or unfortunately people can and do die. Of course this pales in comparison to some people we saw yesterday waterskiing... yes you read correctly waterskiing. In 47 degree water.

No matter, sad for the families involved and I hope that all these guys that insist on fishing out in the middle of areas that can and do get extremely rough in these jon boats pay attention to this story.

[ApS]

Even as I was reading this account early this morning, I looked up to see a small jon boat trolling a good ¼-mile from any shore.

Jon boats are popular (particularly in the South) for sheltered bayous, slow rivers and marshes, but not for a still-chilly lake whose character can change with the weather.

As aircraft pilots know too well, it's the weather that can "do you in".

For those unfamiliar with a "jon boat", this is what a typical jon boat looks like:



But the above photo shows one that's two-feet longer than the jon boat that overturned!

[Audiofn]

My thoughts go out to the families involved in the sad accident.

[EllyPoinster]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

I completely agree, I was out fishing in the morning, we put in and left Center Harbor around the same time frame as these guys did. It was windy and it was clear there was a bit of a chop which only got worse as we progressed down the lake were things really opened up. Every year I see folks out there fishing in small, sometimes barely sea worthy boats with very little free board visible and wonder what goes through these people's minds. It's insane to do this, especially this time of year when the weather and conditions can change rapidly and without warning. With the water as cold as it is there is no room for error here or unfortunately people can and do die. Of course this pales in comparison to some people we saw yesterday waterskiing... yes you read correctly waterskiing. In 47 degree water.
No matter, sad for the families involved and I hope that all these guys that insist on fishing out in the middle of areas that can and do get extremely rough in these jon boats pay attention to this story.

What? I wasn't there but I would bet that the waterskiers were wearing wet suits and appropriate PFD's and were being dutifully observed from a sea-worthy tow boat that was prepared to quickly pick them up whenever necessary. Hardly a potentially life threatening situation.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by EllyPoinster

What? I wasn't there but I would bet that the waterskiers were wearing wet suits and appropriate PFD's and were being dutifully observed from a sea-worthy tow boat that was prepared to quickly pick them up whenever necessary. Hardly a potentially life threatening situation.

Not exactly a smart thing to do either IMHO. Even in the best of circumstances it's still risky due to the water temps. That's all I was implying. Think about it if they heaven forbid had some mechanical failure and the boat and skier got separated? Probably not likely to happen, in the same way I bet those guys who went out fishing in that jon boat didn't expect what fate awaited them either.

[jetskier]

With a decent wet suit, water skiing at this temperature is not too much of an issue. Some cold fingers and toes though. Falling in with street cloths is clearly life threatening.

jetskier

[northeastelectric]

Being from Portsmouth and also a recreational lobsterman & fisherman I have been out fishing by the isles of shoals in the ocean many,many times and have seen kayaks miles offshore and thought the same thing!!And although I have a couple myself I would never take them out there,but as for these guys it sounds like they may have know the lake fairly well but I think they just got caught by surprise with the weather,that lake can change as quick as the ocean sometimes as i am sure you who spend as much time there as I do all know,Sad,Sad Day,I feel for the families,Everyone stay safe out there this year.D.G.-Northeast Electric

Originally Posted by MAXUM

I completely agree, I was out fishing in the morning, we put in and left Center Harbor around the same time frame as these guys did. It was windy and it was clear there was a bit of a chop which only got worse as we progressed down the lake were things really opened up. Every year I see folks out there fishing in small, sometimes barely sea worthy boats with very little free board visible and wonder what goes through these people's minds. It's insane to do this, especially this time of year when the weather and conditions can change rapidly and without warning. With the water as cold as it is there is no room for error here or unfortunately people can and do die. Of course this pales in comparison to some people we saw yesterday waterskiing... yes you read correctly waterskiing. In 47 degree water.

No matter, sad for the families involved and I hope that all these guys that insist on fishing out in the middle of areas that can and do get extremely rough in these jon boats pay attention to this story.